Eclipse Out Another Partner; United Will Not Provide Training

Eclipse Aviation has already replaced its initial manufacturer and just last week jettisoned its avionics provider.

Now, Eclipse is working on replacing its pilot training partner for the Eclipse 500 jet.

United Airlines had agreed to provide full motion simulator training and help pilots transitioning to twin-engine jets from other types of aircraft.

But an official from United's Denver training center told a respected aviation magazine this week that the airline and Eclipse have "mutually agreed to terminate their pilot training program."

Michelle Burns, United's manager of training development, told Aviation International News that United would provide some services until Eclipse finds a new provider.

The story was published on the magazine's Web site. Eclipse spokesman Andrew Broom said in an e-mail Wednesday the report was true,

but that Eclipse is in the final stages of a multimonth selection process for a new trainer and plans to announce its new partner within the next few weeks.

Eclipse Aviation announced in late 2004 that it planned to partner with United for key parts of its training program.

Eclipse's pilot training includes a five-part home study program distributed on CDs and training in a Czechoslovakian fighter-trainer jet owned by Eclipse, as well as hands-on training in Eclipse jets.

United was to provide initial skills assessment, help pilots scale up from other aircraft to twin-engine jets and provide training in full-motion simulators, something that had been specifically requested by aircraft insurers.

United also was to have jointly developed training curriculum with Eclipse.

Broom said that United and Eclipse are already training pilots and the curriculum is not expected to change as Eclipse switches to a new training provider. He said Eclipse is still expecting delivery this spring of its first full-motion simulator from Florida company Opinicus and recently began construction of a 41,500- square-foot facility at Double Eagle II Airport on Albuquerque's West Side. It will be home to the Eclipse 500 training program.

The canceled arrangement with United is the latest lastminute challenge faced by the Albuquerque-based light jet builder in recent months.

Since it received Federal Aviation Administration type certification for the $1.5 million, 6-seat jet, the company has been beset by supplier and production delays, quality issues and the loss last week of a major supplier, Avidyne, which was to provide avionics for the aircraft.

Eclipse announced on Monday it had lined up a roster of five well-known firms, including Garmin and Honeywell, to provide the avionics components.

Eclipse had a major upheaval in 2002 when it dumped Williams International as the manufacturer of engines for the Eclipse 500. Pratt & Whitney now manufactures engines for the jet, but the changeover caused a two-year delay.