SJ30-2

The SJ30-2 is a twin-engine light jet designed by Ed Swearingen and built in turn by Sino Swearingen, Emivest and SyberJet. A swept wing and two Williams FJ44-2A turbofans give it a top speed of Mach 0.83, faster than most light jets. The cabin takes up to six passengers, four in comfort, and the type is certified for a single pilot.

SJ30-2 cabin: narrow, with sea-level pressure

The seating area is about 3.81 m long, 1.43 m wide and 1.31 m high. That is the usual cross-section of a small jet: you sit well, but walk bent forward. The standard layout has six passenger seats, and the rear-facing ones recline fully.

Most business jets keep the cabin at the pressure of 1,800 to 2,400 m in cruise, which tires you after a few hours. In the SJ30-2 the air feels as it does on the ground, a real help for older passengers and children on a three-hour leg.

Baggage and payload

Four passengers fit a medium suitcase and a cabin bag each in the hold. With all six seats taken, bring soft bags, and give the length of skis or golf bags in your request.

Speed, altitude and runway

At 14,935 m the SJ30-2 flies higher than most business jets, above airline traffic and much of the weather. Business Jet Traveler gives 2,813 km with all seats taken, NBAA IFR reserves and an alternate airport 370 km away.

What this means for a European trip

• The SJ30-2 aircraft still flying are registered in the United States. An operator from outside the EU cannot normally fly a passenger leg within one EU country, such as Paris to Nice, so a domestic leg goes to a European light jet.
• Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated: for summer weekends and winter Saturdays, book early.

Routes and prices for a light jet of this type

One-way prices for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance at 780 km/h plus half an hour for taxi, climb and approach. The figures are worked out for the SJ30-2, while in practice a comparable light jet often flies the route.

Legs up to 2 hours: speed matters less

Two to four hours: where the range pays off

Madeira needs a captain with a special qualification for the airport, and Mykonos allows private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet leaves and comes back for you.

The calculator gives an indicative price for a light jet of this class on the route you choose.

What an SJ30-2 flight costs

The rate starts at EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. A short leg costs more than the rate times the flight time: Paris Le Bourget to Geneva (1:01 h) starts at EUR 9,000, as the quote also covers the operator's minimum charge and the flights to and from the aircraft's base.

Over longer legs this share shrinks. London Farnborough to Nice (1:50 h) starts at EUR 11,500, Geneva to Athens (2:43 h) at EUR 14,500 and London to Madeira (3:38 h) at EUR 17,500.

Split between passengers, London Farnborough - Nice works out as follows:

How to pay less

Empty Legs and this type

With a handful of aircraft and no European base, Empty Legs on an SJ30-2 are practically never offered in Europe. Other light jets have them more often, mostly on returns from the Riviera, the Balearics or the Alps, at 30-60% below a full charter. The date and route are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a regular booking.

Send your route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we look for light jets of the same class.

Light jets that fly the same routes

A client asking for an SJ30-2 usually wants a fast light jet with a long range. These types are easy to find in Europe.

What we need for a quote

Send the route, date, number of passengers and baggage, including skis, golf bags and pets. Tell us whether another light jet is acceptable if no SJ30-2 is free.

SJ30-2: questions and answers

• • How much does a flight cost?

  • From EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris Le Bourget to Geneva starts at EUR 9,000, London Farnborough to Nice at EUR 11,500 and Geneva to Athens at EUR 14,500 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is included in the price?

  • The aircraft, crew and fuel. Positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel on an overnight trip are listed separately in the quote.

• • How can the trip cost less?

  • Choose a light jet based near your departure airport, fly back the same day and keep the time flexible.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the SJ30-2?

  • In Europe practically never. Empty Legs on other light jets can be 30-60% cheaper, on the operator's date and route.

• • Can I charter an SJ30-2 in Europe?

  • Very rarely. About ten were built, and the few flying are registered in the United States, so we usually offer a Phenom 300 or Citation CJ4 instead.

• • How many passengers fit in the SJ30-2, and is there a toilet?

  • Usually six, while four travel in comfort. Toilet, galley and Wi-Fi depend on the aircraft, so we confirm them before booking.

• • How far does it fly non-stop?

  • The manufacturer gives 4,630 km, almost without payload. With every seat taken it is about 2,813 km before baggage and wind: Geneva to Athens or Munich to Lisbon work with a full cabin, while Madeira and Marrakesh are planned for four passengers with light bags.

• • How much baggage can we bring?

  • The hold behind the cabin takes about 1.5 m³: a medium suitcase and a cabin bag each for four people, soft bags for six.

• • Can my dog fly with us?

  • Yes, in the cabin, once the operator has agreed. The EU requires a microchip, a pet passport and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.

• • Can it land at Cannes or in the mountains?

  • Cannes-Mandelieu only at reduced weight, as the jet needs 1,864 m at full weight. Samedan and Courchevel are not possible, so for the Alps it lands at Geneva, Zurich, Sion or Chambéry.