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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

FAA Says It Will Review Eclipse Very Light Jets

By Joan Lowy
Associated Press
      Federal aviation officials said Wednesday they are conducting an unusual 30-day review of the Eclipse 500 very light jets in response to reports of known safety problems when the jets were certified for flight in 2006.
    The Federal Aviation Administration said it put together a review team on Aug. 11 to look at the jets' safety and certification, including issues that have been the subject of complaints from aircraft operators involving aircraft trim, flaps, screen blanking, and stall speeds.
    In the last 10 years, the agency has conducted only six similar special reviews of a particular model of aircraft, said FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette.
    The review comes as the FAA is facing scrutiny from Congress and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel regarding its certification of the jets.
    "The question is whether FAA did what its supposed to do in certifying this jet," said Jim Berard, a spokesman for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has scheduled a Sept. 17 hearing on the issue.
    Scovel, who is also investigating the manner in which FAA approved the jets, is expected to testify.
    The union representing FAA's certification employees, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, filed a grievance after the jets were certified, contending the approval came despite outstanding safety and regulatory issues.
    On June 12, the FAA ordered immediate inspections of the jets' throttle mechanisms after an Eclipse 500 made an emergency landing in Chicago.
    Eclipse Aviation of Albuquerque, N.M., the aircraft's manufacturer, said it welcomes FAA's review.
    "Without a doubt, this special review will uncover what we already know — that the Eclipse 500 marks the safest new airplane introduction into service in 20 years," said Roel Pieper, Eclipse Aviation's CEO. "Customer safety has always been a priority at Eclipse, and we look forward to this investigation dispelling any inaccuracies about the certification of this airplane for once and for all."
    Pieper replaced the cash-strapped jet manufacturer's founder, Vern Raburn, as CEO last month.

Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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