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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Business jets have been used for quite some time by the rich and the powerful who don't want to be bothered by the hassles of commercial flights - leaving those "pleasures" to the rest of us mere mortals. That may change now with the arrival on the aviation scene of the VLJ (short for very light jets) by making private air travel available to travelers who are not quite as rich and powerful.

VLJs can cut the cost of the business jet by more than half - costing between $1.5 and $3 million, although they are somewhat slower and shorter on distance. They weigh less than 10,000 pounds, can carry seven people and can fly over 1,000 miles with a speed of about 460 mph. The hopefuls see VLJ as being able to fit into the industry very well while critics aren't quite as optimistic, citing there could be financial shambles when makers look forward to the market growing at 1,000 VLJs a year when others feel the market capacity is about one-fourth of that.

Only two companies have received FAA certification and are ready to begin deliveries - Eclipse Aviation (plans to deliver 515 Eclipse 500s next year at a cost of $1.5 million - they have received a total 2,500) and Cessna Aircraft Co.(has orders for 250 for its Citation Mustang with the price tag of $2.6 million). However, with other companies seeking certification from the FAA and planning on deliveries in the next few years, the concern is the industry will become too crowded.

The controversy goes on - time will tell if VLJ are bound for stardom or failure or somewhere in between.