One More Hurdle Cleared For Mass Production

Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation (SSAC) told ANN the FAA has given the company permission to inspect its own aircraft on the company's production line. The FAA awarded Sino Swearingen its Approved Production Inspection System (APIS) for the SJ30-2 bizjet during a brief ceremony Wednesday at the company’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX.

An approved production inspection system allows the manufacturer to inspect its own products under a system approved by the FAA.  However, the manufacturer does not have all the privileges established under a production certificate.  The manufacturer must submit a statement of conformity with each application for an original airworthiness certificate.  The FAA or a representative inspects the aircraft and issues an airworthiness certificate.

The APIS is generally used by low-volume manufacturers, but obtaining one makes it much easier to get approval for a full production certificate at a later date.

"We have been working towards APIS approval for several months with both of our plants in Martinsburg, WV (manufacturing) and San Antonio, TX (assembly/final completion)," said Bob Homan, Vice-President of Quality Assurance, "I am very proud of the work that everyone at SSAC has performed to develop the processes and procedures for APIS approval. With their efforts, we are well on our way toward obtaining a production certificate (PC) in the near future."

Sino Swearingen chairman and CEO Dr. Kuo stated, "This approval enhances our ability to mass produce SJ30s. With over 300 aircraft on order, we are hoping to accelerate our production rate to reduce our backlog and to put SJ30s into the hands of a very excited group of customers."

The company is developing a $20 million factory at San Antonio International Airport scheduled to open its doors next year. The plant is expected to produce 100 aircraft per year.

SSAC’s SJ30 business jet is a high-performance twinjet aircraft with a range of over 2,500 nautical miles and the highest cruise speed in the light jet industry of Mach .83 (485+ knots).

The jet is certified for single-pilot operations at altitudes to 49,000 feet and maintains a "Sea Level Cabin" of 12 psi through 41,000 feet.

The company just delivered its first production SJ30-2 in early November. The lucky owner is none other than Douglas Jaffe, one of the company's first investors -- and whose last initial comprises the "J" in SJ30-2.

FMI: www.sj30jet.com