The HondaJet has received provisional type certification from the FAA, Honda Aircraft announced Friday. Honda has four HA-420 jets in its test fleet with more than 2500 hours to date and is planning for final type certification in the next few months. The twin-engine business jet, the company’s first commercial aircraft design, is being manufactured at Honda Aircraft’s headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, and preparations for customer deliveries are underway. There are now a dozen jets in the final assembly line with another five under production, Honda said. The first production jet flew in June 2014. The aircraft features an over-the-wing mount design with two GE Honda HF120 turbofan engines and can seat up to six passengers.
“Provisional type certification for the HondaJet is a tremendous milestone for the program, and we are pleased to reach this significant step toward customer deliveries and entry into service,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Honda Aircraft has completed nearly all of the testing and reports required by the FAA, and we are very close to achieving final type certification.” Melvin Taylor, manager of the FAA’s Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, said, “It is a pleasure for the Atlanta ACO to issue Honda Aircraft Company a provisional type certificate for the Model HA-420. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Honda as we move to final completion of their HA-420 approval.”
