South African businessman Kobus Dicks has taken delivery of an Eclipse jet, the first to be operated anywhere in Africa.

“I am extremely pleased with the efficiency and speed of my Eclipse,” he says. “My business takes me throughout the country on a weekly basis, and I'm able to visit multiple facilities in a truly advanced single pilot aircraft that has wholly surpassed my expectations.”

Eclipse Aerospace and National Airways Corporation, Eclipse's distributor for southern Africa, worked to obtain the aircraft's type certificate from the South African CAA, following its first appearance in Africa at the AAD show at Waterkloof in September last year. It is the 46th country in which the Eclipse is certified for use.

SimCom Training Centers, located in Florida, has been approved as the Eclipse simulator training service by the SACAA. Francois Naude, the first South African instructor to be rated on the Eclipse, and Colin Fletcher from NAC both attended the FAA and SACAA approved Eclipse OEM pilot training programme in Chicago, Illinois.

JP Fourie, NAC's director of fixed wing sales, says: “It has been an absolute delight to work with the Eclipse team to make this a reality. We are now perfectly positioned to service our customers in Africa and South Africa with a product that is top of its class, and fully supported by Eclipse Aerospace, who excel in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.”

Ken Ross, Eclipse Aerospace president of global services, comments: “We are excited to welcome Kobus Dicks as the first Eclipse Jet owner, not just in South Africa but on the African continent.”

National Airways Corporation was established in 1946 and has become the largest general aviation company in Africa. From its headquarters at Lanseria airport in Johannesburg, NAC operates a South African network of offices in Cape Town, Durban, Grand Central airport, Wonderboom airport and Rand airport.