Last Hurdle Overcome Before Taking The Long-Awaited Jet To Market

The FAA has granted certification to the HondaJet. This is the final step before full production can begin at the company's manufacturing base in Greensboro, NC.... and we imagine the partying has already begun.

The airplane is about five years behind schedule, according to a number of reports. There are more than 100 orders for the $4.5 million seven-seat airplane, mostly from North America and Europe.

At NBAA in Las Vegas, company president and CEO  Michimasa Fujino said that the company was expecting to wrap up flight testing in November, and that he expected the FAA would grant certification "very soon."

He was right.

Function and reliability testing simulates typical, in-service flight operations for a new aircraft design. Testing includes takeoffs, landings, system operations, failure cases, approaches, and operations in hot, cold, and humid environments. This ensures the aircraft, including its components and equipment, is reliable and functioning properly. The HondaJet has flown missions to 54 airports in 31 states in the continental United States as part of F&R testing.

In October, Honda Aircraft completed all Part 23 certification flight testing. The flight test program has exceeded 3,000 total flight hours and testing was conducted at more than 70 locations in the U.S.

Wayne Plucker, an aerospace analyst for Frost & Sullivan, told ABC News that it is likely that the HA-420 model would likely be the first in a line of Honda aircraft. HondaJet is marketing the HA-420 as being lighter, faster, and more fuel-efficient that airplanes in the same category from Cessna and Embraer. 

Plucker said that Honda has been following a similar path with its airplanes as it did with its cars when it entered the North American market, staying relatively low-key and methodical rather than go for elaborate announcements at air shows.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.hondajet.com