Emivest Prepares For Initial Deliveries
Kerry Lynch
Emivest Aerospace Company continues to spool up its production as it prepares to hand over the first SJ30 light business jet since Emirates Investment Development Company (EIDC) of Dubai acquired the company last year. Debra Draheim, a captain on the CRJ-200/700/900, recently secured a single-pilot type rating for the SJ30 in preparation for her company - a privately-held venture in California - to take delivery of the aircraft this summer. The company will receive Serial Number 008, which this month was readied for first flight.
Emivest has received "the necessary planning and capital to improve dramatically the company's production line and manufacturing processes," the company said. "Emviest Aerospace is committed to increasing the SJ30 production rate significantly over the next two years and to restructuring the company to improve its build efficiencies."
EIDC, founded in 1997 as a private shareholding equity investment company, took an 80 percent stake in the former Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. in June and formally unveiled the newly dubbed Emivest Aerospace Company during last fall's National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention (BA, Oct. 13/171).
The SJ30 was certified in fall of 2005 after a nearly 20-year development program, but financial woes have stalled production of all but a few of the aircraft.
Emivest was hoping to raise its visibility last week in Europe with its largest distributor, Action Aviation, displaying its SJ30 during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition in Geneva. Action Aviation took delivery of S/N 007, and Chairman Hamish Hading said he is anxious to begin delivery of the first of 159 aircraft to his patient customers.
Airframe 009 is the first for an Action Aviation customer, and S/N 010 has been bought by film star Morgan Freeman, replacing his Cessna Citation. The Harding SJ30 left last week's EBACE show May 14, heading first for Lisbon, Portugal, then Paris and Cranfield in England on demo trips.
The SJ30 flies 2,500 nautical miles and at a speed of Mach .83. The aircraft, certified for single-pilot operations, can fly at altitudes up to 49,000 feet, while maintaining a "sea level cabin" through 41,000 feet.
Artist's concept: Emivest
