About Us
Welcome to SWS…
SWS Certification Services Ltd are located in the United Kingdom and provide design, development, test and certification services across the world.
The Directors who founded the business are:-
Nigel Smith - Managing Director/ Head of Design
Phil Williams – Director, Electrical Systems
John Sissons – Director, Mechanical Systems
Nigel Smith ( CEng, MRAeS, MIET)
Nigel Smith is SWS’ Managing Director and Head of Design Organisation; responsible for the Company’s EASA approved Design Organisation, including the Office of Airworthiness.
Nigel has worked for some of the major UK aerospace companies such as Matra-Marconi Space Systems, Martin-Baker Aircraft Ltd, British Aerospace and M. L. Aviation Ltd and held several positions responsible for overseas programmes.
Most notably Nigel was formerly the Technical Office Manager & Head of Airworthiness with Contour Aircraft Seating. As a CAA approved design and airworthiness signatory, he was also responsible for all safety, certification, technical and regulatory approval of civil aircraft passenger seats & bespoke ‘blue-sky’ cabin interiors; Nigel has extensive knowledge of the European, Canadian and American regulatory, airworthiness, quality and conformity requirements. He was a member of an FAA Part 25 aviation regulatory harmonisation committee (ARAC), responsible for the development of AC 25.562-1B and Blunt Trauma/Sharp Edges (FAR 25.785) guidance material; also a member of the SAE and an active participant on industry advisory committees.
Nigel is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience in management, design, development, test, certification and integration on aerospace and civil aviation programmes and remains an eminent figure in the aerospace and civil aviation industry. His major achievements include developing & certifying a new composite panel for 9g & 16g aircraft passenger seat systems and associated furniture as well as the 9g & 16g certification of passenger seats incorporating airbag technology for occupant injury protection.
Phil Williams
Phil Williams is SWS’ Director and Head of Aircraft Electrical Systems responsible for all aircraft electrical systems for both design and certification. Phil has extensive experience of RTCA-DO160F electrical equipment environmental qualification requirements and testing and DO-178B software development and qualification requirements.
Phil was formerly a Senior Electrical Design and Certification engineer for Contour Premium Aircraft Seating, responsible for all electrical safety, certification, technical and regulatory approval of civil aircraft passenger seats & bespoke ‘blue-sky’ cabin interiors.
He was also a CAA approved electrical design signatory for B/E Aerospace Ltd, Cabin Interior Division and the company’s Lead Electrical Design Engineer responsible for the design and approval of the electrical systems provided within the cabin interior products i.e. aircraft galley, video control compartment and crew rest compartments.
Phil is a qualified Electrical Engineer with 15 years experience in aerospace and civil aircraft interiors and has 7 years experience in specialized process control and automation.
His major achievements include obtaining EASA STCs for aircraft wireless safety systems and emergency services helicopter digital communication systems. He was also instrumental in the design and development of forward crew rest units introduced to major airlines.
John Sissons
John Sissons is SWS’ Director and Head of Aircraft Mechanical Systems responsible for aircraft mechanical/structural design and certification. He has extensive experience in certification and qualification testing for aircraft crew and passenger seats and berths.
John was formerly a Certification & Structures Engineer for Contour Premium Aircraft Seating and in that role was responsible for safety, certification, technical and regulatory approval of civil aircraft passenger seats & bespoke ‘blue-sky’ cabin interiors.
John previously worked for 10 years at British Aerospace (Airbus), completing a full apprenticeship (7 of those years spent in Test and Development.) During that time, he was primarily focused on designing test rigs/fixtures, defining and running structural and cyclic test programs for wing and undercarriage primary structure and individual components. He now has extensive experience of materials testing and structural repairs as well as instrumentation and pneumatics.
John is a qualified Mechanical Engineer with 15 years experience in aerospace and civil aircraft interiors and 7 years in development, test and approvals of domestic appliances; The latter spent developing and managing the test department for Dyson Ltd. Defining test programs, fixtures and test rigs for a range of domestic appliances incorporating unique technology. John also supported Dyson’s legal, patent and marketing disputes and was Dyson’s representative on the IEC committee for defining the test protocols applicable to domestic appliances.
