REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE MARIA CINO
ACTING SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
ECLIPSE NEWS CONFERENCE
OSHKOSH, WI
JULY 27, 2006
12:45 PM
This has been a fantastic opportunity to see first-hand the future of aviation.
I want to thank Tom Poberezny (President, Experimental Aircraft Association and
AirVenture Chairman) for that kind introduction and for showing me around.
It is easy to understand why Oshkosh is known as the “World’s Greatest Air
Show,” and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the excitement.
I am pleased to announce that today we are awarding provisional certification to
the Eclipse 500, a significant step toward a new way of air travel.
Companies like Eclipse Aviation are helping develop the next generation of air
travel. In the case of the Eclipse 500, that means a new fleet of affordable
aircraft that weigh half as much as a large SUV; can zip along at 430 miles per
hour; and can fly at up to 41,000 feet.
Today’s announcement puts the Eclipse 500 squarely on the path to full Type
Certification. The plane has proven itself to the point that we anticipate no
further major hurdles. That is good news for the customers who already have
their orders in for nearly 2,500 aircraft – and for the airports already gearing
up for jet taxi service. Congratulations, Vern (Raburn), and to the entire
Eclipse team!
Eclipse understands that air travel drives economic growth as much as factory
orders and housing starts. Eclipse has hired 560 employees in the last 12
months, bringing its workforce up to 820 people. Not bad for a company that
opened its doors in 1998.
Overall, aviation is a major economic engine. The civil aviation sector supports
12.3 million American jobs and accounts for $418 billion in personal earnings.
As exciting as these new aircraft are, they won’t do anyone any good if they are
stuck on taxiways because our air traffic system can’t keep pace. Last year
alone, flight delays cost the economy over $9.4 billion dollars.
So we need to get ready for the future by making sure our air traffic system can
handle the thousands of new aircraft that Eclipse and others have coming on
line. And in May, the Bush Administration unveiled our national Congestion
Relief Strategy, which includes bold new steps to improve aviation capacity by
modernizing the air traffic control system and accelerating airport expansion
programs.
Companies like Eclipse are helping cut congestion with aircraft that can help
take traffic off crowded highways and tap into thousands of underutilized
airports across the country.
Again, thank you for all you are doing to keep America flying confidently into
the future, and congratulations.
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Briefing Room
