Company Expects Four Months To VFR Cert; IFR To Follow

The first FAA certification-spec Seawind 300C took to the skies last month from Quebec's Saint Jean Airport -- an occasion the company expects will mark the beginning of the end to its lengthy path towards FAA certification.

The Seawind 300C took off August 31 from Saint Jean Airport at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, on the first flight over what the company says will be a four-month testing phase to receive VFR certification of its four-place, single-engine amphibian.

Once VFR cert is accomplished, Seawind says it will be followed by IFR, autopilot, FADEC, and glass cockpit certification. 

Company president Richard Silva originally anticipated certification for the 300C -- which traces its roots back to the kitbuilt Seawind 3000 aircraft available since 1992 -- three years ago.

Unforeseen delays -- combined with the rigors of FAA testing -- pushed that schedule back, though; back in April, the company had expected the test aircraft to start flying by the end of that month.

However, through all the setbacks, Seawind has endured -- and, has managed to retain its customers. In April, Seawind reported out of 64 customers who have ante'd up deposits for 300Cs, only two had asked for their deposits back through the ordeal.

And with the company's hope of FAA certification now in sight -- and flying -- Silva says he is already looking to the next phase of the Seawind's evolution.

“We are continuing to look at other innovations such as the turbo-charged diesel engine, de-icing, and air conditioning," Silva said. "We will continue our policy of making any new developments available to retrofit earlier aircraft. We do not want any Seawind to become obsolete.” 

FMI: www.seawind.net