Page 30 - Volume 17 Number 5

EN ROUTEEclipse Receives Production Certificate for EA550 Final AssemblyVolunteer Pilots NeededVolunteers flying for the environment since 1979.Phone: 307-332-3242 www.lighthawk.org28 • TWIN & TURBINEEclipse Aerospace, Inc. (EAI) received an amended Production Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 28, 2013, authorizing the final assembly, test, and certification of the new production Eclipse 550 Twin-Engine Jet. In order to earn this amended Production Certificate, EAI demonstrated all assembly, quality, inspection, and flight verification processes required by the FAA.The original Production Certificate (PC), granted to EAI last year, allowed Eclipse to manufacture the EA550 and requisite parts in compliance with FAA approved type design, but required direct FAA oversight of the flight test and certification phases. The amended PC now allows EAI to not only manufacture the EA550, but also to flight test and grant airworthiness certificates for the aircraft under EAI’s FAA approved quality system.“Manufacturers are typically required to build their first group of aircraft under the supervision of the FAA,” stated Mason Holland, CEO of Eclipse Aerospace. “The fact that every new Eclipse 550 will be delivered under a full FAA Production Certificate speaks volumes about our team and our systems.“I am totally amazed with the efficiency of our Eclipse Aerospace team in completing the full Production Certificate process so quickly,” Holland continued. “The results from our multiple FAA audits clearly indicate that EAI’s production and quality systems are among the elite in the industry.”The amended Production Certificate, the final key to aircraft production for Eclipse, emphasizes EAI’s high standards for design, engineering, manufacturing, and internal quality control disciplines in the assembly and testing of the jet.New production Eclipse 550 Twin-Engine Jets will begin delivery in the third quarter of this year. The new jets will come complete with a dual Avio IFMS avionics suite, independent stand-by display units, a 20,000 cycle airframe, and owner-selected options including synthetic vision, enhanced vision, auto-t•hrottles, and anti-skid brakes. For more information, visit Eclipse Aerospace online at www.ECLIPSE.aero. T&TMAY 2013Quarter