The burden of additional aircraft on the system is real. The arrival of the VLJs is not the cause. They only represent a small portion of the forecast exponential growth in air traffic. Many of the VLJs will be arriving as replacements for obsolete aircraft which results in no net gain of air traffic. They are also not arriving all at once. Many of the larger orders to charter operators of the VLJs actually have staggered delivery dates. These controlled-growth factors should provide sufficient opportunity for the air traffic system to respond safely.

The safety of the NAS with the infusion of pilots with large variations in flight experience levels is another area of concern. The pilots of these innovative machines will be transitioning G/A pilots and pilot owners, or the pilots for the corporations, fractionals, and air taxi operations. This mix of pilot experience has demanded a new standard in flight training to balance the air safety equation.

The National Business Aircraft Association, in cooperation with NBAA Safety Committee, issued their recommendations in their "NBAA Training Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light Jets and Technically Advanced Aircraft." This NBAA guideline offers minimum pilot qualifications to include a private pilot license, multi-engine rating, and instrument rating. Skills and prior knowledge of basic autoflight procedures, basic Flight Management Systems (FMS), and weather radar were also recommended.

Training plans disclosed by the manufacturers will be type-rating based. Cessna has signed with long-time partner FlightSafety International for their Mustang training. Eclipse is using United Services, a division of United Airlines, for their Eclipse 500.

The NBAA also recommends that upon completing the training program, the pilot, training provider, and the insurance underwriter determine the need for a mentor pilot.

The report further states that "mentors should be selected from experienced pilots that have ATPs and are type rated in jet aircraft that have technically advanced systems similar to the VLJ in which they will mentor. The prospective mentor needs to be recognized by both the aircraft manufacturer and the insurance underwriter as meeting these criteria. In addition, it is recommended that a training program on the specific aircraft in which they will mentor be completed."

Many of the Part 135 Very Light Jet operators have expressed an interest in hiring pilots from the cadre of mandatory retired former airline pilots. Their expectation is that the high levels of maturity, airline based training and flight experience will add an element of safety. These progressive operators plan to use this group as a possible advantage as they build experience with insurance underwriters.

It appears that the NBAA and VL J manufacturers, FAA, training organizations, and the insurance industry have converged to formulate a plan to insure the safety of this next wave in aviation.

They have taken definitive steps to assure that the mix of pilots flying the new entrant VLJs will be trained to the highest standards available. They have collectively forged solid training programs based on NBAA guidelines to assure the collective safety and success of the fledglings called Very Light Jets.

The Very Light Jets are almost outside our pressurized and polarized windows. Standby...