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ECLIPSE JET
THE INS AND OUTS OF OWNERSHIP
by Rich Pickett
Rewind to 2008, and I had just finished the online Learning Management System (LMS) course – a first in general aviation
– for the Eclipse Jet 500 (EA500S) type rating. Eclipse Aerospace was on a roll, and I attended one of the first simulator classes at the Double Eagle Airport in New Mexico. Of course, a lot has changed in the interim but the type rating was, and still is, one of the most comprehensive for a business aircraft.
Written into the FAA regulations and the aircraft certification are specific training requirements including jet basics, emergency situation training (including upset and recovery), and a very specific aircraft training and mentoring program – all of which must be completed under the guidance of an FAA-approved training provider. The resulting check ride isn’t more difficult than other jets, but the training requirements are more thorough. With the accident rate one of the lowest in the industry, these standards deserve some credit.
Fast forward to 2018, my wife Jane and I were on the search for an airplane to replace our Piper Meridian, and the Eclipse took front and center in our search. Today, we are proud owners of an Eclipse 500.
March 2021 / TWIN & TURBINE • 11