Speaking at a press
conference on the first day of NBAA2014 in Orlando, Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino
highlighted the progress and achievements of the HondaJet program as the
aircraft prepares 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 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.”
Certification flight testing
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 flight test fleet has logged more than 2,000 flight hours and has conducted testing at more than 70 locations across the U.S.
North American demo tour
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 |
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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.”
Workforce increases by more than 300
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At the 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.
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HAC
President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. |
Headquarters expansion
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.
“Honda Aircraft has experienced remarkable growth in both our workforce and infrastructure since the company’s founding in 2006,” said Fujino. “Our workforce now exceeds 1,200, and
the expansion is part of a phased plan to accommodate our growth.”
The HondaJet ownership experience
Honda Aircraft is committed to providing the highest-quality training and support for the HondaJet and has partnered with FlightSafety International, the world’s leading aviation training
organization.
The HondaJet Training Center is operational
with FlightSafety representatives working onsite. The full-motion, Level D simulator will
be installed at the HondaJet Training
Center in the first quarter of 2015.
Pilot training will include type rating and
recurrent pilot training programs for both single and multicrew operations.
Since the opening of Honda Aircraft
Company’s customer service facility in 2013, the company has been preparing to
support customers and dealers around the world. A 24/7 technical
support center will be ready to assist dealers in expediting the resolution of maintenance issues, including
aircraft on ground (AOG) situations.
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Newly established finance company
accepting loan applications
Honda Aviation Finance Company, LLC has been established and has begun accepting loan applications. Term loan financing will be available to qualified HondaJet customers residing in
the United States.
“Honda Aircraft has an established infrastructure and network to support sales and service,”
concluded Fujino. “Together with our dealer network, we will be ready to provide our customers
with an unsurpassed level of customer service from the first HondaJet delivery.”
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