Story ID: 
VLJ Programs Making Progress
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: Cessna, Eclipse and Adam Aircraft are all confident that their respective very light jets will be certified this year.
Word Count: 152
Cessna, Eclipse and Adam Aircraft are all confident that their respective very light jets will be certified this year. According to Cessna chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton, the Citation Mustang is on track for FAA approval in the fall, though he hinted that the VLJ could get its papers a little earlier. An Eclipse spokesman said the June 30 certification estimate for the Eclipse 500 is “looking good.” He said Canadian certification of the Eclipse 500’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F powerplant is scheduled to occur in the next two weeks. Adam Aircraft president Joe Walker believes his company’s VLJ, the A700, will get the FAA’s blessing late this year. So far, two A700 test aircraft have logged nearly 500 hours, and a third aircraft is expected to join the fleet in October. Meanwhile, Embraer is planning on cutting the first metal for its VLJ, the Phenom 100, in the next 30 days.