SJ30-2 Part Headed For San Antonio

Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation says its Martinsburg (WV) Assembly Plant has completed and shipped its final component for the first airframe structure produced in its new high technology manufacturing facility at Martinsburg.

These major structures, produced for the new ultra-fast and long range SJ30-2 light business jet, and shipped to San Antonio (TX) for final assembly, are for aircraft that are part of the FAA Flight Test Certification Program. There are currently two aircraft in flight testing, flying as often as seven days a week.

The Martinsburg aircraft marks the third and final aircraft constructed as a test aircraft for the FAA flight test program. Sino Swearingen’s Martinsburg Plant manufactures the critical and main structures for the SJ30-2 twinjet aircraft such as the main fuselage structure, the main wing structure and the tail empennage assembly structures.

There are currently 73 high technology personnel employed at the Martinsburg facility. This number is expected to grow and accelerate rapidly once the FAA Type Certification (TC) is received next year. Alfred Baumbusch, Senior Vice President of Operations for SSAC also announced the appointment of David Bartles, a resident of Falling Waters, West Virginia, as Vice President of Operations, responsible for the day to day manufacturing and operations in Martinsburg. He is a former senior engineer for Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown (MD) and was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Fairchild’s Commercial Aircraft Division in San Antonio (TX). He also served as President and Chairman of the Board of Morrison Knudsen Rail Systems of Argentina.

"The Martinsburg Plant has recently FAA qualified over 175 major jigs, fixtures and tools and they have been placed in position at the factory. Although FAA Certification is projected for the second half of next year this gives us an opportunity to provide additional training and to further refine our manufacturing processes. The aircraft serial numbers for delivery will be assigned after the program receives the final FAA Certification and just prior to each aircraft going into production," said Bartles.

"Recently, Sino Swearingen set an aviation industry world record by completing the Ultimate Cabin Pressurization Testing to 34.1 PSI," said Dr. Carl Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer of SSAC. "No aircraft in the world has been successfully tested to this level previously. Customers will relax in the world’s optimum pressurized aircraft with a SEA LEVEL cabin while flying at 41,000 ft. and a 1,800 ft cabin at 49,000 ft. The company has made substantial progress toward the FAA Type Certification and all major structural testing is complete."

FMI: www.SJ30Jet.comPreliminary