Eclipse Aerospace
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Mason Holland, Mike Press |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Fate | Merged with Kestrel Aircraft to form One Aviation |
| Headquarters | Albuquerque , United States |
Key people | Mason Holland (President and CEO) |
| Products | Eclipse 500 upgrades, Eclipse 550 aircraft |
Number of employees | 60 (2009) |
Eclipse Aerospace was a U.S.-based aerospace firm dedicated to servicing and upgrading the Eclipse 500 aircraft fleet, as well as producing the Eclipse 550. Established in 2009 by Mason Holland and Mike Press, the company purchased the assets of the insolvent Eclipse Aviation for $40 million, combining cash and promissory notes. Operating out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Eclipse Aerospace concentrated on maintaining and enhancing the Eclipse jet series, catering to a specialized segment within the light business jet market.
In April 2015, Eclipse Aerospace combined forces with Kestrel Aircraft, resulting in the creation of One Aviation, which broadened its range of products and expanded its market presence. Nevertheless, One Aviation filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in February 2021, effectively ending Eclipse Aerospace’s activities.
History
- 2009
Founded in 1998 by former technology executive Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation was based in Albuquerque and produced the Eclipse 500 very light jet while developing the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet. The company declared bankruptcy on November 25, 2008, initially filing under Chapter 11 before converting to Chapter 7 liquidation following an unsuccessful sale attempt to its largest shareholder.
On July 31, 2009, Jeoffrey L. Burtch, the Chapter 7 Trustee, submitted a motion to transfer Eclipse Aviation’s assets to Eclipse Aerospace—a newly formed entity led by Mike Press and Mason Holland and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The proposed transaction involved $20 million in cash plus $20 million in notes and allowed for an auction process. Despite expressions of interest from approximately 30 parties, no rival bids emerged. The bankruptcy court approved the deal on August 20, 2009, naming Eclipse Aerospace as the sole bidder. The new company pledged to maintain operations in Albuquerque, upgrade the current fleet, and explore options for restarting production.
Operations commenced on September 1, 2009, at the previous Eclipse Aviation site with a team of 15 employees. By September 30, 2009, Eclipse Aerospace had secured FAA type certification for the Eclipse 500. Earlier that year, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had suspended the European type certificate but later updated the certificate holder to Eclipse Aerospace without reinstating it.
In October 2009, Eclipse Aerospace introduced upgrade packages combining Flight Into Known Icing capabilities with AvioNG 1.5 avionics for a bundled price of $149,000. The company organized a supplier meeting to confirm parts availability and established service centers at Albuquerque International Sunport and Chicago Executive Airport, initially focusing maintenance efforts in Chicago. By December 2009, they were upgrading 28 former DayJet Eclipse 500s for resale and enhancing avionics and de-icing systems on eight customer aircraft. FAA approval was obtained for a revised aircraft type training program that replaced simulators with actual aircraft training. By year-end, employment had grown to 60 across Albuquerque and Chicago locations.
- 2010
In March 2010, Eclipse Aerospace launched refurbished EA500 jets under the Total Eclipse brand name. These featured completed design improvements such as GPS-coupled autopilots and Flight Into Known Icing equipment, offered at $2.15 million with full certification and warranty coverage.
At AirVenture 2010, President Mason Holland reported that upgrades had been applied to roughly 40% of the fleet and that operational service centers were active in Chicago, Boca Raton, Nevada, and Albuquerque. Development efforts continued on cabin entertainment and communication systems.
In September 2010, Eclipse Aerospace filed an application to increase the EA500’s certified service ceiling from FL370 to FL410 by implementing a maintenance-free carbon strip replacement for previous static dissipation methods.
During October’s National Business Aviation Association convention, Sikorsky Aircraft announced an equity investment in Eclipse Aerospace. Sikorsky offered access to its supply chains and engineering resources; CEO Jeff Pino publicly endorsed the aircraft product line. This agreement was finalized by January 2011.
By December of that year, CEO Mason Holland reiterated intentions to restart production of the Eclipse 500 once market conditions improved and additional investment was secured.
- 2011
In March at Sun 'n Fun aviation event, Eclipse received a Supplemental Type Certificate for its Avio Integrated Flight Management System (FMS), which enhanced navigation features including localizer performance with vertical guidance approaches.
At October’s NBAA convention, Eclipse unveiled plans for an upgraded model—the Eclipse 550—with deliveries anticipated beginning in 2013.
- 2012
In April, United Technologies CFO Greg Hayes stated that Sikorsky would not increase its investment in Eclipse; CEO Holland clarified that Sikorsky maintained a 42% ownership stake. Production goals included delivering the first Eclipse 550 during 2013 with annual output ranging between 50 and 100 units.
In May, an agreement was signed between Eclipse and Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec for manufacturing major airframe components such as fuselage sections, empennage assemblies, and wings for the Eclipse 550.
- 2013
The inaugural Eclipse 550 was unveiled in March with initial customer delivery occurring on October 22.
- 2014
Certification for the Eclipse 550 was granted in March; by year-end, deliveries reached a total of 32 jets achieving gross margins exceeding 50% on existing inventory and approximately 30% on future production. Despite this success, sluggish sales led to substantial workforce reductions by August even though $635,000 in local incentives required hiring commitments through late-2015.
- 2015
April saw a merger between Eclipse Aerospace and turboprop manufacturer Kestrel Aircraft, resulting in formation of One Aviation which broadened product offerings.
- 2021
One Aviation entered Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings in February. Subsequently, AML Global acquired assets related to the Eclipse aircraft program and rebranded itself as Eclipse Aerospace, Inc., continuing operations under new ownership.
Aircraft
| Model designation | Maiden flight | Units produced | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse 550 | 2012 | 14 | Very light jet with twin engines |
| Total Eclipse | 2009 | 24 | Very light jet powered by two engines |
External links
- Manufacturing companies based in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Aircraft manufacturers of the United States
- Manufacturing companies established in 2009
- 2009 establishments in New Mexico
- 2015 mergers and acquisitions
- American companies established in 2009
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018
- Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2021
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment