A HondaJet Elite in flight. (Honda Aircraft Company)
Honda Aircraft Company’s latest business jet, the HondaJet Elite, has received type certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, the company announced Dec. 10.
The standard HA-420 HondaJet received its first certification from the FAA and began delivery in late 2015. The Elite upgrade received FAA and EASA type certification and began delivery in the U.S. and Europe earlier in the year, but this is the first headway in the planemaker’s native Japan.
“Creating mobility products that enable people to enjoy the freedom of mobility in the sky has been Honda’s dream since its founding,” Honda President Takahiro Hachigo said in a statement. “Today, we are delighted that our HondaJet received type certification in Japan, the home country of Honda.”
The HondaJet Elite features an integrated Garmin G3000 glass cockpit avionics suite like its predecessor but with improved processors and takeoff/landing distance computation capability. The six-passenger Elite improves the HA-420’s range to 1,437 nautical miles thanks to added fuel capacity and picks up some additional weight allowance as well.
“Through our sales of the HondaJet Elite, we will strive to create a society where business jets are more easily accessible to everyone in Japan,” said Honda Aircraft Company Chief Executive Michimasa Fujino.
Honda said it expects to begin Japanese deliveries of the HondaJet Elite this month and has 10 orders waiting to be fulfilled.