Minister to inspect SSAC operations

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-hsiang (施顏祥) is scheduled to lead a group of experts to the US today to inspect the operations of Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp (SSAC), a joint venture in which Taiwan holds an more than 90 percent stake.

Shih and the experts are expected to visit Sino Swearingen's headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, to gain a better understanding of the company's operations after the schedule for the mass production of SJ30-2 twin-engine light business jets was delayed.

Sino Swearingen received a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certificate (TC) for the new SJ30-2 business jet in August, authorizing it to conduct in-house flight training for customers seeking SJ30 type ratings.

Although the SSAC completed its first test flight of the twinjet SJ30 aircraft in 2000 and received the TC from the FAA recently, the company is having trouble delivering the first order, scheduled for this month, for various reasons, including incorrectly-installed wings, according to Shih.

The money-losing SSAC encountered financial problems in June and reportedly looked for more funds from domestic investors.

Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) said earlier this month that the ministry would address the matter. He also said ministry officials will report to the legislative Yuan as requested before the end of this year on the development of the joint venture.