Eclipse has announced their optional equipment offerings for the Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ) that enable customers to equip their aircraft to their specific operational needs. These options complement the Eclipse 500's extensive standard features, and, like the Eclipse jet, are offered at prices unmatched in general aviation. On average the Eclipse 500 options announced today are 30 percent less expensive that those offered on comparable aircraft.

"Most general aviation manufacturers offer decades-old airframe designs, with an unfailing increase in price each year," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation.

"We are taking a page from the computer industry, where customers demand consistent increases in functionality, at a lower cost. Our standard Eclipse 500 aircraft changes the value proposition by offering impressive performance and an extensive set of features for $1.175 million. This announcement builds on this foundation by adding high-quality, appropriately priced options that allow customers to tailor their aircraft to their needs."

The Eclipse 500 comes with standard equipment previously available only in mid size and large cabin business jets. For example, the standard Eclipse 500 includes autothrottle, which is not currently available on any aircraft under $20 million. In addition, the Eclipse 500 includes as standard a two zone vapor cycle air conditioning system - a $109,500 option for the new Learjet 40. The jet also comes standard with a third EFIS display, an option that costs an additional $118,150 on a new Cessna CJ1.

Building on this exceptional standard offering, the select options announced by Eclipse today allow the Eclipse 500 to be tailored to meet the specific operational needs of customers. They include:

Part 135 Package - for on-demand air taxi or charter services, this package adds the equipment necessary to comply with FARs and provides conveniences found in aircraft for hire.

The Part 135 package includes:

• Third Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS)
• 40-ft3 oxygen tank (replacement to standard 22-ft3 tank)
• One active-noise reduction headset
• Second handheld microphone
• 2-D cell flashlight
• Five passenger-briefing cards
• Cockpit/cabin privacy curtain
• Three AC power outlets

International Operations Package - this package is for customers who will operate in Europe and other international destinations that still require ground-based navigational aids not needed in the U.S. It includes Dual Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) and Dual Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), integrated into the Avio displays.

Copilot Package - provides all equipment needed to operate the aircraft with a second pilot including:

• Copilot side keyboard
• Second quick-don oxygen mask with built-in microphone
• Right-hand-side communications cross-over switch

Other available options announced supplement the safety features found in the standard Eclipse 500 color weather radar, traffic information services (TIS), terrain database and data-linked graphical weather system. These include:

Stormscope(r) WX-500 and Skywatch(r) HP - Customers will have the option to improve their ability to avoid adverse weather and enhance their situational awareness with L3's Stormscope WX-500 and SkyWatch HP. Bundled for cost efficiency; Stormscope pinpoints lightning not shown on color weather radar, while SkyWatch tracks other aircraft up to 35 nm away. Stormscope and SkyWatch are fully integrated into Avio displays.

The equipment includes:

• L3 Avionics Systems Stormscope WX-500
• L3 Avionics Systems SkyWatch HP
• Software upgrades for Avio display

Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) - surveillance of other aircraft is greatly enhanced with ADS-B. Effective on the ground and in the air, ADS-B provides real-time information of the position, speed and direction of other aircraft, for more effective avoidance. It is integrated into the Avio displays.

Equipment includes:

• Garmin GDL90 UAT
• Software upgrades for Avio display

Class B Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) - both situational awareness and terrain avoidance can be enhanced with the addition of TAWS. This system features alert modes for forward-looking terrain avoidance and premature descent. Ground proximity warning modes for excessive descent rate, descending within 500 feet of terrain and negative climb rate are also provided, along with a terrain map displayed on Avio.

Equipment included: 

• L3 Avionics Systems LandMark(tm) TAWS
• Software upgrades for Avio display

Taxi/Recognition Lights - Taxi lights, with pulse-recognition capability, improve nighttime operations and safety. Embedded in wingtip tanks, Taxi/Recognition Lights automatically switch from ground-mode, steady-state taxi lights to pulse-recognition upon takeoff, reducing pilot workload while increasing visibility to other aircraft.

The standard Eclipse 500 is also fully IFR capable, approved for flight into known icing and group-certified for reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) requirements. The standard equipped Eclipse 500 cockpit features dual primary flight displays (PFD), a multi-function display (MFD), flight management system, three-axis autopilot, color weather radar, dual VHF nav/comm radios, dual localizer and glideslope, dual mode S transponders, dual WAAS-enabled GPS receivers, dual attitude heading reference systems (AHRS) with air data computers, dual pitot-static systems and autothrottle.

FMI: www.eclipseaviation.com