Page 14 - SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - INSIGHT
P. 14
For a More Efficient
Way of Regional Travel
onda Aircraft Company after the appointment in 2022 of
continues to strengthen Malaysia-based KarbonMRO as
its presence in Asia the exclusive authorized service
H for a seamless cus- center (ASC) for Southeast Asia.
tomer experience in response In Asia, our footprint now expands
to the growing demand for across Southeast Asia, Japan, and
the HondaJet. Amod Kelkar, China. Overall, we are receiving an
Senior Vice President and Chief increasing amount of interests in
Commercial Officer of Honda the market. Significant growth is
Aircraft Company, in an exclusive projected for aviation in the
interview with Jay Menon. region and we are confi-
dent that the HondaJet
Excerpts from the interview: will be a valuable tool
for both business and
Q It has been almost 5 private use.
years since Honda made
the Asian debut of its air- Q Can you throw
craft. how has the impact some light on the
been? HondaJet Echelon?
Please update us on
Since its Asian debut, the project. When do
Honda Aircraft has deliv- you plan the first flight?
ered 24 aircraft to the
region, where utilization The development of the
is rapidly increasing. HondaJet Echelon is well
Japan is the 2nd most underway having completed
HondaJet trafficked several key milestones:
country, and Thailand is Installation of the first struc-
the 4th most in our global tural test rig was completed Q4
fleet activity. 2021.
Successful exit of conceptual
Honda Aircraft Company design and completion of
continues to strengthen its aircraft Preliminary Design
presence in Asia for a seam- Review (PDR).
less customer experience The official power-on cer-
in response to the growing emony for the HondaJet
demand for the HondaJet. Echelon’s Advanced
In 2023, we announced Systems Integration Test
two new authorized sales Facility (ASITF) at the
representatives in Asia Amod Kelkar, company’s Greensboro, NC
(Forth Corporation Public Senior Vice President and Chief (U.S.) world headquarters
Company, WingsOverAsia). Commercial Officer of Honda on August 30, 2023.
This announcement comes Aircraft Company The first flight is planned for
14 SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 INSIGHT ∙ FEBRUARY 2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG
