Eclipse Revises Pilot Training

Eclipse Aviation has found two new partners to provide pilot training for its Eclipse 500 jet.

Flight Simulation Co. of The Netherlands and Higher Power Aviation Inc., based in Dallas, will work with Eclipse to implement a training program approved earlier this year by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The two companies will replace Eclipse's original training partner, United Airlines. Last month, Eclipse and United decided to eventually part ways for undisclosed reasons.

In the meantime, United is providing flight skills assessment in Denver for prospective pilots for the $1.5 million, six-seat jet, said Eclipse spokesman Andrew Broom.

"We have classes going right now (in Albuquerque) using actual owner planes," he said. The classes range in size from five to 10 pilots each week.

Eventually, thousands of prospective Eclipse 500 pilots will travel to Albuquerque to take training at Double Eagle II Airport on the West Side.

Eclipse has sold 2,500 of its new jets and each one will likely have two or more trained pilots, Broom said. The training here can be completed in around 10 days, he said.

Double Eagle is the training hub because Eclipse plans to house four flight simulators in a 41,500-square-foot building there. Manufactured by Florida-based Opinicus Corp., the first simulator is scheduled to arrive in June.

Flight Simulation Co. will be the overall administrator of Eclipse's pilot training program, Broom said.

That company has grown over the years through mergers and acquisitions and is now a major trainer of jet pilots around the world. One of its services is consulting with startup airlines and aircraft makers on training pilots.

Eventually, Flight Simulation is expected to provide training in the Eclipse 500 at its Amsterdam headquarters, Broom said.

Higher Power will provide certified trainers for the Eclipse program.

Higher Power traces its roots to 1982, when it initially offered pilot training for Boeing 737 passenger planes. The company has since grown to provide training in a wide variety of aircraft.

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