Jet Makers Hope to Eclipse Expectations
Troy Hooper -
Aspen Daily News
Wed 08/29/2007 06:01AM MST
Long lines, maddening customer service and security hassles are the
usual reasons to switch from commercial to private jets for those
who can afford it.
But now there's a new lure: private jets just got a lot less
expensive.
The introduction of "very light jets" — a big buzzword in aviation
circles these days — has made owning a plane a possibility for
almost half the price of the next lowest-priced jet. Eclipse
Aviation, based in Albuquerque, N.M., takes credit for producing the
world's first very light jet, or VLJ, which it now sells for $1.52
million. The next lowest-priced jet that has received Federal
Aviation Administration approval is a Citation Mustangfor $2.7
million. Beyond that, private jets typically begin running at $4
million. The ubiquitous Gulfstream jets in Aspen start at $14.5
million and end at about $49 million.
Demand for private jet travel soared at the end of the last century.
There were an estimated 1,800 corporate planes in 1970 compared to
the current estimate of 18,000. The FAA projects a minimum of 9,000
new corporate jets will be delivered over the next 10 years — some
analysts forecast the number at closer to 12,000 — with experts
predicting that about 4,000 of those will be VLJs. Total flight time
for private jets over the next decade is supposed to increase at a
rate three times that of flight time for commercial jets.
"We bring value into aviation. We can sell lots of them. We're
striving to be the Dell computers of the private aviation industry,"
said Mike McConnell, vice president of sales and marketing for
Eclipse, as he showed off the Eclipse 500 at the Aspen/Pitkin County
Airport as part of a nationwide tour this summer.
Between the time of its first aircraft delivery on Dec. 31, 2006,
and the end of June 2007, Eclipse had certified a total of 31
Eclipse 500s and delivered 22 of them to customers. Additionally,
there are more than 2,600 of the jets ordered along with
nonrefundable deposits put down. So far, there are 26 Eclipse
customers in Colorado with at least two of them in Aspen. But more
are coming.
"You'll be seeing a lot of these with the A-list crowd," McConnell
predicted.
Eclipse has blazed the trail in the VLJ market and other companies
are following suit. Corporate juggernauts such as Honda and Cessna
are investing hundreds of millions of dollars on
10,000-pounds-and-lighter jets on schedule for 2010.
In all, over 700 VLJs are expected on the world's runways next year.
The jets seat between two and six passengers, require only one pilot
and are quieter than most because the engines are set far back on
the jets' 35-foot-long frame.
While private owners account for many of the VLJs on order,
fractional ownership and charter companies are also entering the mix
with industry watchers zeroed in on Florida-based DayJet, which
hopes to have at least 50 Eclipse 500 jets in the air by year's end.
Another company, Massachusetts-based Linear Air, has ordered 30 of
the jets to add to its fleet. The speed of the VLJs — over 400 miles
per hour — can allow clients to travel to a meeting and back in one
day. Air taxis and fractional jet services are expected to absorb a
large number of VLJs — an interesting prospect given Ohio-based
Flight Options LLC last week ranked Aspen as its No. 2 destination
for summer travelers, trailing Las Vegas. There is also an influx of
new jet services, such as Sky Shares in Denver.
It's too early to tell how much of an impact VLJs might have in
Aspen, according to Fred Mosher, general manager of Atlantic
Aviation — the base operation for generation aviation at Aspen-Pitkin
County Airport.
Contrary to popular belief, the number of private planes landing in
Aspen has actually declined since 1999, according to FAA statistics.
Eight years ago, the number of private jet landings reached 31,724
and has steadily declined to 24,693 in 2006. This year is expected
to be even lower because the airport shut down for improvements for
much of the spring. Because private jets have grown larger — many of
them are pushing the airports 95-foot-wide wingspan rule — casual
observers mistook more congestion on the tarmac to mean more actual
jets.
If VLJ sales do take off in Aspen, Mosher joked it would free up
space.
About Jet-Alliance
Jet-Alliance, Inc. is the leading Fractional Jet Ownership Company
in the new VLJ (Very Light Jet) category of aircraft. Headquartered
in Westlake Village, California, Jet-Alliance is offering ownership
opportunities in the Eclipse 500 private jet, starting at $225,000.
For additional information, call 888-234-7526.
Secure a position on our
waiting list.
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