Approved In India, Australia; EASA Approval 'On Track For This Summer'

Eclipse Aviation announced Thursday the company has made strides towards expanding its global reach. The Albuquerque, NM-based planemaker told ANN it has received certification to register and operate the Eclipse 500 in India and Australia... and anticipates receipt of EASA certification later this year.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India granted the first foreign country Eclipse 500 certification on April 7, and the Civil Aviation Safety Agency (CASA) in Australia approved the Eclipse 500 on April 22. The certifications mark the first foreign aviation entities to approve the Eclipse 500, and allows customers to register and operate their Eclipse jets in those two countries.

"These accomplishments mark the first of many worldwide Eclipse 500 certifications," said Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and CEO. "We are experiencing a tremendous amount of interest for the Eclipse 500 outside of the United States, and these certifications in India and Australia position us to meet the strong demand for this innovative aircraft in these countries."

Certification in India and Australia grants Eclipse approval to export aircraft, receive Eclipse 500 certificates of airworthiness, and list the Eclipse 500 on the registry in these countries.

When asked by ANN to comment on the status of European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, a company spokesperson said Eclipse was "on track for this summer."

EASA certification is necessary for the aircraft to be registered in the European Union, and for European air taxi companies to operate the plane on revenue flights.

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com, http://dgca.nic.in/, http://casa.gov.au/