Eclipse Aviation News
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New Eclipse Aviation Employees Strengthen Team Dedicated to Certification of the Eclipse 500 Jet
Significant progress shifts focus toward certification of lightweight jet
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - September 17, 2001 - Eclipse Aviation Corporation today announced the addition of three new employees, each focused on contributing to the successful FAA certification of the Eclipse 500 jet. Airworthiness Coordinator Randy Griffith and Chief Test Pilot William Bubb will report directly to Dr. Oliver Masefield, vice president of engineering for Eclipse Aviation. Quality Assurance Engineering Director Tom Gray will report to Chris Herzog, vice president of supply management and program management.
“Randy, Bill and Tom bring with them years of invaluable experience in the areas of quality assurance, flight test and FAA certification protocols,” said Dr. Masefield. “Together, they will play an important role in assuring the Eclipse 500 achieves the high performance, quality and safety standards for which it has been designed.”
Randy Griffith's main role as airworthiness coordinator will be to serve as the company liaison between Eclipse and the FAA for all certification and airworthiness activities as well as conducting the same function for foreign certifications.
Having previously worked for the FAA Small Aircraft Directorate in Kansas City, Griffith brings experience with the development of type certification regulations, evaluation of new aircraft design and technical requirements for new and emerging technologies. Griffith has participated in the certification of many general aviation aircraft and has been FAA representative on the European JAA certification standards committee. Before the FAA, he worked as an engineer for both the Air Force Flight Test Center and Naval Aviation Depot.
As chief test pilot, William Bubb brings to Eclipse over 20 years of flight test experience with companies including Piper, Pilatus and Raytheon. In the months leading to first flight, Bubb will play an active role in the preparation and detailed planning of the development and certification flight test activity. Bubb will also be fully responsible for building and leading a team of flight test pilots and for the execution of the development and certification flight test program.
Bubb comes to Eclipse with numerous experiences in the development and conduction of flight test programs, having flown over 75 different aircraft. His work has involved the creation of company flight test departments, the training of test pilots and drafting of new aircraft flight manuals. Bubb has nearly 8,000 hours of flight test experience.
Tom Gray comes to Eclipse as the quality assurance engineering director. Gray will be involved in many aspects of the certification process, with engineering, supply management, flight test and manufacturing, as well as offices of the FAA. Gray's main role is to assure that Eclipse and its suppliers conform to the technical requirements and FAA standards determined for the Eclipse 500.
Gray's experience includes work for Raytheon as the quality assurance engineering group manager for the Hawker Horizon jet. Prior to that, he worked for Texas Instruments Defense Missile Division. Gray also spent seven years in the U.S. Navy as an aviator, department head and instructor. Gray is a commercial, single and multi-engine instrument rated pilot with over 1400 hours in military and civil aircraft.
“Randy, Bill and Tom bring with them years of invaluable experience in the areas of quality assurance, flight test and FAA certification protocols,” said Dr. Masefield. “Together, they will play an important role in assuring the Eclipse 500 achieves the high performance, quality and safety standards for which it has been designed.”
Randy Griffith's main role as airworthiness coordinator will be to serve as the company liaison between Eclipse and the FAA for all certification and airworthiness activities as well as conducting the same function for foreign certifications.
Having previously worked for the FAA Small Aircraft Directorate in Kansas City, Griffith brings experience with the development of type certification regulations, evaluation of new aircraft design and technical requirements for new and emerging technologies. Griffith has participated in the certification of many general aviation aircraft and has been FAA representative on the European JAA certification standards committee. Before the FAA, he worked as an engineer for both the Air Force Flight Test Center and Naval Aviation Depot.
As chief test pilot, William Bubb brings to Eclipse over 20 years of flight test experience with companies including Piper, Pilatus and Raytheon. In the months leading to first flight, Bubb will play an active role in the preparation and detailed planning of the development and certification flight test activity. Bubb will also be fully responsible for building and leading a team of flight test pilots and for the execution of the development and certification flight test program.
Bubb comes to Eclipse with numerous experiences in the development and conduction of flight test programs, having flown over 75 different aircraft. His work has involved the creation of company flight test departments, the training of test pilots and drafting of new aircraft flight manuals. Bubb has nearly 8,000 hours of flight test experience.
Tom Gray comes to Eclipse as the quality assurance engineering director. Gray will be involved in many aspects of the certification process, with engineering, supply management, flight test and manufacturing, as well as offices of the FAA. Gray's main role is to assure that Eclipse and its suppliers conform to the technical requirements and FAA standards determined for the Eclipse 500.
Gray's experience includes work for Raytheon as the quality assurance engineering group manager for the Hawker Horizon jet. Prior to that, he worked for Texas Instruments Defense Missile Division. Gray also spent seven years in the U.S. Navy as an aviator, department head and instructor. Gray is a commercial, single and multi-engine instrument rated pilot with over 1400 hours in military and civil aircraft.
About Eclipse:
Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying advanced electronics systems, manufacturing and business practices to produce aircraft that cost less than a quarter of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.
The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation.