Flight training provider Aerocor saw a 20 percent increase in new pilot training for the Eclipse 500/550 very light jet. "This year's uptick in new pilot training events coupled with continued demand for recurrent training is a very positive marker for the Eclipse community,” said Aerocor training manager Jens Personius. "It's encouraging to see new and younger pilots stepping into the Eclipse space."
Personius told AIN that he attributes the rise in training to the growing number of first-time Eclipse owners. “With Eclipse Aerospace coming under new ownership, there has been a lot of optimism in the Eclipse community lately which has helped drive sales bringing in new owner pilots who are moving up from smaller piston aircraft,” he said.
According to Personius, the biggest obstacle the company has had to overcome in training is logistics. “We aim to make the program as flexible as possible in order to cater to each individual client's specific timeline and location needs,” he said. “Oftentimes, we are working with very tight schedules as we try to create a seamless transition between delivery of their new aircraft and the beginning of the flight portion of their training.”
The company also rolled out two new training options for potential students, including a Pinch Hitter companion course tailored for non-pilots and an in-house Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Program.