Eclipse Aviation News

Today Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), teamed with New York State and Albany Airport officials to break ground on the Eclipse 500 Northeast service center at Albany International Airport. Slated to be fully functional in mid-2007, the Albany facility is one of seven centers in the continental U.S. that will be dedicated to the maintenance and support of the Eclipse 500.

“Today is a significant day for Eclipse Aviation and for Albany International Airport,” said Mike McConnell, Eclipse Aviation’s vice president of sales and marketing.
“The level of enthusiasm and support we have received in Albany is incredible, and it reflects the sentiment of many cities across our nation. These communities view the Eclipse Aviation and the Eclipse 500 as an enabler for the new air travel services and a major catalyst for business expansion leading to economic growth.”

Albany County Airport Authority will construct the 43,000 square-foot building for a cost of $7.2 million and will lease it to Eclipse Aviation for ten years with two five- year options. The building includes hangar and office space, with dedicated apron space of 40,000 square feet and shared apron space of 35,000 square feet. Eclipse Aviation maintenance technicians will complete scheduled and unscheduled maintenance as well as repairs and inspections on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engine.

“Eclipse Aviation’s presence at Albany International Airport is great news for our community. It will create new jobs and make us the center of Northeast maintenance services for a new generation of state-of-the-art, very light jets,” said New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. “Albany was selected over several other locations in the northeast to house this facility, positioning the Capital Region to be an important destination for the operators who fly these planes and the customers who use them for air-taxi services.”

The Eclipse Aviation facility is part of the Airport Authority’s economic development initiative, which is designed to attract airport related businesses and industries to the 1,200 acre Albany International Airport.

“With the arrival of Eclipse Aviation, Albany International Airport enters an exciting new era of aviation and aircraft technology,” said David Langdon, chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority. “Eclipse has emerged as the leader in the design and performance of very light jets and we are proud that they have selected Albany as a site to grow and expand.”