New Jet Manufacturer Clears Final FAA Threshold

Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. announced it has been issued a key approval by the Federal Aviation Administration for its new small business jet and expects to deliver planes to customers later this year.

"This spectacular announcement is the final threshold before receiving the FAA type certification and virtually guarantees Sino Swearingen the certification this year for the new SJ30-2, the world's fastest and longest-range light business jet," the company said in a prepared statement. Sino Swear-ingen has said it expects to achieve the final regulatory hurdle -- receipt of FAA type certification -- and begin delivering planes later this year.

About 140 Sino Swearingen employees are building fuselages and the main wings for the jet at a plant in the John D. Rockefeller IV Science and Technology Center in Martinsburg.
The company said believes it is the first time since the 1960s that a new company with a new twin jet corporate aircraft has received final type inspection authorizations from the FAA. The company said that during the certification flight test program, the FAA approved 13 blocks of testing.

"Completion of these critical type inspection authorizations is extremely significant as they provided full exploration of all aspects of flying and operating the SJ30-2 by Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. factory and FAA engineering test pilots," the company said. "Three high-performance SJ30-2s have been in extensive flight testing and have run the gauntlet of FAA tests," the company said. "The SJ30-2 has consistently shown complete adherence and total compliance to all FAA regulations."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said in a prepared statement, "Achieving a final type inspection authorization by the Federal Aviation Administration is an amazing accomplishment and puts Sino Swearingen just one step away from bringing the SJ30-2 to the commercial market," Rockefeller said.