Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, has announced details of its pilot training programme., which is designed to provide superior training for pilots of all experience levels.

The Eclipse 500 is a twinjet aircraft that will be certified for single-pilot operation. As standard for any jet aircraft, a type rating will be required for all Eclipse 500 pilots.

“Through this programme, we will do more than teach a pilot to operate our aircraft.

“We will ensure that graduates of our training school are highly-trained, skilled aviators,” said Vern Raburn, president and ceo of Eclipse. “We feel so strongly about this that if someone is unable to meet the requirements of our training programme, we will refund their deposit.”

Training will take place at Eclipse headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico and recurrency training will be required annually.

All pilots entering the Eclipse 500 training programmes must have a private pilot’s licence, multi-engine rating and instrument rating.

Eclipse says one jet transition precourse and one type rating course will be provided free with each Eclipse 500 jet, with additional programmes to be available at the customer's expense. Type training admission evaluation and preparation is at the cost of the customer, and will be priced separately for each individual. Although the price for additional training programmes has not yet been determined, at this time it is expected that the type training admission evaluation will be priced between $500 and $750.

The jet transition precourse will be available by mid-2003. Type training admission evaluation and preparation will be available in Q4 2003. The type rating course and mentor programme will

be available at first customer delivery of the Eclipse 500, scheduled for January 2004.