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.