Eclipse 500s To Be Assembled In 'State-Of-The-Art' Ulyanovsk Factory

Eclipse Aviation has confirmed to ANN, that the Russian State Bank Vnesheconombank (VEB) Supervisory Board, chaired by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has approved the construction of a factory in Ulyanovsk, Russia to assemble the Eclipse 500. VEB announced that it expects to finance the project in full, with a total value of $205 million. VEB and the Ulyanovsk region administration will be among the shareholders of the enterprise.

"VEB’s decision to support the Eclipse 500 at this level, illustrates the strength of the global demand for this amazing jet," said Roel Pieper, Eclipse Aviation CEO. "Obtaining this approval and financing is an enormous step forward in our efforts to globalize the Eclipse 500 and create a highly-competitive worldwide business model for Eclipse Aviation."

Eclipse Aviation has already received approval from the United States and Canada to export the Eclipse 500 Jet and its components to Russia. Production in the factory located at the Ulyanovsk-Vostochny International Airport is expected to begin in 2010.

The factory's ultimate capacity is projected to be 800 jets a year. The company took pains to stress that production at Eclipse's headquarters in Albuquerque, NM will continue "in full" prior to and following the start of the Russian facility's operations.

Eclipse Aviation has already confirmed that export of the Eclipse 500 Jet components to Russia complies with United States and Canadian export regulations.

European Technology and Investment Research Center (ETIRC) Aviation is the exclusive provider of sales, customer service, maintenance support and flight training for the Eclipse 500 in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Republic of Turkey.

As ANN reported, in January ETIRC Aviation made a substantial investment to keep the struggling planemaker afloat. A key element of that investment granted ETIRC Aviation the right to establish local assembly of the Eclipse 500 within its region.

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com