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FEATURE GAME CHANGERS
FEA TURE G AME CHANGERS

Game Changers

2016 is a year of important milestones for the HondaJet and Pilatus PC-24
By Atul Chandra

THE HONdA AIRCRAFT COMpANY (HAC) the first test flight of the world’s first all- Europe is a significant milestone in our
HA-420 HondaJet light business jet and composite experimental business jet called journey to bring new value to the light
the Pilatus PC-24 mid-size business jet MH-02. The maiden flight of the HondaJet jet market,” said HAC President and CEO
are important types for their respective took place a decade later, on 16 December Michimasa Fujino on the occasion. The
manufacturers. The HondaJet reeks of 2003. Development of HAC’s first product HondaJet also recently received its type
innovation and efficiency, something to be — an advanced clean-sheet design light jet, certification from the Civil Aviation Safety
expected from a Honda product, while the that had to designed, tested and certified Authority of Mexico, the Dirección General
Swiss PC-24 ‘Super Versatile Jet’ offers an posed an unprecedented challenge for de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) and the first
outstanding combination of versatility and Honda. The process has certainly been delivery of a HA-420 to Mexico will take
comfort. Both types are vitally important to protracted and U.S. Federal Aviation place soon.
their companies as HAC seeks a foothold in Administration (FAA) certification for the The HA-420 is powered by two HF120
the light business jet category, while the PC- type was finally obtained in December 2015. light-jet engines, developed by GE Honda
24 is the Pilatus of the future and hopes to Customer deliveries commenced the same Aero Engines, a 50/50 joint venture between
replicate the success of the outstandingly month in the USA and HAC announced the GE and Honda and is based in Cincinnati,
successful PC-12 single engine turboprop. delivery of the first HA-420 into Europe Ohio. An estimated 100 engines have been
Honda began researching the development in April, this year to Rheinland Air Service, delivered to date, according to media
of a light aircraft and jet engines in 1986. In the exclusive HondaJet dealer for Central reports. Honda Aero, Inc (HAI) announced
1993 the company successfully completed Europe. “Delivering the first HondaJet in in April that work had commenced on a new
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