Mobissimo

This is from a while back, but this mark an extremely important move in the airline industry.  VLJs or Very Light Jets, well one in particular - the Eclipse 500, have been approved by the FAA.

Eclipse Aviation has received provisional certification for its Eclipse 500, the first very light jet (VLJ) to obtain Federal Aviation Administration approval. But the company will not begin customer deliveries until it obtains full type certification, expected by 30 August.

Provisional certification includes operational limitations that will be worked off over the coming weeks. Full type certification will allow single-pilot, day/night visual and instrument flight rules (IFR), reduced vertical separation minima operations throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope, Eclipse says. Final performance figures include a 370kt (685km/h) maximum cruise speed, 41,000ft (12,500m) ceiling and 2,080km (1,125nm) NBAA IFR range with four occupants.

Municipal airports, i.e. smaller outlying airports will benefit from this as these VLJs can take off/land on a much shorter runway.  Does this spell the end for propeller planes?  Could be, but the price for VLJs is still high, at around 1.5m so the price point will have to drop before the props see the grave.