Eclipse Aerospace, born out of failed company Eclipse Aviation, has won Federal Aviation Administration approval for all Eclipse 500 very light jets to fly again at 41,000ft.

The company says the move - which involves installing recently-recertificated combustion liners on the aircraft's two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610Fs to solve a problem of carbon build-up on the static vane of some engines - is "the last in a long list of certification projects" to return the aircraft to full service.

Eclipse Aerospace, which bought the assets of the original Eclipse last year and supports the fleet of 260 Eclipse 500s, wants to eventually return the VLJ to production.

However, Mason Holland, chairman and chief executive, sounds a note of caution.

"Are we announcing production restart yet? No, but I think we are sending some strong signals to the market of our intentions, as we are on target with all major elements of our business plan," he says.

Source: Flight International

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