VLJ News

Stratos Aircraft Program Update

Very-Light-Jet.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Completion of Full Scale Cabin Mock-Up

June 25, 2009 (Bend,OR) - In the continuing development of its Stratos 714 Very Light Personal Jet (VLPJ), Stratos Aircraft today announced the completion of a full-scale cabin mock-up to be displayed in space #320 at the week-long EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
starting July 27, 2009.

EASA Suspends Eclipse 500 Certificate

Very-Light-Jet.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:29:00 +0000

June 24th, 2009 - The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced today that it has suspended the European Type Certificate for the Eclipse 500 issued to now bankrupt Eclipse Aviation.

Spectrum Produces First Freedom S.40 Fuselage

Very-Light-Jet.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0000

San Diego, CA, June 11, 2009 – As part of the ongoing development program of the S.40 Freedom mid-size jet, Spectrum Aeronautical announced today that the first of a series of Fuselage Manufacturing Demonstrator (FMD) test articles has been completed. The FMDs will be used to validate the production process for the aircraft’s all-composite one-piece co-cured fuselage.

Piper Promotes Two Senior Executives To CEO and President

Very-Light-Jet.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0000

VERO BEACH, Fla., June 10, 2009 — Piper Aircraft Inc. today announced the promotion of two of its senior executives. Kevin J. Gould, Piper’s Vice President of Operations, will become Piper’s Chief Executive Officer, and John Becker, Piper’s Vice President of Engineering, will become President of the Company.

Cirrus Aircraft Announces Higher Production Rate for Second Time in 45 Days

Very-Light-Jet.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Monday, 1 June 2009Cirrus Aircraft notified its employees of continued strong demand for its entire product line and of the associated increase in its new aircraft production rate to eight (8) aircraft per week. Increased staffing requirements were communicated precipitating upcoming callbacks of some previously furloughed employees at both its Duluth, MN and Grand Forks, ND production facilities. Today's announcement follows a similar communication of late April '09 when new aircraft production was increased to six (6) aircraft per week, yet staffing increases were not required at that time.

Embraer Takes the Phenom 100 For To CBAA In Canada

Very-Light-Jet.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Aviation enthusiasts will experience Embraer’s new entry level jet, May 27-29

São José dos Campos, May 22, 2009 – Embraer will participate in the 48th Annual Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) Convention, Trade Show, and Static Display, in Montreal, Canada, May 27-29.

Cessnas Pelton Glass is Half Full

Very-Light-Jet.com — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:00:00 +0000

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 12, 2009 - Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton said today the current meltdown in business aviation activity, while the most profound in many years, is best kept in perspective when discussing the global role of business aviation and of Cessna. Cessna Aircraft Company is a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.

Embraer Offers New Seat For The Phenom 100 Executive Jet

Very-Light-Jet.com — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Item will be available in the fourth quarter of 2009

São José dos Campos, May 11, 2009 – Embraer will offer its Phenom 100 jet customers a new seat with enhanced comfort in form and function, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Cessna Citation Mustang Fleet Grows to 200

Very-Light-Jet.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:00:00 +0000

WICHITA, Kan., May 4, 2009 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it has delivered the 200th Citation Mustang, with the aircraft going to Maritime Air Charters. The event was marked with a brief ceremony at Cessna

Piper Aircraft Acquired by Imprimis

Very-Light-Jet.com — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 +0000

VERO BEACH, Fla., May 1, 2009 — Piper Aircraft, Inc. today announced that its owner, American Capital Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS), has sold its 100 percent stake in the company to Imprimis in a private transaction that aims to secure the long-term success of Florida’s 72 year-old General Aviation company. Imprimis is a corporate finance and investment management firm that operates from its offices in Bangkok, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

Honda Aircraft Company Updates HondaJet Program

Very-Light-Jet.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A., April 30, 2009 - Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., announced important updates to its HondaJet aviation program including revised first flight and delivery timetables for the company's industry-leading advanced light jet. Ongoing global aerospace industry business challenges have resulted in a delay in receiving critical components for conforming aircraft production, which will result in a new first flight target of January 2010 and projected first customer delivery in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Eclipse Chapter 11 Case Converts to Chapter 7

Very-Light-Jet.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0000

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - April 20, 2009 - These cases converted on March 5, 2009. A trustee was appointed on March 5, 2009 in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases of Eclipse Aviation Corporation and Eclipse IRB Sunport, LLC.

Hawker Beechcraft and Eclipse Owners Group Enter Into Letter of Intent

Very-Light-Jet.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:00:00 +0000

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA (April 7, 2009) — David Green, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Eclipse Owners Group (EOG) announced today that the EOG has signed a nonbinding Letter of Intent with Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC). The parties will now begin negotiations for a definitive binding agreement under which HBC would provide maintenance upgrades and other aircraft services to EOG members, consisting of individual Eclipse 500 owners.

AAI Acquisition Announces Search for Strategic Partner

Very-Light-Jet.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Englewood, CO
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Spectrum Aeronautical CEO Receives Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Very-Light-Jet.com — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Carlsbad, CA, January 23, 2009 – Spectrum Aeronautical announced today that on January 22, 2009, Living Legends of Aviation and the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy honored Linden Blue, Chairman and CEO of Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC, with the Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award. During the Sixth Annual Living Legends of Aviation ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA, Linden and other award recipients were honored at the sold out venue.

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Judge Approves Sale of Eclipse Aviation's Assets to EclipseJet Aviation International

Very-Light-Jet.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:30:00 +0000

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - January 20, 2009 - Today, Eclipse Aviation® announced that Judge Mary Walrath of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the sale of its assets for a combination of cash, equity and debt under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code to EclipseJet Aviation International, Inc. pending administrative closure on several remaining items.

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Embraer Makes The First Delivery Of The Phenom 100 Executive Jet

Very-Light-Jet.com — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Entry level aircraft delivered to U.S. customer
São José dos Campos, December 31, 2008 – Embraer announces that it made the first delivery of the Phenom 100 jet, on December 24, in São José dos Campos. The aircraft, which landed today in the U.S. after successfully completing its ferry flight, was recently certified by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil-ANAC) and by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Cirrus Names Brent Wouters CEO

Very-Light-Jet.com — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Duluth, Minn. (12/19/2008) - Alan Klapmeier, Chairman of Cirrus Design Corporation, today named Brent Wouters to the post of Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2009. Currently President & Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Wouters had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cirrus from early 2002 until March 2008.

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Embraer Phenom 100 Announcement

Very-Light-Jet.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:53:00 +0000

São José dos Campos, December 16, 2008 – Embraer informs that during a production test flight at the Company's facility in Gavião Peixoto, Sunday, December 14, a Phenom 100 aircraft went off the runway at low speed, following an otherwise normal landing.

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Embraer Breaks Ground For Its First US Assembly Plant

Very-Light-Jet.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Facility will support expansion of the Company’s executive jet business
São José dos Campos, December 4, 2008 – Embraer broke ground, today, for its first U.S. aircraft assembly plant and customer center at Melbourne International Airport. Present at the ceremony were Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Melbourne City Mayor Harry Goode, and other distinguished State and local officials manning ceremonial shovels, along with Embraer President & CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.

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