Move Represents A $20 Million Investment In The State
Greensboro, North Carolina has been selected for a new HondaJet
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. Honda Aircraft
Company and the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance announced
the project at the NBAA convention in Las Vegas Monday. The company
will invest an additional $20 million to build the new MRO
facility, bringing its total capital investment for construction of
its North Carolina facilities to more than $120 million.
Honda Aircraft made the announcement at the National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention, the world’s largest
business aviation annual event, held this year in Las Vegas, while
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and Triad area officials made a
simultaneous announcement in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Honda Aircraft’s MRO facility will provide services for
HondaJet owners that complement the services they receive at
facilities across its HondaJet dealer network in North America and
Europe. These services include heavy maintenance services, such as
extensive repair or overhaul work best provided by the aircraft
OEM. This MRO plan demonstrates Honda Aircraft’s focus on
providing an unsurpassed ownership service experience for HondaJet
customers from the very first customer delivery.
“We intend to offer HondaJet customers an overall
ownership experience that is second to none in business aviation
and one that is commensurate with all the best attributes of
Honda,” said Michimasa Fujino, President and CEO of Honda
Aircraft Company.
The selection of North Carolina also underscores Honda’s
continued, significant investment in the HondaJet program, and its
commitment to the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina.
“After a rigorous evaluation of various site alternatives,
we concluded that we could best serve our customers and complement
HondaJet dealer service facilities by placing our MRO facility here
in North Carolina, where we are delighted to begin writing this
next chapter of our growth,” said Fujino. “This will
also reinforce Honda’s contribution and support to continue
developing the aviation and aerospace cluster in the Piedmont Triad
Region.”
Honda Aircraft will expand its already substantial presence at
the Greensboro Piedmont Triad Airport (PTI) with this new MRO
facility. The MRO facility will be an expansion of the
company’s World Headquarters campus, where its
state-of-the-art R&D, Manufacturing and Headquarter buildings
today encompass more than 500,000 square feet of space on
approximately 80 acres.
“Honda’s decision to expand their Greensboro
facility validates the strength and vitality of our aviation
cluster, and their plan to invest an additional $80 million and
create 419 more high-paying jobs demonstrates Honda’s
commitment to our community and to the entire State of North
Carolina,” said Dan Lynch, President of the Greensboro
Economic Development Alliance. “We have 180 aerospace
companies in the state employing more than 9,500 workers, but Honda
Aircraft Company is the crown jewel.”
“My top priority is creating jobs and it’s clear
that we’ve got momentum when global companies like Honda
Aircraft Company decide to expand operations in North
Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue. “North Carolina is
attractive to companies because of our skilled workforce and
excellent business climate. This will enhance our aerospace cluster
in the Triad.”
“No matter where I go in North Carolina, the issue
everyone talks to me about is jobs,” commented U.S. Senator
Kay Hagan. “That is why today’s announcement is so
important for North Carolina and for Greensboro. I am thrilled that
Honda Aircraft will be bringing an additional 400-plus high-paying
jobs to Greensboro.”
For future expansion purposes, Honda Aircraft has leased 54
additional acres at PTI Airport. The new MRO facility will make use
of 20 of these acres. With current and future expansion, Honda
Aircraft is leasing more than 130 acres at PTI Airport.
Design of the MRO facility, which is expected to encompass more
than 80,000 square feet, will be finalized in the first quarter of
2012, with construction scheduled to begin in the second quarter of
2012, and occupancy to begin in the first half of 2013. This timing
supports the HondaJet’s scheduled certification and entry
into service in mid-2013.