Eclipse Achieves FIKI Approval

Eclipse has received FAA approval for flight into known icing (FIKI) for its Eclipse 500 very light jet. The long awaited approval came following 300 hours of test flying, including up to 60 hours in natural icing conditions in the United States and Canada. Beginning in 2007, the test program involved three test aircraft. The deicing system on the Eclipse 500 includes pneumatic deice boots on the wings and horizontal stabilizer leading edges, electrically heated windshield and air data probes, and bleed air heated anti-ice engine inlets. The Eclipse 500 also underwent extensive testing involving ice protection system failures. These tests were conducted in icing tunnels and with artificial ice shapes attached to simulate ice build up on the aircraft's airfoils.