Jordan Times
Thursday, February 19, 2004
King inaugurates JAI factory
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday formally inaugurated the Jordan Aerospace Industries (JAI) facility at Queen Alia International Airport and inspected a number of planes manufactured by the company.
The King was briefed on the assembly lines, the different stages of the manufacturing process and safety devices installed on aircraft.
The first aircraft built by JAI, the SAMA CH200, was delivered to the Mid East Aviation Academy at the end of last year. The two-seater light plane is mainly for training students at the academy.
The cost of the first phase of the pilot project, considered the first of its kind in the Middle East, was estimated at JD30 million.
Established in 2001, JAI produces aircraft for aerial photography, emergency and rescue operations and agricultural purposes.
According to Muayyad Samarrai, the chairman of JAI's board, the factory has nine production lines capable of producing 50 planes this year, and can be expanded to construct up to 150 planes in 2005 and 250 in 2006.
The company has secured the right to market the plane in 97 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, according to Samarrai. He said the company has reached agreements to sell planes in Dubai and Saudi Arabia for pilot training purposes and concluded deals with other Arab states to sell the aircraft for agricultural purposes.