Story ID: 867SyberJet
SyberJet to open new completion center
By: David Donald
Caption: The 30,000-sq-ft facility is adjacent to the headquarters of SyberJet’s parent company, MSC Aerospace
Word Count: 365
Earlier this month SyberJet Aircraft broke ground on a new completion and delivery center that it is constructing in Cedar City, Utah for the SJ30 light jet. The 30,000-sq-ft facility is adjacent to the headquarters of SyberJet’s parent company, MSC Aerospace, and will serve as the focal point of customer engagement.
When complete, the center will install cabin interiors newly designed by Jason Castriota Design in accordance with customer choice. Accommodation to be provided at the center will cater for a range of functions, including sales and marketing, cabin design specification and aircraft hand-over processes. The Cedar City site will also be the main focus for pilot training for new customers.
This month SyberJet also received a production certificate from the FAA for SyberJet’s manufacturing operations in San Antonio, Texas. Together with the initiation of the delivery center construction, this underlines the progress SyberJet Aircraft is making towards making deliveries of the reborn SJ30 next year.
Since taking over the SJ30 project, SyberJet has added a new avionics suite to the previous SJ30-2 to create the SJ30i, which will be the initial production model. The suite is called SyberVision and is produced by Honeywell. Key features are four 12-inch displays, SmartView synthetic vision system, INAV moving map, TCAS II and a full range of other functions that comply with current and expected regulations and requirements. The SJ30i retains the original aircraft’s Williams FJ44-2 turbofans.
Beyond the SJ30i, the company is also developing the SJ30x, which will have more powerful FJ44-3AP-25 engines with dual-Fadec control. The uprated engines will give the aircraft improved performance across the board, including a 200-nm range boost, and will be of particular interest to owners operating from hot-and-high airports.
SyberJet has announced that the launch customer for both versions is Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman. The actor has owned an earlier SJ30-2 since 2009, which has logged more than 1,000 hours, including 12 trans-Atlantic crossings. Freeman is due to take delivery of his SJ30i in late 2015, following certification of the SyberVision system. His SJ30x is due for delivery in 2017.