Another Economic Casualty Surfaces
Honda Aircraft is updating their HondaJet aviation program in
light of the effect economic conditions have had on the
industry.
Due to 'delays' in delivering some critical components to Honda
for conforming aircraft production, the company has revised the
first flight target for a conforming aircraft to January 2010. As a
result, the first customer delivery, originally scheduled for late
2010, is now projected in the fourth quarter of 2011 -- following
the completion of FAA flight-testing certification.
"We have been working very closely with our suppliers over the
past year in an effort to minimize the effect of the ongoing
worldwide economic instability on HondaJet development," said
Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO.
"Unfortunately, we now have no choice but to revise our schedule.
We appreciate our customers' continued trust and their
understanding of the challenges we are facing to bring to them the
most advanced light jet available."
Honda Aircraft Company has progressed with the establishment of
its new state-of-the-art world headquarters campus in Greensboro,
North Carolina, where the HondaJet is being developed and will be
manufactured. The campus complex includes a world headquarters
building that incorporates all engineering, sales, support,
marketing, and administration functions. The recently completed
world R&D center on campus features over four acres under roof
and houses the ongoing construction of conforming aircraft. The
R&D facility also houses the world delivery center for all
HondaJet aircraft.
At $3.9 million, the HondaJet's unique feature set and
performance suite has earned a number of fans and a solid order
book. "We are confident we will deliver to our customers the
best-performing and best-valued light jet in the industry," added
Fujino. Ground will be broken this summer on the final phase of
campus infrastructure development with construction of the HondaJet
production facility. With the completion of the HondaJet production
facility, the company's total world headquarters complex will reach
500,000 square ft under roof on the 83-acre campus.
"We are moving forward confidently with the HondaJet program
with the full backing and strength of our parent, Honda Motor
Company. Our production facility will incorporate not only
production functions, but also world-class flight training
facilities. We will deliver to our customers an aircraft of
outstanding quality that will be supported with exceptional sales,
service and flight training programs," said Fujino.
Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda
Motor Company, Ltd., began sales of the advanced and innovative
HondaJet in October 2006 in the US and has amassed well over 100
orders for the aircraft. The $3.9 million HondaJet is Honda's
first-ever commercial aircraft. The HondaJet proof-of-concept
aircraft has accumulated more than 425 flight test hours and
attained a top speed of 420 knots and a maximum altitude of 43,000
ft. in flight testing.