Honda nearing final flight tests for jets, announces financing availability

A $4.5 million HondaJet sits inside of a hangar housed within Honda Aircraft Co.'s new customer service facility, which will provide 24/7 technical support, manage warranty administration and complement the company's dealer network. Honda said American Honda Finance Corporation intends to offer financing for HondaJet customers.

by Katie Arcieri of www.bizjournals.com

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

Behind the scenes with Honda Aircraft's CEO

Michimasa Fujino, the CEO of Honda Aircraft Co., is an avid sports fan and history buff.

by Katie Arcieri

Have you heard of Honda Aircraft Co.? If so, then you’ve likely also heard the name Michimasa Fujino, the Japanese-born president and CEO of the Greensboro-based company and the mastermind behind the $4.5 million lightweight business jet now being produced at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Late last year, I had the rare occasion to sit down with Fujino, one of the subjects of our 10 to Watch edition that's published Friday. Make no mistake, Fujino works a lot. But he does have several interests outside of work and I was also able to glean some personal details about Fujino during the interview.

Among them? Fujino is an avid sports fan who played basketball as a youth in Japan and at one point had aspirations to become a professional table-tennis player.

"I practiced several hours a day because I wanted to be a professional," he said.
And sports continues to be a passion.

"I'm kind of sports nuts," Fujino joked. "My children say please don’t talk about sports at home."
Since arriving in the United States, Fujino has also developed an appreciation of Japanese history and has been reading more on the topic.

"My father was a history professor," he says. "When I was young I didn’t know what he was doing or why he chose history."

History, Fujino says, helps provide insights for his decisions today. That fits in with his decision-making process, one that is based on facts and not feelings.

“The probability of success increases if you take a logical step," he says. “I am not looking for big success or big fortune in one day.”

Want to know more about Fujino? Check out the 10 to Watch edition of The Business Journal, published on Friday.

Source;
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2013/01/02/behind-the-scenes-with-honda-aircraft.html