Hawker Beechcraft and Eclipse Owners Group Enter Into Letter of
Intent
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA (April 7, 2009)—David Green, Chairman of the
Steering Committee for the Eclipse Owners Group (EOG) announced
today that the EOG has signed a nonbinding Letter of Intent with
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC). The parties will now begin
negotiations for a definitive binding agreement under which HBC
would provide maintenance upgrades and other aircraft services to
EOG members, consisting of individual Eclipse 500 owners.
“Eclipse owners will benefit greatly by having Hawker Beechcraft as
our service provider,” Green said. “HBC’s reputation across the
industry and especially among its customers and suppliers is
unsurpassed. This relationship is sure to create tremendous
confidence in Eclipse owners that their planes will be flying for
many years to come.”
In
the search for a solution for Eclipse owners, the EOG will negotiate
with HBC to provide the needed maintenance and support services to
keep the Eclipse 500s flying in the event the EOG purchases the
assets of the Eclipse Aviation Corporation (EAC).
HBC will provide services to EOG members through its Global Customer
Service and Support operations, which is driven by HBC’s commitment
to quality and performance excellence. HBC supports its aircraft
with the largest network of trained professionals and the largest
factory owned service network in the industry.
“Hawker Beechcraft is pleased to offer Eclipse 500 owners the
highest quality service and support in general aviation,” said Bill
Brown, HBC President, Global Customer Service and Support. “We look
forward to this new relationship and keeping the Eclipse 500s in the
air.”
The EOG will own the Type Certificate and be responsible to the FAA
and other regulatory agencies for the reporting and compliance
required to maintain the Type Certificate. HBC will provide services
and support to the EOG so that the EOG can perform its regulatory
obligations and keep the Eclipse 500s compliant with FAA and other
regulatory rules. In order to support service for the Eclipse 500s,
HBC would provide service in designated HBC service centers.
The EOG also hopes that at some future time it will be possible to
restart production of the Eclipse 500.
EAC entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 24, 2008 and converted
to Chapter 7 on February 24th, 2009. While at this time there is no
formal deadline for a bid on the EAC Assets, the Chapter 7 Trustee
intends to sell the EAC Assets as soon as possible. Several parties
have come forward with potential proposals to acquire the EAC
assets.
The EOG was formed to protect the assets of EAC necessary for the
support, upgrades, and continued airworthiness of the Eclipse fleet
on the best economic terms possible for current owners of the
Eclipse 500; to evaluate the possibility of, and if appropriate
implement, the purchase of EAC’s assets by the EOG or its designee;
and to take actions necessary or appropriate in connection with
purchasing assets of Eclipse, including forming an entity and
negotiating with maintenance and support providers.
The EOG was also formed to evaluate any proposals for the purchase
of EAC’s assets by other parties and, if appropriate, support such
proposals if they are in the owner’s interests. The EOG will
continue to evaluate proposals presented by third parties for the
purchase of the EAC assets. The EOG has entered into negotiations
with HBC in order to provide a viable and very attractive
alternative if the best purchaser for the EAC assets is the EOG,
itself.
Eclipse 500 owners who have not yet become members of the EOG should
contact the EOG at their earliest convenience at
eclipseownersgroup@gmail.com.
For further information, contact Nanette Metz or Randall Sanada at
info@JetAlliance.com, or
call (805) 409-0426.
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