Bombardier expands family of Challenger jets
Bombardier kicked off the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention with the expansion of its Challenger family of business jets.
The company is launching the Challenger 650 large business jet and announced Monday that fractional ownership company NetJets is its launch customer.
NetJets placed an order for 25 Challenger 650s, formerly called the 605 “NG,” with options for 50 more.
The Signature Series brand of the Challenger 605 contains customized cabinetry and seating and “next generation” in-flight entertainment and lighting.
Deliveries are scheduled for 2015.
The NBAA show is open to the public Tuesday and ends Thursday. Monday was media day, during which companies made announcements about new products, customers and services.
HondaJet’s progress
The HondaJet has begun a demonstration tour, Honda Aircraft Co. officials said Monday morning.
Honda Aircraft Co. officials announced that the HondaJet is progressing.
The plane is in its final phase of certification testing with the Federal Aviation Administration, the company said.
The HondaJet is in its final phase of certification testing with the Federal Aviation Administration, the company said.
The company has four aircraft in flight testing. The fleet has logged more than 2,000 hours of testing.
The company is testing avionics systems in Wichita.
Honda Aircraft’s plant in Greensboro, N.C., is ramping up and 11 planes are on the final assembly line.
The company has hired more than 300 assembly technicians in the past 14 months with plans to add another 150 jobs before the plane enters service.
Hand-held tablets deliver work instructions to the technicians and an interactive parts list allows them to identify parts and their assembly to improve efficiency.
Honda Aircraft is also expanding its headquarters, at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. It will add nearly 50,000 square feet of space. It also is adding a hangar dedicated to delivery preparation. The $19 million project will bring Honda’s capital investment in Honda Aircraft facilities to about $160 mllion and increase square footage to about 680,000 square feet.
Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or mmcmillin@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mmcmillin.
This story was originally published October 20, 2014 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Bombardier expands family of Challenger jets."