Eclipse has announced their
optional equipment offerings for the Eclipse 500 very light jet
(VLJ) that enable customers to equip their aircraft to their
specific operational needs. These options complement the Eclipse
500's extensive standard features, and, like the Eclipse jet, are
offered at prices unmatched in general aviation. On average the
Eclipse 500 options announced today are 30 percent less expensive
that those offered on comparable aircraft.
"Most general aviation manufacturers offer decades-old airframe
designs, with an unfailing increase in price each year," said Vern
Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation.
"We are taking a page from the computer industry, where
customers demand consistent increases in functionality, at a lower
cost. Our standard Eclipse 500 aircraft changes the value
proposition by offering impressive performance and an extensive set
of features for $1.175 million. This announcement builds on this
foundation by adding high-quality, appropriately priced options
that allow customers to tailor their aircraft to their needs."
The Eclipse 500 comes with standard equipment previously
available only in mid size and large cabin business jets. For
example, the standard Eclipse 500 includes autothrottle, which is
not currently available on any aircraft under $20 million. In
addition, the Eclipse 500 includes as standard a two zone vapor
cycle air conditioning system - a $109,500 option for the new
Learjet 40. The jet also comes standard with a third EFIS display,
an option that costs an additional $118,150 on a new Cessna
CJ1.
Building on this exceptional standard offering, the select
options announced by Eclipse today allow the Eclipse 500 to be
tailored to meet the specific operational needs of customers. They
include:
Part 135 Package - for on-demand air taxi or
charter services, this package adds the equipment necessary to
comply with FARs and provides conveniences found in aircraft for
hire.
The Part 135 package includes:
- Third Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS)
- 40-ft3 oxygen tank (replacement to standard 22-ft3 tank)
- One active-noise reduction headset
- Second handheld microphone
- 2-D cell flashlight
- Five passenger-briefing cards
- Cockpit/cabin privacy curtain
- Three AC power outlets
International Operations Package - this package
is for customers who will operate in Europe and other international
destinations that still require ground-based navigational aids not
needed in the U.S. It includes Dual Automatic Direction Finder
(ADF) and Dual Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), integrated into
the Avio displays.
Copilot Package - provides all equipment needed
to operate the aircraft with a second pilot including:
- Copilot side keyboard
- Second quick-don oxygen mask with built-in microphone
- Right-hand-side communications cross-over switch
Other available options announced supplement the safety features
found in the standard Eclipse 500 color weather radar, traffic
information services (TIS), terrain database and data-linked
graphical weather system. These include:
Stormscope(r) WX-500 and Skywatch(r) HP -
Customers will have the option to improve their ability to avoid
adverse weather and enhance their situational awareness with L3's
Stormscope WX-500 and SkyWatch HP. Bundled for cost efficiency;
Stormscope pinpoints lightning not shown on color weather radar,
while SkyWatch tracks other aircraft up to 35 nm away. Stormscope
and SkyWatch are fully integrated into Avio displays.
The equipment includes:
- L3 Avionics Systems Stormscope WX-500
- L3 Avionics Systems SkyWatch HP
- Software upgrades for Avio display
Automatic Dependent
Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) - surveillance of other
aircraft is greatly enhanced with ADS-B. Effective on the ground
and in the air, ADS-B provides real-time information of the
position, speed and direction of other aircraft, for more effective
avoidance. It is integrated into the Avio displays.
Equipment includes:
- Garmin GDL90 UAT
- Software upgrades for Avio display
Class B Terrain Awareness and Warning System
(TAWS) - both situational awareness and terrain avoidance
can be enhanced with the addition of TAWS. This system features
alert modes for forward-looking terrain avoidance and premature
descent. Ground proximity warning modes for excessive descent rate,
descending within 500 feet of terrain and negative climb rate are
also provided, along with a terrain map displayed on Avio.
Equipment included:
- L3 Avionics Systems LandMark(tm) TAWS
- Software upgrades for Avio display
Taxi/Recognition Lights - Taxi lights, with
pulse-recognition capability, improve nighttime operations and
safety. Embedded in wingtip tanks, Taxi/Recognition Lights
automatically switch from ground-mode, steady-state taxi lights to
pulse-recognition upon takeoff, reducing pilot workload while
increasing visibility to other aircraft.
The standard Eclipse 500 is also fully IFR capable, approved for
flight into known icing and group-certified for reduced vertical
separation minimum (RVSM) requirements. The standard equipped
Eclipse 500 cockpit features dual primary flight displays (PFD), a
multi-function display (MFD), flight management system, three-axis
autopilot, color weather radar, dual VHF nav/comm radios, dual
localizer and glideslope, dual mode S transponders, dual
WAAS-enabled GPS receivers, dual attitude heading reference systems
(AHRS) with air data computers, dual pitot-static systems and
autothrottle.