FAQ

"How can I afford a jet?"
Frankly, until now, it wasn’t affordable for many people to own a jet. Eclipse Aviation was started for that very reason: to make jet ownership available to more people by creating a new category of jet, the very light jet, and finding high-tech, smart ways to make the jet affordable and yet designed for safety and reliability.

With an acquisition cost of one-third of today’s small jets and the lowest operating cost of any jet, the Eclipse 500 provides the lowest cost of jet ownership ever achieved. The purchase price of the Eclipse 500 is $1.52 million (June 2006 dollars) and operating costs are $340 per hour. The least expensive jet on the market today, with similar performance, costs close to $4.5 million to buy and more than $675 per hour to operate. This breakthrough has made the benefits of private jet transportation available to a much broader segment of the population.

Eclipse has also introduced a revolutionary customer care program that can further reduce the cost of ownership. JetComplete, Eclipse’s one-stop program for operational support and aircraft maintenance, provides everything customers need to operate and maintain their Eclipse 500 jets at a fixed, guaranteed price. JetComplete leverages the buying power of what will be one of the largest fleets of general aviation jets in the U.S. to command volume pricing across all customer aircraft needs. Using models for customer care such as that used by Lexus, JetComplete significantly improves the ownership experience by providing a single point of contact for any and all aircraft needs.

Back to top

"How safe is it to fly in a small jet?"
The safety of any aircraft comes down to many things: the pilot, the design of the aircraft, the materials used, the technology created and applied, and the company’s commitment.

Safety is, and has been, paramount to the design, manufacture and operations of the Eclipse 500.

Bringing turbine safety to a whole new class of aircraft, the Eclipse 500’s standard safety features rival those of aircraft costing millions more and include: autothrottle; color weather radar; a dual-redundant flight management system with sophisticated aircraft performance computer; "smart" electronic checklists and an intelligent crew alert system. The state-of-the-art Eclipse 500 cockpit is designed for safety through the redundancy of the vital systems and its sheer ability to reduce the pilot’s workload. To ensure availability of critical flight data, the Eclipse 500 is equipped with redundant, high reliability, solid state electronic sensors and displays. In addition, both Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and the Multi Function Display (MFD) have a reversionary mode, allowing them to transfer information to one of the other displays if required.

From a 69-knot stall speed (comparable to most high-performance single engine piston airplanes) to a 370-knot maximum cruise speed, the Eclipse has one of the largest operating envelopes ever seen in a jet. The jet can climb at 3,314-feet-per-minute and fly up to 41,000 feet, avoiding almost all weather. The engine placement is also a safety feature with almost centerline thrust and in the unlikely event of an engine failure, the aircraft can climb at 708-feet-per-minute on a single engine.

For added safety and reliability, Eclipse has designed the Avio system exclusively for the Eclipse 500 jet. More than just an integrated avionics and instrument suite, Avio expands integration technology beyond the cockpit and applies it to the entire aircraft. Aircraft systems — including avionics, engine operation, fuel system, flaps, landing gear, cabin pressure and temperature, and many more — are centrally controlled by Avio. Avio significantly reduces pilot workload by simplifying tasks, generating useful information, managing systems and assisting troubleshooting.

Eclipse’s comprehensive approach to training also demonstrates its unwavering commitment to safety. Eclipse kicked off an unprecedented training partnership with United Airlines to provide Eclipse pilots with the most advanced flight training available in general aviation. The training program will provide the level of professional pilot training normally available only to commercial airline pilots. Eclipse takes its responsibility to create an environment for pilot success so seriously, it has committed to refund the deposit of any customer who cannot successfully complete its training program.

Back to top

"Why are Jets so loud?"
A common misconception about turbine powered aircraft, or jets, is that the noise they make taking off is extremely loud. But smaller jet engines do not produce the levels of noise associated with huge airliner engines, or ultra-high-powered military fighters. Other jet aircraft that the public may be familiar with are older Lears and Cessnas that were powered by older technology, less efficient jet engines. Those were loud, and the noise was more of a calling card about the power they possessed.

But now, advanced design and manufacturing technology allows companies like Pratt & Whitney to produce engines with far greater efficiency and far less noise. Because of the increased efficiency, the thrust-to-weight ratios are extremely better, meaning a smaller engine can produce more thrust. Smaller engines also mean less noise.

Neighborhoods will be extremely happy to have Eclipse 500s flying in and out of their airports. This is not only because VLJs bring a new level of convenience to local air travelers and stimulate economic growth, but also because the Eclipse 500 will be the quietest and most environmentally friendly jet ever. When it comes to jets, there is a direct correlation between thrust and noise level. Because the Eclipse 500 only weighs as much as a midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) or large 4-door sedan, it only requires 1,800 pounds of thrust (or 900 pounds of thrust per engine), which is half the amount required by the smallest and quietest jet currently on the market. Also, recent testing shows that the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines on the Eclipse 500 are environmentally friendly, with the lowest emissions output ever achieved for a jet engine.

Back to top

"How can VLJs avoid airspace congestion?"
VLJ operators who have chosen the Eclipse 500 can avoid the congested major airports because the jet was designed to land and takeoff at more than 10,000 smaller airports that are underserved, or not served at all by commercial airlines. Cutting out the major hubs, VLJs can save time and enjoy the convenience of less crowded airports and runways.

Back to top

"How comfortable is the Eclipse 500 to fly in?"
Passengers and pilots who fly in the Eclipse will enjoy a comfortable and quiet ride. The interior of the Eclipse 500 is as exceptionally and thoughtfully designed as the rest of the aircraft. Working with internationally renowned design and innovation firms IDEO and BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Eclipse created beautiful, functional interiors with the fit, finish, and attention to detail that characterize the world's finest automobiles. This commitment shows in fine details such as pleated window shades and two-zone climate control. The Eclipse 500 also features low cabin sound levels that are comparable to jets that cost millions more.