News Item
01.07.13
Eclipse Submits RFI to USAF Request for Very Light Jet Fleet
Albuquerque, NM, January 7, 2013- Eclipse Aerospace responded today to the U.S. Air Force’s Request for Information (RFI) for a large fleet of Very Light Jets (VLJ) to support their Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) Multi-place Training Track. Eclipse Aerospace’s proposed solution could save 13 million gallons of jet fuel per year.
Currently operating a 20 year old fleet of legacy business jets that has become increasingly expensive to support and maintain, the Air Force is examining innovative industry approaches to meeting SUPT syllabus requirements in a more affordable and cost effective manner.
Mason Holland, Eclipse’s CEO stated “I have met with senior Air Force leaders and they are looking for an efficient and affordable solution to their challenges offering an innovative and quickly implementable alternative from industry. In our response to the RFI we have proposed a solution that is expected to save the USAF hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years while upgrading their fleet with the most efficient and technologically advanced light jet currently in production.”
“Our submittal,” Holland continued, “was fully responsive to the Air Force’s request. It shows that the Eclipse Jet meets and/or exceeds all of the SUPT syllabus requirements. More important, from a budgetary viewpoint, our response demonstrates how the USAF can save over one Billion dollars of O&M costs over ten years by converting to an Eclipse Jet fleet.” The Eclipse Jet is 70% more fuel-efficient and 70% less costly to support than the current SUPT legacy aircraft.
As the largest consumer of jet fuel in the U.S. Government, the Air Force is seeking ways to reduce their fuel consumption and operating costs. By converting the SUPT program to the Eclipse Jet, the USAF could save 130 million gallons of jet fuel over 10 years.
“The Eclipse Jet is the perfect airplane for this Air Force mission,” said Eclipse Aerospace Co-Founder Mike Press, a retired Air Force Colonel. “The Air Force is looking for significant savings and affordable solutions in this very tight budget environment and the Eclipse Jet is the only light jet that can meet the mission requirements, while at the same time providing the significant cost savings in fuel and operational support that the Air Force needs. At today’s cost of jet fuel, fuel costs alone for this program would decrease by more than $500 million.”
Other Press Releases:
05.13.13: Crownair Selected as Factory Authorized Gold Service Center for Eclipse Twin-Engine Jets
04.09.13: Eclipse Launches Tour of Modern, Updated Production Facility
03.28.13: Eclipse Receives Production Certificate for EA550 Final Assembly
03.18.13: Eclipse 550 Jet 'Powered Up' on Its Way to First Delivery
10.31.12: Eclipse Reveals Lexavia as Enhanced Vision Supplier
10.30.12: IS&S and Eclipse Aerospace Announce Production Order for Eclipse 550 Flightdeck
09.26.12: Eclipse Announces Anti-Skid Brakes
07.24.12: Eclipse Aerospace Announces Brazilian Type Certification Validation
07.25.12: Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW610 Engine Selected to Power New Eclipse 550 Aircraft
07.03.12: Eclipse Aerospace Announces "Total Eclipse = Total Savings" Program
06.04.12: Eclipse Announces Official Start of Production of 550 Model
05.15.12: PZL Mielec, a Sikorsky Company, Contracted to Build Eclipse 550 Airframe
04.25.12: Eclipse Receives Production Certificate from FAA for the Eclipse 550
04.19.12: Eclipse Operator Receives Part 135 Paperless Cockpit Approval
02.22.12: iPad App Announced for Eclipse Jet Owners
11.14.11: EAI Announces UAE Type Certificate Validation & 5 Aircraft Sales Into Region
10.10.11: An Eclipse Jet is donated to the Veterans Airlift Command at NBAA
10.10.11: Eclipse 550: Now Taking Orders
07.28.11: Eclipse Sales Take Off at EAA AirVenture 2011
07.25.11: Eclipse Jet Returns to 41,000 Feet
06.23.11: PhostrEx Receives FAA Approval
06.08.11: Total Eclipse Over Birmingham
06.06.11: Eclipse Sells Out Avio IFMS Upgrades for 2011
03.30.11: Eclipse Receives STC for Avio IFMS
02.02.11: Sikorsky Aircraft Completes Investment in Eclipse Aerospace
10.20.10: Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Announce an Agreement in Principle for Sikorsky to Make an Investment in Eclipse
10.19.10: Eclipse Aerospace & IS&S Announce an Integrated FMS for Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet
09.20.10: Eclipse Aerospace Announces Release of Enhanced Windshield, Return to 41,000 Feet
09.02.10: SimCom's Eclipse Sims Receive FAA Level D Certification
05.26.10: Eclipse Aerospace Announces Eclipse Aircraft Insurance Program
05.06.10: Boca Aircraft Maintenance Named US Southeast Factory Authorized Gold Service Center for Eclipse Aerospace
04.19.10: Eclipse Aerospace Announces Platinum Service Center in Istanbul
03.29.10: Eclipse Aerospace Announces Introduction of the Total Eclipse®
03.18.10: Eclipse Selects SimCom as Training Partner
02.26.10: Eclipse 500 Meets Environmental and Economical Needs of U-Haul International
