Honda Aircraft Company today made several announcements during its media briefing at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, that underscore progress and momentum toward certification of the HondaJet light business jet.
Honda Aircraft announced and demonstrated key new product enhancements in the HondaJet's avionics and cabin management systems. The company announced the first flight of its fourth conforming flight test aircraft and reviewed progress in structural testing and system testing, such as landing gear drop testing and icing wind tunnel testing, for certification. The company also shared progress in preparing for the aircraft's entry into service with news regarding the HondaJet flight training and groundwork on its new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) 54-acre site.
"Honda Aircraft is advancing toward certifying the HondaJet and delivering the aircraft to customers," said Michimasa Fujino, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. "We are committed to deliver the world's most advanced light jet to our customers. We continuously improve product details to exceed customers' expectations, as today's product enhancements exemplify. Plus our program milestones in testing and manufacturing, and our progress in preparing for entry into service, illustrate Honda's commitment to provide an unsurpassed customer ownership experience."
New Product Enhancements
Honda Aircraft is the first manufacturer to announce and demonstrate plans for a new 40/60 display configuration on the Garmin® G3000 Primary Flight Displays for the HondaJet. This enhancement provides pilots a more user-friendly visual scan of additional flight information in a concise format that contributes to improved situational awareness and safety. The pilot or co-pilot can select and see more information within a tile that uses 40% of the width of each of the 14-inch wide, high-resolution primary flight displays.
Honda Aircraft unveiled plans for a new Cabin Management System (CMS) and updated production aircraft interior. The new CMS will enable passengers to use a wireless mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone, to view real time flight information and to control the HondaJet cabin's lighting, temperature, music, and window shades for enhanced comfort and productivity.
The updated HondaJet fuselage model, on display at EBACE this week, uses production components, and showcases the new 40/60 primary flight display, the new CMS, and the latest HondaJet seating, cockpit and cabin interior appointments.
Recent Certification Program Milestones
Honda Aircraft announced the first flight of its fourth FAA-conforming HondaJet at today's briefing, as noted in a related press release. The company also announced other important milestones in its certification and manufacturing program.
Honda Aircraft is conducting several FAA structural tests and has passed the ultimate load structural testing with the HondaJet's conforming structural test aircraft.
This ultimate load structural test placed loads of up to 150% of design limit load on the entire aircraft with various conditions. The company also has conducted several system tests and completed major tests in areas such as landing gear drop certification testing. It also has conducted wind tunnel icing test for verification of the HondaJet's ice protection system.
Progress in Preparation for Entry into Service
Honda Aircraft announced that manufacturing began for the first full motion, Level D HondaJet flight simulator at FlightSafety® International's production facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma. This first simulator will be based at the HondaJet Training Center at Honda Aircraft headquarters campus in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the first half of 2013, and will play a vital role in HondaJet pilot training. FlightSafety International is the official HondaJet pilot training and maintenance training provider.
"The design and manufacture of the new HondaJet full flight simulator is underway," said Bruce Whitman, President & CEO, FlightSafety International. "We appreciate and value our close working relationship with Honda and together look forward to providing training in conjunction with aircraft deliveries."
Honda Aircraft also unveiled renderings and announced it has begun the process to build the new $20 million state-of-the-art service center (Maintenance Repair Overhaul facility) at its world headquarters campus at Greensboro, North Carolina. Site preparation, began in February 2012 on the 54-acre extension to Honda Aircraft's now 133-acre campus and continues in earnest. Groundbreaking for construction is on track for this summer, with completion of the building in summer 2013, prior to the aircraft's entry into service.
About HondaJet
HondaJet is the most advanced light business jet aircraft, with best-in-class advantages in performance, comfort, quality and efficiency. The HondaJet is the fastest, highest-flying, most quiet and most fuel efficient in its class. The HondaJet incorporates many technological innovations in aviation design, including a unique over-the-wing engine-mount configuration that dramatically improves performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. This airframe design reduces cabin noise and ground-detected noise when overhead and allows for a more spacious cabin and greater cargo capacity. The HondaJet is powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines, and is equipped with the most advanced glass flight deck available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized Garmin® G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system with a class-leading layout of three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers. The HondaJet is Honda's first-ever commercial aircraft and lives up to the company's reputation for superior performance, efficiency, and value.
About Honda Aircraft Company
Honda Aircraft Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Company, Inc., was founded in 2006 though has its heritage in more than 20 years of ground-breaking aeronautical research and development. At Honda Aircraft's World Headquarters campus in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation, the company's associates work in more than 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art R&D, Manufacturing and Administration Headquarter buildings to develop, produce, market and support the HondaJet with HondaJet dealers. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motors is still alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda's long-standing dreams to advance human mobility skyward.
www.hondajet.com
# # #
