South Africa gets continent's first Eclipse after validation

Eclipse Aerospace and South Africa's National Airways Corporation (NAC) are celebrating type certificate validation from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for the Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet.
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This coincides with the first Eclipse Jet to be exported to South Africa
The Eclipse Jet made its first appearance in Africa at the AAD at Waterkloof in September of 2012. This marks the forty-sixth country in which the Eclipse Jet is certified for use.
NAC also announced that SimCom Training Centers, located in Orlando, Florida, has been approved as the Eclipse Jet simulator training service by the SACAA. In addition, to aid Eclipse in country training for South Africa, Francois Naude, the first South African instructor to be rated on the Eclipse and Colin Fletcher from NAC both recently attended the FAA and SACAA approved Eclipse OEM pilot training program in Chicago, Illinois.
JP Fourie, NAC's director of fixed wing sales, said, "It has been an absolute delight to work with the Eclipse team to make this a reality. We are now perfectly positioned to service our customers in Africa and South Africa with a product that is top of its class, and fully supported by Eclipse Aerospace, who excel in meeting and exceeding customer expectations."
"Eclipse Aerospace is extremely pleased with the award of the Eclipse Jet type certification from South Africa," stated Ken Ross, president of global services, Eclipse Aerospace. "It was a pleasure working together with the SACAA and the NAC team to introduce the Eclipse Jet to South Africa. In addition we are excited to welcome Mr. Kobus Dicks as the first Eclipse Jet Owner, not just in South Africa but on the African continent."
Dicks is said to be delighted to with the aircraft. “I am extremely pleased with the efficiency and speed of my Eclipse Jet. My business takes me throughout South Africa on a weekly basis, and I’m able to visit multiple facilities in a truly advanced single pilot aircraft that has wholly surpassed my expectations," he said.