6 to 9 months? No wonder this country is so f**kd.
Not too long ago it would have been possible to set up a high capacity jet airline from scratch in that time. Even here, in Oz. Seen it done.
If a basic infrastructure and competent staff already exists, there is no excuse for not processing something so simple in 6 weeks. It is just a single engine aeroplane with a more reliable engine, or is it something akin to the space shuttle?