What Is a VLJ? 

Ah yes, remember the good old days when discussions concerning VLJ's consisted of," just wait"... "next year"... and especially, "a jet a for under one million"?  Well those days seem to have gone the way of the Sky Car, you know, one in every garage.  While VLJ's are certainly alive and well the original specifications for a VLJ seemed to have been stretched just a little.

Now stretching is not necessarily a bad thing, as the VLJ industy moves through its infancy you can expect some growing pains.  Let's take a look at what defines an aircraft as a VLJ.

• A turbine aircraft, either single or dual
• A maximum certified take off weight of 10,000 lbs or less
• Single pilot certified
• Advanced cockpit automation
• Automated Engine and Systems Management
• Integrated Autoflight and Guidance Systems
• Priced at "around" $1 million

The list above represents the basic outline for an aircraft to be placed into the VLJ category.  The last item of price is the area that has seen drastic change in the past year.  Eclipse Aviation has increased the production cost of their Eclipse 500 during the last year and Honda has brought their VLJ the HondaJet out with price tag of $3.6 million.

It should come as no surprise that VLJ's have grown in price as aircraft inch closer to certification and delivery.  Of course everyone fell in love with the "jet for under one million" dream but the bigger picture shows technology and efficiency helping to pave the way for the VLJ's as well as enhancements in other aircraft types.

Singel pilot operation requiers automation throughout the cockpit and the price point for a VLJ will still have individuals buying into these aircraft with aspirations of flying themselves.  Advances in flight guidance systems from the likes of Garmin and Honeywell are helping in this regard.

Embraer is rolling out it's Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft, meeting two price points at $2.85 million and $6.6 million, but seemingly breaking the maximum takeoff weight limitation.  Grob Aerospace's SPn coming in at 13,889 lbs also seems to be stretching that rule as well.

Will a VLJ stay a VLJ or will we soon see the VLJ+ family.  All the promise of the VLJ but "just a little bit larger".  While the weight of VLJ's continues to grow along with the price tag it's important to remember that single pilot certification will certainly be the one characteristic that doesn't get stretched.

For comparisons of all VLJ aircraft be sure to check out the Very-Light-Jet.Com VLJ Comparisons Page.