Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Honda Aircraft announced that it received provisional certification for the HA-420 HondaJet today from the FAA. Full certification is expected “in the next few months,” according to the company, “following the completion of final testing and approval by the FAA.” Provisional certification allows an aircraft manufacturer to keep the production line moving, with final-phase manufacturing, including completion activity, continuing on customer aircraft so they can be delivered on schedule.

 


“Honda Aircraft has completed nearly all of the testing and reports required by the FAA,” said company president and CEO Michimasa Fujino, “and we are very close to achieving final type certification for the world’s most advanced light jet. Provisional type certification for the HondaJet is a tremendous milestone for the program, and we are pleased to reach this significant step toward customer deliveries and entry into service.”

 


Four design-conforming flight-test HondaJets have logged more than 2,500 flight hours. Twelve HondaJets are on the final assembly line at Honda Aircraft’s Greensboro, N.C. factory and another five “are currently in the production flow,” according to the company. Deliveries are slated to begin following full FAA type certification.

 


“It is a milestone for a first-time aircraft manufacturer to receive its first type certificate,” said Melvin Taylor, manager of the FAA’s Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office. “This issuance speaks well to the hard work put forward by all the Honda and FAA staff working in a collaborative manner.”

 


The composite-fuselage, twin-engine HondaJet features a unique over-the-wing engine mount configuration and is powered by the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-03-18/ge-honda-wins-faa-production-certificate-hf120-engine">recently FAA-certified GE Honda HF120 turbofan</a>. Avionics are a three-display, touchscreen-controlled Garmin G3000 system. Performance numbers include 420-knot maximum cruise speed, four-occupant NBAA IFR range of 1,180 nm and 43,000-foot maximum cruise altitude. The engine mounting arrangement makes available space for a fully enclosed lavatory and seating for up to seven occupants.

 


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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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