Business & GA

Swiss air taxi jet club Aviace is planning to restart marketing activity early next year once the Eclipse 500 very light jet achieves certification.

The Zurich-based company has ordered 112 Eclipses, making it the largest European customer for Eclipse Aviation. The group of private investors behind the company, which plans a block-charter air taxi operation, had suspended activities in April 2003 after the Eclipse 500 development programme was delayed because of the change in engine (Flight International, 29 April–5 May 2003).

Aviace chairman Peter Pfister now says the group is preparing to re-establish contact with the “hundreds” of customers who had expressed an interest before the programme suspension. Aviace had already sold around 45 aircraft to clubs in Paris and Zurich. “The first time around we started commercialisation and then lost customers as a result of the delay, so this time we will wait for aircraft certification,” says Pfister.

Pfister adds that he is confident that aircraft deliveries will begin in March next year.

JUSTIN WASTNAGE/LONDON