First Production HondaJet Has Begun North American Demonstration Tour

Honda Aircraft Company announced progress and HondaJet program achievements during a news conference at the 2014 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. The HondaJet has begun a demonstration tour for customers as Honda Aircraft and the HondaJet dealer network continue final preparations for entry into service.

“Over the past three weeks, many customers experienced their first flight in the HondaJet during a special demonstration tour, and we have enjoyed seeing their excitement as we showcase the aircraft’s capabilities,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “The HondaJet program is also in the final phase of certification testing with the Federal Aviation Administration with all four flight test aircraft maintaining an intensive certification testing schedule.”

Honda Aircraft Company has conducted extensive certification flight testing at various locations across the United States. This includes test of minimum control speed on ground (Vmcg) in Kinston, North Carolina; high-field operation test in Telluride, Colorado; high-elevation field performance test in Roswell, New Mexico; crosswind landing test in Lubbock, Texas; avionics system test in Wichita, Kansas; and extreme cold weather testing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

The HondaJet flight test fleet has logged more than 2,000 flight hours and has conducted testing at more than 70 locations across the U.S.

In September, the first production HondaJet started a demonstration tour with dealers in the United States and Canada. U.S. cities have included Salt Lake City; Des Moines, Iowa; and Greensboro, North Carolina. Canadian cities included Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto. More than 100 passengers have experienced the HondaJet at these locations. The tour will continue immediately after NBAA with stops in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; San Antonio; Monterrey and Toluca, Mexico; Phoenix; and Southern California.

“Our customers are very excited with the climb performance, speed, and comfort of the HondaJet, and have consistently remarked how quiet it is in operation. They are also impressed with the spaciousness of the cabin and its interior fit and finish,” said Fujino. “Our effort to design the best interior with a focus on human factors has been appreciated by customers.”

At Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, production is ramping up and the final assembly line is full with 11 aircraft. The second production HondaJet is nearing build completion. Honda Aircraft anticipates its first flight in the next few months.

The company has also hired and trained more than 300 assembly technicians in the last 14 months to support aircraft production and its continued ramp-up. Honda Aircraft anticipates adding an additional 150 production jobs prior to entry into service.

To support production ramp-up, Honda Aircraft has integrated the latest technology with HondaJet assembly technicians using hand-held tablets that deliver work instructions. A fully interactive parts list allows technicians to easily identify parts and their assembly. These devices improve production efficiency and have the capability to expedite the interface between the assembly line and inspection.

Honda Aircraft also announced that the company is expanding its world headquarters located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, to accommodate increasing sales activity and add a dedicated hangar for delivery preparation. Construction has begun on two projects, which include a 49,968-square-foot expansion of the main headquarters building and the addition of a 24,405-square-foot hangar to support aircraft production and delivery. Both projects are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2015. The $19 million expansion will bring Honda’s total capital investment in Honda Aircraft Company’s facilities to approximately $160 million and increase its total square footage to more than 680,000 square feet.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.hondajet.com