Will Be One Of Five HondaJet Dealers In US
HondaJet East, a sales and service representative for Honda
Aircraft Company, Inc., announced Thursday the Albany International
Airport (ALB) in Albany, NY will be the home for the HondaJet Sales
and Service facility servicing the Northeastern United States. One
of five HondaJet dealership locations in the United States, the
distinctive sales and service facility is expected to be complete
in 2010, in anticipation of first deliveries of the HondaJet.
"The HondaJet East team, in cooperation with Honda Aircraft
Company, conducted an exhaustive analysis of hundreds of airports
and communities in the Northeast in search of the perfect fit of
culture, future vision and quality of life with the HondaJet, our
customers, and our employees," said Paul "Mac" Langston, Chairman
& CEO of HondaJet East. "The decision was difficult due to the
extraordinary communities and people of the region, but ultimately,
Albany and the State of New York provide an ideal balance of
culture, future vision, proximity to the major Northeastern markets
and technical fit for the site. We are looking forward to playing a
productive, responsible and complementary role within the New York
Tech Valley."
"Today's announcement by HondaJet East is further proof that
Albany County and the entire Tech Valley region are at the top of
the list when major worldwide companies are looking for desirable
areas to expand their operations," said Senate Majority Leader
Joseph Bruno. "HondaJet East's commitment will bring more than two
dozen high-paying jobs to the area, increase our tax roles by
nearly $1 million, and encourage other air travel related companies
to call the Capital Region home."
At the National Business Aviation Association convention late
last year, for the first time, Honda Aircraft Company showed its
proposed design specifications for standalone HondaJet dealership
facilities that will be established throughout the United States
over the next several years. The facilities will feature a large
hangar for service operations and will be designed to provide a new
level of customer sales and service support in the light jet
class.
The multi-million dollar investment in the HondaJet East
facility will feature customer comfort, product display and
high-technology service capabilities new to the business aviation
environment. HondaJet East leadership will be temporarily housed in
the FBO building adjacent to the site of the future building to
enable construction oversight while also attending to the HondaJet
customers and market in the region.
"HondaJet East's decision to locate at Albany International
Airport is a significant step in the Authority's economic
development program and establishes Albany as a recognized leader
in the rapidly advancing world of general aviation aircraft design
and air travel," said David E. Langdon, Chairman of the Albany
County Airport Authority.
Working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, Honda
Aircraft Company anticipates its first test flight of a conforming
HondaJet in early 2009, with the overall timetable targeting type
certification in 2010. Deliveries of the HondaJet are scheduled to
begin in 2010.