As anticipated, no last-minute bids emerged for the assets of Eclipse Aviation and yesterday a federal bankruptcy judge in Albuquerque approved the
$40 million offer from Eclipse Aerospace for the former builder of Eclipse 500 very light jets. Eclipse had entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in November last year and Chapter 7 in February.
Eclipse Aerospace has already hired about 15 engineers, managers and other staff, said Mason Holland, president and CEO of Eclipse Aerospace, and expects to hire more almost daily. The new company was established on May 9 and began to offer service and modifications on Eclipse 500s on June 1 at its service center in the North American Jet facility at Chicago Executive Airport in Palwaukee, Ill. According to Holland, two aircraft have been completed and three more are scheduled. Operations in Albuquerque will begin next month.