Topics: DayJet, Mustang, Phenom
DayJet Takes First Commercial VLJs
Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), delivered three $1.5 million Eclipse 500 aircraft to DayJet, its largest customer with firm orders for 239 and options for an additional 70 aircraft over the next two years. The company, which is the first commercial jet service to take delivery of a VLJ, will offer point-to-point “Per-Seat, On-Demand” services to regional communities. Eclipse’s order book stands at 2,500 orders for the aircraft.
“Today is a major milestone for DayJet, as we begin to take delivery of our Eclipse 500 jets,” said Ed Iacobucci, president and CEO of DayJet. “Like many great innovations in history, there is a confluence of hardware and software advances that together, promise radical change and benefit to thousands of regional business travelers.” The new aircraft will be used to train pilots at Eclipse’s facilities in Albuquerque. DayJet will put its fleet of Eclipse 500s into commercial operation in the second quarter of this year throughout Florida with plans to expand throughout the Southeast.

Cessna Citation Mustang Simulator Achieves FAA and EASA Approvals
With pilot training being, perhaps, the greatest concern for the VLJ market, Cessna (TXT) inaugurated the Citation Mustang training program at FlightSafety International's Wichita Learning Center recently. Cessna plans to deliver 40 Mustangs in 2007 and ramp up to 100 aircraft in 2008.
The training program started on schedule following FAA and EASA qualification of the Mustang simulator in March. The FAA qualified the simulator to Level D, the highest certification available for simulators. EASA qualification is currently established at an interim Level C, being upgraded to Level D upon EASA type certification of the Citation Mustang which is expected later this year.
These simulator qualifications allow FlightSafety International to offer training to domestic and foreign pilots for the Citation Mustang type rating. The type rating course will be available at FlightSafety International's Farnborough Learning Center beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007.
For the first time, Cessna is using a Proficiency Index developed in conjunction with FlightSafety using Textron Six Sigma. The index uses various parameters such as the pilot's previous ratings, number of flight hours, recent experience, and glass panel experience to determine the level of training required for each type-rating candidate. The Proficiency Index also determines whether the pilot qualifies for a second-in-command rating, crew type rating or single-pilot type rating. The 10-day course contains a new, uniquely designed training day flow. Ground school, systems integration and simulator training are included each day.

L-3 to Supply Recorders for Phenoms
L-3 Communications Aviation Recorders, a Sarasota, Fla.-based division of L-3 Communications, said it was selected by Embraer (ERJ) to supply Combination Voice & Data Recorder (CVDR), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) products for the Embraer Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 business jet aircraft. For cockpit voice communications, L-3 AR’s recorders provide two hours of 4-channel audio recording. For flight data, the recorders capture a minimum of 25 hours of extremely high sample rate flight and maintenance data. Supplementing incident and accident investigation, the data stored in the CVDR, CVR and FDR can be used to implement maintenance and flight operations programs that, of themselves, provide operators with improved airframe reliability and enhanced flight management. For an inside look at the Phenom see Aviation Maintenance magazine, a Regional Aviation News sister publication.