By Lindsay Hughes | November 19, 2014 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 44 seconds.
The Honda Aircraft Company was out in full force at the 2014 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in Orlando, Fla., in October, with the HondaJet prominently displayed on the trade show floor as well as on the show’s static line.
The Skies team received a program update from Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO, Michimasa Fujino, who confirmed that the HondaJet is on track to receive Federal Aviation Administration type certification in the first quarter of 2015.
“The HondaJet program is progressing very well and we are now in the final phase of the certification program,” said Fujino. “We have flown more than 2,000 hours so the progress is very good; and also we have started with customer demonstration flights.”
The HondaJet made its first Canadian tour in early October, stopping in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto, where customer demonstration flights were provided to confirmed and potential owners.
The HondaJet recently completed a Canadian tour, stopping in Calgary, Edmonton
and Toronto. Skyservice has been named the exclusive Canadian HondaJet dealer.
Skyservice Photo
“The reaction was overwhelming and very exciting,” Fujino continued. “All customers were very impressed by the quietness of the cabin and the fit and finish.”
Marshall Myles is the president of Skyservice, the exclusive Canadian HondaJet dealer. He was lucky enough to go along on one of the recent demonstration flights, and said it was a memorable experience. “My impressions of the new HondaJet were smooth, quiet, fast, very quick climb and incredibly comfortable,” said Myles, from the show floor at NBAA. “We’re excited about the HondaJet coming to market because of its new design—very comfortable, the largest cabin in its class, very large luggage capacity, full vanity, sink, and lav. It’s a wonderfully designed jet and technologically very advanced as well.”
Fujino said the first deliveries are planned for immediately after certification. In the meantime, Honda Aircraft Company’s plant in Greensboro, N.C., is ramping up for production. “In the last 14 months, we’ve hired more than 300 technicians and we are planning to hire an additional 150,” he confirmed.
As the designer of the HondaJet, Fujino is confident the new aircraft will deliver on its promises. “HondaJet has the best speed in its class and also flies highest in its class, with the largest cabin space and best fuel efficiency,” he said. “I’m confident we offer the best product in the market.”
Honda Aircraft Company featured the HondaJet at the NBAA trade show floor
(pictured above) as well as at the show’s static display. Mike Reyno Photo
Honda Aircraft Company has not yet released projected maintenance and operating costs for the new jet.
Myles believes the HondaJet will be a hit in Canada. “We’ve done a lot of research on what we think will be HondaJet sales in the market, and we think we will be selling several a year for the next several years,” he predicted.
The Canadian entry into service could be as early as the latter part of 2016. In the meantime, said Myles, the HondaJet is expected to be at all major Canadian events next year, including the Canadian Business Aviation Association’s annual conference in St. Hubert, Que., June 16–18.
