Eclipse CEO Resigns...

[MSNFlier]

Not sure if this is the correct sub-heading to post this but I suspect the moderators will move it if they feel it should go somewhere else...


"Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn Steps Down

Eclipse Aviation founder and CEO Vern Raburn, who introduced the VLJ (Very Light Jet) concept and changed general aviation in the process, announced he was resigning his positions at the company effective immediately at a press conference at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 this morning.

Every time I come to Oshkosh I’m reminded to the lyrics to the Emerson, Lake and Palmer song: ‘Welcome my friends to the show that never ends.’ The show is ending for me,” Raburn told the stunned audience.


Roel Pieper, who has extensive experience managing international high-tech companies and is currently chairman and founder of European Technology and Investment Research Center (ETIRC) Aviation, Eclipse’s largest shareholder, has been named acting CEO."

I hope this isn't a bad omen for all the employees at Eclipse and their suppliers, etc., but I can't imagine that the recent deferral of many orders by DayJet and the general lack of access to equity at reasonable rates is helping the company's prospects.

Notwithstanding the hiccups they experienced in getting their new jet to certification (is it completely certified yet, for all operations?), I think there's little question that Eclipse was a trailblazing company in that they started a new class of aircraft. Then again, perhaps it's better to be right than first (see: Citation Mustang, Phenom, D-Jet, the Jet by Cirrus, etc).

 

[pilotjc]

He was forced out by the board of directors. Out sourcing doesn't always save money.

 

[Capt1124]

I think the problem was Vern came from the software industry, specifically Microsoft, where it is normal to deliver a product unfinished with many problems, fix them later after complaints from users, but never completely, and then two years later sell another version with the problems of the first fixed but with new ones.

This obviously does not work with airplanes. A jet without full avionics approval and no known icing is basically just a toy. Threatening to sue people who point out problems with your product does not help.

The Eclipse may eventually turn out to be a great airplane that does everything they said it would but I think the people involved did not understand what they were getting into, and when problems came up I don't think they handled them very well.

 

[deadstick]

He was forced out by the board of directors. Out sourcing doesn't always save money.

Too many lawsuits?

http://www.eclipsecriticng.blogspot.com/

 

[realityman]

I sincerely hope it isn't for health reasons.

And no, I don't have any inside info.

Just saying, there are only so many reasons for stepping down suddenly. Most of them business related, but from time to time it's due to personal issues (serious illness).

Best of luck to him either way.

 

[cjdriver]

Yes, this is odd. It's possible the board decided it needed to happen to move things along. This is common in the tech industry as well when a company is struggling.