News and Analysis by Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C
Briefly; we have to
tell you that the following document, sent to Eclipse customers
Tuesday, is a bit of a shocker. While bankruptcy can absolve a
company of a number of liabilities; the extent to which Eclipse
(post-Raburn), is willing to alienate its suppliers, customers and
the industry (overall) is breathtaking in scope... if not
foolishness.
We have strong reasons to believe that the original concept put
forth by Eclipse a decade ago still has tremendous potential in
this industry. We've flown the airplane quite a bit, gotten to know
quite a few owners and operators and the bird just plain makes
sense (and flies damned well)... but with this latest development
and the shift in tone and (apparently) ethical direction on the
part of the Pieper-led company, we have strong doubts as to the
viability of this program from here on out.
This, folks, may be the last straw.
A resurrected Eclipse could have had a bright future -- but with
all the bad blood these decisions are likely to create and the
change in tone and direction we have seen from them since August,
we're pretty much calling this a lost cause.
Eclipse, under Raburn, was convoluted, controversial, and made a
lot of mistakes -- in pursuit of a dream that many still call
impossible... but NEVER did we find ourselves having been lied to
by the company (and certainly not by Raburn, who was open with us
to an amazing extent) or found an action deliberately designed to
create hardship for others.
This revamped company, AV (after Vern), appears to be none
of that -- and unless something truly drastic happens, we fear the
worst. It's a damned bloody shame... and we feel worst of all for
those who dreamed the dream and were left, instead, with a
nightmare. What a tragedy. -- Jim Campbell, E-I-C
Unedited Statement By Eclipse Aviation To Customers,
11.25.08
Today, Eclipse Aviation started a new era in its relatively
short existence. Eclipse filed for protection in a Delaware court
under Chapter 11 of the U. S. Bankruptcy Code. The company is using
Section 363 of the U.S. code to sell its assets and a lead bidder,
an affiliate of ETIRC Aviation, has filed an offer to purchase the
business out of reorganization. As part of this filing, there is
sufficient debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to allow the
company to operate until the sale is finalized in January 2009. The
process allows for the current company operating under protection
to continue the manufacture and support of the Eclipse 500.
While this is an extraordinarily difficult thing to face, it was
the best possible choice before the Board of Directors, the senior
lenders and the executive management team.
The implications of this action are many and certainly
complicated for everyone involved. While we have modeled many
different scenarios, at this time, until the sale is finalized, the
old company cannot disclose the final plans for things like
production, suppliers and deliveries in 2008 and 2009.
This letter will attempt to outline the immediate scenarios for
each constituency amongst the customer groups.
Customers who have taken delivery of their aircraft:
During the sale process, the new company intends to operate as a
going concern to support the Continued Airworthiness of the fleet.
However, there is a different path of interaction between customers
and the company operating in reorganization.
Warranty - Warranties are no longer covered by
the new company, post petition. Any and all maintenance work
performed on aircraft will be on a time and materials basis during
debtor-in-possession operations. The new company must decide if it
will honor any part of past warranties. Any outstanding warranty
claims submitted pre-petition will not be honored by Eclipse or the
new company.
If your aircraft is currently in an Eclipse service center for
maintenance, the new company will continue to work on it and return
it to service, on a time and materials payment basis.
JetComplete® - JetComplete contract
obligations are no longer being honored in this phase. It is too
early to tell if a new aftermarket product will be offered by the
new company. This means that Jeppessen and XM services (for the
Garmin 496) will no longer be offered and paid by Eclipse on your
behalf once your current subscriptions expire. Iridium services
will be maintained by the new company for DSU purposes. Customers
will be able to go directly to Jeppesen for service coverage so
they are not grounded by out of date databases.
Pratt & Whitney Canada- Those with engine
coverage as part of JetComplete will no longer have coverage
through JetComplete or PWC under JetComplete. Please contact PWC
for coverage in the Eagle Service Plan (ESP).
Spare parts- Debtor-in-possession financing
will allow for spare parts to be supplied for continued
airworthiness, providing the supplier is willing to continue
providing parts to Eclipse while in reorganization. In the event a
supplier is not willing to supply parts, the new company will be
forced to find an alternate source.
Eclipse service centers- All Eclipse service
centers will continue to operate while in debtor-in-possession for
service, maintenance events and continued airworthiness.
Authorized service centers - At this time,
Eclipse Aviation does not have any authorized service centers
although a new service model could be implemented by the new
company.
Post Delivery Commitments including modifications
- Modification plans at the expense of Eclipse will not be
honored in this phase of operations. Eclipse intends to sell
services and/or the parts kits to all customers who request to have
the final configuration installed on their aircraft. The new
company will determine how to provide these mod services to the
customer base after the sale.
The third party service centers that were intended to perform
these mods will be given every chance to fulfill that opportunity
for the new company and the Eclipse 500 customers.
Flight Training and maintenance training -
Flight training will continue as planned including recurrency
training but while in the debtor-in-possession phase, it is no
longer part of the purchase price of the aircraft. The new company
must determine what type of structure and inclusion in the
delivered price can be maintained. Because JetComplete contracts
are no longer valid, those requiring and scheduling recurrent
training will pay the retail price of that service. Maintenance
training classes will continue as required or requested.
Customers who have paid any deposit including the 60%
deposit:
Those customers who have paid a deposit for an Eclipse 500 are
unsecured creditors of Eclipse Aviation.
If there is a way to offer consideration to those affected
depositors, it will be reviewed for consideration but it is not
known at this time if it will be assumed by the new company.
Customer who have asked for a refund:
Customers who have asked for a refund are now an unsecured
creditor of Eclipse Aviation.
Eclipse 400 customers:
Customers who have asked for a refund are now an unsecured
creditor of Eclipse Aviation.
Those customers that have not asked for a 400 refund are an
unsecured creditor of Eclipse Aviation and must wait until the new
company decides whether to honor those deposits. The new company
will determine if the Single Engine Jet Concept is a viable
aircraft for today's market.
We truly understand that these are tremendously difficult times
for you and for our employees. However, please be aware that there
is not anything we are holding back from this communication so
additional facts or answers will not be available from the teams
staffing the phones.
The new company will continue the customer call events to update
all customers on status and progress. The next one will be
scheduled by the Customer care team.
Michael McConnell, Eclipse Aviation Corporation
President & General Manager, Customer Division