Action Aviation Chair Hamish Harding flew the 7,810 nautical miles from San Antonio, Tex. to Dubai in a record flying time of 16 hours, 24 minutes (20 hours with fuel stops). The flight marked a record distance for any aircraft under 20,000 lbs weight in a 24-hour period. Action Aviation is the exclusive distributor of the Sino Swearingen SJ30 long-range business jet in 66 countries, including all of the Middle East, and has ordered 159 delivery positions.
“The aircraft handled beautifully throughout the long flights,” Harding commented. “It was a joy to fly, and the fact that the SJ30 has a sea-level cabin all the way up to 41,000 ft meant that I, and the other pilot, Paul Arrambide, were not as tired from the effects of jet lag as we would have been in any other business jet. Also, with a maximum ceiling of 49,000 ft, the SJ30 can get above most en route weather or headwinds.”
Action Aviation’s Dubai-based Managing Director Mike Creed commented on the market for the jet. “The Middle East is a strong territory for the SJ30,” he said. “The aircraft represents great value for money at its $7 million price tag for a 2500 nautical mile (with NBAA reserves) and 486 knot aircraft. There is really nothing else out there in the marketplace today that offers this capability in a light jet. Routes like Dubai to Moscow, Dubai to the Seychelles, and Dubai to anywhere in India are all possible with the SJ30.”
Harding was, of course, on his way to the Dubai Air Show where he also represented the Javelin Personal Jet. A full-scale mock up of the Javelin Personal Jet from Aviation Technology Group (ATG) was on display. Action Aviation was signed as the exclusive distributor of the Javelin, which provides speeds of Mach 0.9 and climb rates of 9000 ft per minute. Action also secured three orders for the Javelin from Middle East customers to date, with deliveries scheduled in two and a half years. Action Aviation placed firm orders for 40 Javelin jets for delivery to its customers over a period of eight years from certification, including a few early premium positions.