Hearing Details Rush to Certify First VLJ

More criticism was heaped on the Federal Aviation Administration yesterday as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee held hearings into the rush to certify the first very light jet, the Eclipse 500. The hearing included testimony from Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Sovel indicating even FAA’s own test pilots said it was premature to certificate the aircraft. It also outlined how FAA management overruling line certification employees, seemingly at the behest of a new, untried manufacturer, in order to grant a production certificate. While FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nick Sabatini and John Hickey, who heads FAA’s aircraft certification directorate, defended the agency, the impression they left seemed to be that they will learn from this experience and do better in the future. Similarly, Eclipse testified that much of what was said at the hearing was full of mistakes and misperceptions and the manufacturer was never asked for its input in the IG’s report. It hopes to discuss its perceptions of the certification process with the IG and clarify the record on its aircraft and production certification. For a complete analysis see the next issue of Regional Aviation News and Aviation Today’s VLJ Report.