Honda Aircraft Company today made several announcements during its media briefing at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, that underscore progress and momentum toward certification of the HondaJet light business jet.

Honda Aircraft announced and demonstrated key new product enhancements in the HondaJet's avionics and cabin management systems. The company announced the first flight of its fourth conforming flight test aircraft and reviewed progress in structural testing and system testing, such as landing gear drop testing and icing wind tunnel testing, for certification. The company also shared progress in preparing for the aircraft's entry into service with news regarding the HondaJet flight training and groundwork on its new Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) 54-acre site.

"Honda Aircraft is advancing toward certifying the HondaJet and delivering the aircraft to customers," said Michimasa Fujino, President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. "We are committed to deliver the world's most advanced light jet to our customers. We continuously improve product details to exceed customers' expectations, as today's product enhancements exemplify. Plus our program milestones in testing and manufacturing, and our progress in preparing for entry into service, illustrate Honda's commitment to provide an unsurpassed customer ownership experience."

New Product Enhancements

Honda Aircraft is the first manufacturer to announce and demonstrate plans for a new 40/60 display configuration on the Garmin® G3000 Primary Flight Displays for the HondaJet. This enhancement provides pilots a more user-friendly visual scan of additional flight information in a concise format that contributes to improved situational awareness and safety. The pilot or co-pilot can select and see more information within a tile that uses 40% of the width of each of the G3000's large 14-inch wide, high-resolution displays.

Honda Aircraft unveiled plans for a new Cabin Management System (CMS) and updated production aircraft interior. The new CMS will enable passengers to use a wireless mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone, to view real time flight information and to control the HondaJet cabin's lighting, temperature, music, and window shades for enhanced comfort and productivity.

The updated HondaJet fuselage model, on display at EBACE this week, uses production components, and showcases the new Garmin 40/60 display, the new CMS, and the latest HondaJet seating, cockpit and cabin interior appointments.

Recent Certification Program Milestones

Honda Aircraft announced the first flight of its fourth FAA-conforming HondaJet at today's briefing, as noted in a related press release. The company also announced other important milestones in its certification and manufacturing program.

Honda Aircraft is conducting several FAA structural tests and has passed the ultimate load structural testing with the HondaJet's conforming structural test aircraft. This ultimate load structural test placed loads of up to 150% of design limit load on the entire aircraft with various conditions. The company also has conducted several system tests and completed major tests in areas such as landing gear drop certification testing. It also has conducted wind tunnel icing test for verification of the HondaJet's ice protection system.

Progress in Preparation for Entry into Service

Honda Aircraft announced that manufacturing began on May 7, 2012, for the first full motion, Level D HondaJet flight simulator at FlightSafety® International's production facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma. This first simulator will be based at the HondaJet Training Center at Honda Aircraft headquarters campus in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the first half of 2013, and will play a vital role in HondaJet pilot training. FlightSafety International is the official HondaJet pilot training and maintenance training provider.

"The design and manufacture of the new HondaJet full flight simulator is underway," said Bruce Whitman, President & CEO, FlightSafety International. "We appreciate and value our close working relationship with Honda and together look forward to providing training in conjunction with aircraft deliveries."

Honda Aircraft also unveiled renderings and announced it has begun the process to build the new $20 million state-of-the-art MRO facility at its world headquarters campus at Greensboro, North Carolina. Site preparation, began in February 2012 on the 54-acre extension to Honda Aircraft's now 133-acre campus and continues in earnest. Groundbreaking for construction is on track for this summer, with completion of the building in summer 2013, prior to the aircraft's entry into service.