Safire Aircraft president and ceo, Camilo Salomon, has revealed that the company is on track for first flight of the new-generation Safire Jet next summer, followed by FAA certification and deliveries in 2006.  He said the company’s “realistic, low risk approach” is the key to providing the performance, comfort and utility of higher priced aircraft at a price of under $1.4 million.

Salomon made his remarks at this year’s National Business Aviation Association Convention in Orlando, the 56th of its kind.

“It is widely accepted that there’s a significant market emerging for this type of aircraft,” he said, “and based on surveys we’ve conducted, and other market analyses, we believe we can capture at least one third of the market.”

The Safire Jet – a six-place aircraft – is expected to fill the emerging requirements of owner/operators, air taxi, air charter, fractional, corporate, priority cargo, training and government/military operators.

It will be powered by twin Williams International FJ33-4 turbofan engines rated at 1,100 pounds of thrust each.

For the certification programme, Safire will build two flying prototypes plus one static test article and one fatigue test article. They will be assembled at the company’s 50,000 square foot development centre

at Opa-Locka, Florida. The site will also serve as the flight test centre for the programme.

Salomon added: “We have included in our business plan a provision to grow our capability quickly should the market develop faster or larger than our expectation.”

He also said the company recently closed on another round of funding, further stabilising the programme well into the certification phase.