GE Honda Aero Engines is gearing up for serial production of its new HF120 turbofan, which will power the HondaJet and now the Sapphire retrofit of the engine onto the Cessna 525, CitationJet, CJ and CJ1+ in partnership with Sierra Industries.

The 2,095-pound-thrust HF120 received FAA approval in late 2013 and EASA certification is anticipated in early 2015, the company said. Ten production engines have been delivered to Honda Aircraft to date from GE’s Lynn, Mass. engine plant.

Engine production is expected to shift to GE Honda Aero’s new plant in Burlington, N.C., by year-end following receipt of the required FAA production approvals.

As part of gaining those approvals, six engines are progressing through various stages of assembly and test in Burlington, including three fully completed engines. The test cell at Burlington has already been validated by the FAA.