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Greensboro-based Honda Aircraft Co. said Monday that it has achieved
several milestones in the testing and development of its $4.5 million
lightweight business jet and also announced the availability of
term-loan financing for the HondaJet in the United States.
Honda, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:
HMC, made the announcements at the 2013 National Business Aviation
Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas.
Testing
Honda officials said the HondaJet flight test program is nearing its
final phase. When completed, it will mark a significant milestone toward
obtaining Federal Aviation Administration targeted at the end of 2014. Honda plans to begin delivering the jet to customers thereafter.
Honda also said that the HondaJet program is currently undergoing FAA
full-scale fatigue testing at the company's research-and-development
facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport, where the company last week celebrated the opening of
its $20 million customer service center. The testing will prove the
"HondaJet airframe’s fatigue strength well before the HondaJet enters
service."
Production continues
Honda officials said production continues with six production
HondaJets on the assembly line. The Honda Aircraft manufacturing team
has "mated the first production aircraft’s wing and empennage with build
activities for this HondaJet nearing completion."
“The Honda Aircraft production team is diligently preparing to
ramp-up production by continuing to implement lean manufacturing
techniques and investing in workforce training,” said Michimasa Fujino,
president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Co “We anticipate our production
work force will double as we prepare for HondaJet entry into service.”
The company has more than 850 employees working on the jet program and expects to ramp up to 1,200 in the coming years.
Financing help
Honda also said Monday that Honda Aircraft Co. and the American Honda
Finance Corp. intend to offer term-loan financing for HondaJet
customers in the United States. AHFC, a subsidiary of American Honda
Motor Co., Inc., will provide financing and account servicing for
HondaJet customers in the U.S. and collaborate with Honda Aircraft Co.
to develop the systems and infrastructure to support HondaJet customers.
“We are once again challenging the industry by bringing new value to
the ownership experience," Fujino said.
“Offering aircraft financing for
HondaJet customers in the U.S. is a logical extension of Honda’s
philosophy to provide innovative products that are backed by unsurpassed
service and support.”
Source;
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/blog/2013/10/honda-aircraft-co-says-hondajet.html?page=all
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