London Luton Airport, UK - Action Aviation, the international business jet and helicopter distribution company, announced today that Harry C. Johnson of Oklahoma City, USA has joined its Board of Directors.  In September 2007, Action Aviation put together the successful investment team which signed a purchase agreement with the Taiwanese government shareholders of Sino Swearingen to acquire a controlling shareholding in the business jet manufacturer.

Johnson, a long time Oklahoma oilman who also spent six years on Wall Street as a partner for corporate finance, has been active in aviation since 1980 when he founded Cimarron Helicopters.  Cimarron was the first air ambulance operator in Oklahoma and later operated other services such as Life Flight in Ohio.  Johnson has also owned various Fixed Base Operators, including Millionair in Oklahoma City.

Action Aviation’s chairman, Hamish Harding, commented “Harry Johnson brings a wealth of business expertise to Action Aviation’s board, together with his long time passion for aviation.  Among other things, Mr Johnson will assist Action Aviation with the Sino Swearingen programme”.

Johnson commented “I am impressed with the achievements and growth of Action Aviation and I am delighted to join Action Aviation’s board.  I have been following the progress of the SJ30 jet for several years and think it has a great potential”.

Sino Swearingen produces the high performance SJ30 business jet which boasts a range of 2,500 nautical miles, a cruise speed of 486 knots (Mach 0.83), a service ceiling of 49,000 feet and a sea level cabin pressurization right up to 41,000 feet, thereby reducing the effects of jet lag.  The SJ30, sometimes referred to as "the Ferrari of the Skies", received FAA certification last year.  Sino Swearingen has manufacturing plants in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and San Antonio, Texas. 

Johnson is himself a pilot, holding a Commercial Pilot's license for both fixed wing and helicopters.

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