March 9, 2007 PMI-Media. The very light jet (VLJ) order book now stands at 4,010 aircraft, with 14 aircraft types competing in this new aviation sector, according to latest VLJ forecast from aerospace consultants PMI-Media. (http://www.pmi-media.com)
The letter sent out by Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn on March 2 detailing the technical issues which have delayed the production of Eclipse 500s - and their potential remedies - suggests the problems facing the company are more deep-seated than previously realized. While some of these problems are largely technical there do appear to other more deep-seated issues, such as the shortage in appropriately qualified technical staff and "quality" problems with suppliers which suggest it will take the company far longer to achieve the 1,000 aircraft a year production rate it is currently planning.
These delays will have an important impact on the overall market as customers, both corporate and private, look for alternative aircraft sources if the Eclipse 500 production problems are not solved within the next three or four months. Companies having the experience to type-certify and build previous types, such as Embraer and Diamond, are likely to see increases in demand.
* PMI-Media's next aviation market report Aircraft and the environment will provide a comprehensive review of the aviation industry's efforts to decouple future air transport growth from increased environmental impact. It will be available in late March 2007. For more information on the report, please visit http://www.pmi-media.com, or contact Rainer Vogel, tel: +49 7305 927292, rainer.vogel at pmi-media.com
