Eclipse Aerospace receives FAA certificate for 550 jet

Eclipse Aerospace has received from the US FAA an amended production certificate authorising the final assembly, test, and certification of the new production Eclipse 550 jet.

The original production certificate granted to Eclipse last year allowed the company 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.

“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. We have 550s moving down the production line in Albuquerque, and armed with our full green light from the FAA for final assembly and test, we are on our way to delivering jets this year.”

“Not only do we have the world’s most efficient light jet, but we are now proving that we extend our expertise in efficiency as a way of process in all we do at Eclipse,” stated Holland.

New production Eclipse 550 jets will begin delivery in the third quarter of this year.