The FAA on Thursday afternoon issued a production certificate (PC) to Eclipse Aviation, allowing the manufacturer to issue standard airworthiness certificates for production Eclipse 500s. Representatives from the FAA presented the production certificate to Eclipse COO Peg Billson at the company’s Albuquerque, N.M. headquarters. Before receiving the PC, Eclipse was previously required to submit every aircraft to the FAA for approval before delivery. “Earning our FAA production certificate means we have successfully built a reliable, high-quality manufacturing process, and are well positioned to expedite aircraft deliveries, said Billson. ‘This is a critical milestone in our journey to become a high-production aircraft manufacturer.” Eclipse received its type certificate for the Eclipse 500 on September 30, but will have delivered 11 customer aircraft by the end of this weekend. It plans on delivering at least 400 Eclipse 500s by year-end, which if accomplished would be unprecedented in the civil aviation industry.
Eclipse Aviation Obtains Production Certificate
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA issued a production certificate (PC) to Eclipse Aviation for the Eclipse 500, enabling the manufacturer to issue standard airworthiness certificates independently.
- This PC eliminates the previous requirement for FAA approval of each aircraft before delivery, significantly expediting the manufacturing and delivery process.
- Eclipse views the PC as a critical milestone, validating its manufacturing quality and positioning it to become a high-production aircraft manufacturer.
- With the PC, Eclipse plans to deliver an ambitious 400 Eclipse 500s by year-end, a target unprecedented in the civil aviation industry.
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