Eclipse Aviation yesterday ended its contractual relationship with Avidyne, provider of the primary and multi-function flight displays and associated software, called the Avio Total Aircraft Integration System, for the Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ).
“We have agreed it is in the mutual best interest of both companies, and our customers, to wind down our relationship and go separate ways,” said an Eclipse spokesman in an email to Flight on Sunday.
“This change has no effect on Eclipse 500 production and delivery,” the note continued. “All near-term customer aircraft will have the Avidyne components installed, and Eclipse will be retrofitting these early deliveries with the new components. The exact timing of the production cut-in is currently being finalised.”
Eclipse said it has partnered with “an impressive new team of proven, reliable suppliers” to deliver the Avio functionality for the twin-jet VLJ, which received US FAA certification in December. The company has delivered one aircraft so far.
“Our team has been working closely with this group behind-the-scenes for a number of months, and has already made significant progress,” wrote the spokesman. “We expect changes to be seamless for our customers from a standpoint of Eclipse 500 functionality, look and feel.”
The company said it would reveal its new suppliers and detail its specific plans for the Avio “within the next two weeks.”
Source: FlightGlobal.com
