Sino Swearingen Makes Milestones

Another entry in the very-light jet market is the Sino Swearingen SJ-30, which recently achieved two milestones in the process leading to the jet’s certification. Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation’s (SSAC) receipt of FAA type inspection authorization allows Sino Swearingen to move to the next phase of testing for the items passed. Additionally, the San Antonio, Texas-based company announced late last month it had completed all required static testing for FAA certification of the twinjet’s airframe. The completed testing includes pressurization, ultimate wing loading, landing gear drop testing and other airframe tests. Dr. Carl Chen, CEO and president of SSAC, stated today, “Now that all of our critical high-speed flight testing is finished … we are aggressively finishing the additional flight testing required for the FAA certification. [The type inspection authorization] is a significant and major milestone in that process.” Final FAA certification of the SJ30-2 is projected by SSAC in the second half of 2005. The SJ30-2 is designed for a 2875-sm range and a high-speed cruise of Mach .83. The company expects to certify its aircraft to FL490 feet and for single-pilot operation.