Very Light Very Happening

The US saw the first of the VLJ operators with Europe soon following. Now, of course, the VLJ fever has struck the whole world. However, several issues still cloud the sky.

Small is beautiful. The very Light Jet (VLJ) is certainly the apple of the aviator’s eye on account of its small size and jet speed. Disturbing trends in fuel prices have not done much to dampen the enthusiasm and interest worldwide continues to thrive on expectations from the relatively inexpensive, fairly speedy and economically convenient flying option represented by the VLJ. The novelty of the idea and the product is yet to wear off. Indeed the definitional aspects of what qualifies a VLJ are yet to be resolved. The magic figure quoted as the maximum take-off weight for a VLJ is 4,500 kg. A document produced by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) stating recommended training guidelines for the next generation of VLJs stipulates that VLJs are jet aircraft weighing 10,000 lb or less and certificated for single pilot operations. The low maximum weight stands in stark contrast to that for commercial jet airliners which is typically 73,000 to 77,000 kg for an Airbus A320. Hence, the sobriquet ‘Nano of the Indian skies’ was bestowed upon the Eclipse 500 when it was flown into India in May for DGCA certification of airworthiness.

Origin of the VLJ

The US saw the first of the VLJ operators with Europe soon following. Now, of course, the VLJ fever has struck the whole world. Forecasting deliveries in his company’s 18th Annual Business Jet Overview, Richard Aboulafia, Vice President of Virginia-based Teal Group, maintained that deliveries of 3,365 VLJs were projected up to 2018, with 1,385 Cessna Citation Mustangs and 925 Embraer Phenom 100s. Another forecast by PMI Media claims over 1,100 VLJs will be delivered in Europe between 2008 and 2010. In Europe, Cessna was the pioneer when the Citation Mustang became the first VLJ to enter private and commercial service—the latter with conventional charter operator London Executive Aviation, with great success for the six-seater VLJ.