Honda says HondaJet near certification

Honda Aircraft Co., which for more than a decade has been developing its entry level HondaJet business jet, said at the National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition that it is nearing completion of function and reliability flights and achieving type certification.

“We are expecting FAA type certification … very soon,” said Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft president and CEO.

Type certification will allow the Greensboro, N.C.-based company to begin delivery of the airplane, for which it has more than 100 orders.

The $4.5 million jet received provisional type certification from the FAA in March.

A proof-of-flight concept HondaJet first flew in 2003. The flight test program has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours.

The jet would compete directly with Textron Aviation Cessna’s Citation Mustang.