Eclipse Aerospace, based in Albuquerque, N.M., continues to move forward with the Eclipse 550 twin-engine very light jet.

The company last week received Federal Aviation Administration approval for an amended production certificate that authorizes the final assembly, test and certification of the plane.

The amended certificate allows Eclipse to manufacture, flight test and grant airworthiness certificates for the Eclipse 550 under the FAAs approved quality system, the company said.

Manufacturers are typically required to build their first group of aircraft under the supervision of the FAA, Mason Holland, Eclipse Aerospace CEO, said in a statement. The fact that every new Eclipse 550 will be delivered under a full FAA production certificate speaks volumes about our team and our systems.

Eclipse has jets moving down the production line as the company works toward customer delivery in the third quarter of this year.

The company was founded in 1998 by former Microsoft executive Vern Raburn.

Although investments in the effort reached $1 billion, production of the Eclipse 500 was halted in 2008 because of lack of funding.

The next year, Eclipse filed for bankruptcy, and one bidder, headed by Holland and Mike Press, bought the assets of the company.

About 260 of the very light jets were produced.

Eclipse Aerospace officially restarted the aircraft production line in June.

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Eclipse Aerospace moves ahead with production of very light jet