Says DOT IG Cited 'Hearsay' In His Report
Below is the "Fact Sheet" released by Eclipse Aviation late
Wednesday afternoon, in response to testimony heard before the
House Transportation and Infrastructure committee on concerns over
the certification of the Eclipse 500 VLJ. Specifically, Eclipse
addresses what it terms misinformation and "hearsay" cited by
Calvin Scovel, Inspector General for the Department of
Transportation.
ANN has only edited this report for formatting; no text has
been altered or removed -- Ed.
Statement 1: The Eclipse 500 was designed for use on
“soft fields” and certified tires not designed for
hard, paved runways.
- Reality 1: The Eclipse 500 was not designed or
approved for unpaved fields, nor was that capability ever sought in
certification. The tires delivered on the Eclipse 500 are not
meeting their promised durability from the supplier and a change in
tire type is in FAA certification testing now.
Statement 2: FAA granted ODAR status in 2002 before
approving the design of the aircraft without the “proven
experience to perform the functions requested”.
- Reality 2: Eclipse received ODAR status on
four items in 2002, all relating to suppliers. In fact, Eclipse did
not receive full ODAR status until seven months after it received
its Production Certificate. A new company does not equal
inexperienced people.
Statement 3: EASA has declined to certify the Eclipse
500 for operation in Europe.
- Reality 3: EASA has not declined to certify
the Eclipse 500 and in fact, there is an agreed to line of sight to
receive EASA certification, without restrictions within the next 60
days.
Statement 4: In interviewing Eclipse’s largest
customer and operator of the Eclipse 500, one pilot "lacked the
confidence that the aircraft could be operated safely by a single
pilot." Therefore, the IG is recommending that the Single Pilot
certification be reviewed.
- Reality 4: This is hearsay and selectively
choosing a single pilot to push the agenda of changing the Single
Pilot certification of the Eclipse 500. The Eclipse 500’s
demonstrated safety record speaks to the fact that the
aircraft’s fundamental design combined with Eclipse’s
FAA approved training program is working today and producing the
safest aircraft introduced into general aviation in the last twenty
years.
Fact 1: FAA Special Certification Review report
and press release confirms that the Eclipse 500 is safe and that
there no reasons to believe that the certification of the E500 was
rushed or should not have been granted. The FAA stands firm on its
position that the Eclipse 500 is safe and was certified correctly
based on all established requirements.
Fact 2: The Congressional hearing is about the
FAA and its procedures through which it certifies all aircraft.
Eclipse Aviation was chosen as a test case and speaks of the many
political discussions in front of the upcoming elections.
- The Congressional hearing is about the past procedures and
possible errors within the FAA itself.
- The FAA press release on the Special Certification review and
subsequently, the full report confirms that the Eclipse 500 is safe
today, the FAA stands by its certification decisions and that is
what counts for Eclipse today.
Fact 3: The Eclipse 500 is one of the safest
and most tested aircraft ever introduced into the market. The
safety record reflects relatively small incidents and no injuries
or fatalities. This safety record is a testimony to the fact that
the aircraft was certified correctly following FAA established
procedures, testing and certification requirements.
Fact 4: The Eclipse 500 will be EASA certified
within a matter of weeks based on current estimates from EASA. The
renewed cooperation with the EASA team allows us to make that
statement publicly. This would also confirm and support the FAA SCR
press release and its position that the Eclipse 500 is safe.