Once reserved for the seriously rich or the seriously rock 'n' roll, private jets will soon be within easier reach, thanks to a new breed of low-cost lightweight planes that are expected to revolutionize the corporate aviation sector.
Earlier this month, U.S. manufacturer Eclipse Aviation began manufacturing the first of more than 2,000 pre-ordered aircraft that will sell for just over $1.2 million dollars, roughly one fifth of the price of standard business jets.
Provided the Eclipse 500 stays on track to graduate successfully from its flight-testing program, the completed jets are expected to take to the skies later this year.
The brainchild of former Microsoft executive Vern Raburn, the six-seater Eclipse 500 is one of clutch of new private aircraft known as VLJ, or very light jets, poised to storm the market.
Manufacturers have used lightweight materials and cutting-edge electronics to lower costs and improve fuel efficiency while still delivering speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour.
Hot on the heels of the Eclipse is Cessna's Citation Mustang, expected head down the runway at the same time as its rival, but carrying a price tag of $2.6 million. A more direct competitor, the $1 million, five-man Diamond D-Jet, will retail for around $1 million when it debuts in late 2007.
The lower price tags are likely to prove a big hit with public companies whose high-flying executives must answer to shareholders who consider previously considered private jet ownership an extravagence too far.
But with the success of the new jets currently resting on the nascent pay-per-seat air taxi sector, doubts remain over whether the VLJs can really cut it in a strictly limited market place.
Although the U.S. has a relatively good infrastructure of smaller airfields, there are still issues to resolve over pilot training and air traffic control before the air taxi model can become viable on a wider scale.
"In terms of personal use, the Eclipse 500 is going to take off, people are dying to get their hands on them," says Kate Sarsfield from Flight International magazine.
"But as far as air taxis are concerned, I don't know. Convenience, reliability and safety are the big issues here," she stated.
"The question is whether people who are used to Lear jets and larger charter flights will be happy in the Eclipse's smaller cabin. We don't know whether that concept is going to work."
With its huge waiting list for initial orders likely to keep it buoyant in the short-term, Eclipse may also face a price war when its nearest rival comes on line.
"Diamond will be huge in terms of sales," predicts Sarsfield.
By: N. Peter Kramer
