At a signing ceremony on December 9, Jetex revealed it is now the exclusive authorized dealer for Honda Aircraft’s HondaJet Elite in the Gulf and Middle East region.

The Jetex FBO lobby at DWC qualifies as a showroom, with a HondaJet HA-420 mockup front and center, including the impressive stack of luggage that fits in the light jet's baggage area. Jetex president and CEO Adel Mardini told AIN he has strong hopes for local sales of the unique “over the wing engine mount” light jet. “Jetex will leverage our global network and our experience to offer unrivaled support for HondaJet in the region,” said Mardini.

Light jets have a promising role in the Middle East, though it has been a challenge to convince passengers that smaller jets can provide efficient, agile transportation throughout the region. With its increased 1,437 nm range, the HondaJet Elite can fulfill all but the longest-range missions throughout the region at a fraction of the cost and complexity of larger jets. As local business people learn more about the flexibility and economic efficiency of the HondaJet, said Mardini, they are bound to see how it can become an invaluable business asset.

“One key factor is local support," Mardini told AIN. "With Jetex backing the Hondajet in the region, operators can be confident that their aircraft will be available on a reliable basis.” He added that training programs are in the planning stages, and prospects for owner-flown HondaJet operations are good.

Jetex has already shown commitment to the HondaJet, having served as the region's authorized sales agent since the EBACE show in Geneva in May. The appointment as an authorized dealer further cements Honda Aircraft’s commitment to its relationship with Jetex.

The HondaJet Elite is far more than just a cosmetic upgrade of the original design, which was certified in December 2015. The Elite expands the light jet’s performance envelope while adding interior improvements and significant updates to the Garmin G3000-based flight deck.

While the amended type certificate for the HondaJet Elite was issued by the FAA on May 2 and it is also EASA certified, Honda Aircraft engineers have been working on the improvements since the jet first achieved certification three years ago, according to company president and CEO Michimasa Fujino.

“The HondaJet Elite represents Honda Aircraft’s continued commitment to performance, efficiency, and environment creating new value in business aviation,” he said. “The result of innovation, design, and engineering, our new aircraft features several performance and comfort enhancements that, once again, set a new standard in aviation.”

Thanks to additional fuel capacity and aerodynamic improvements that include removal of vortex generators on the empennage and winglet leading edges and a slightly wider elevator, the HondaJet needs less runway for takeoff and can fly farther. The 1,437 nm NBAA IFR range with four passengers is a 17 percent improvement from the original 1,223 nm.

Maximum takeoff weight is up 100 pounds, but some weight-shaving measures carved about 100 pounds from the empty weight, for a 200-pound payload increase. The additional fuel amounts to 16 gallons, achieved by redesigning the aft fuselage fuel tank to fill some unused space in the aft fuselage.

Next to the fuel filler, a lighted push switch has been added, and when pushed before fueling begins, it warns the fueler to slow the flow rate when the fuel is close to filling the aft tank. This avoids spillage, because at that point the fuel flow must be slowed for the tank to fill properly without overflowing.

Interior and exterior noise have been lowered significantly with a unique design feature, a perforated honeycomb-sandwich engine inlet engineered to cut fan-blade passage noise.

Improvements to the G3000 flight deck include faster display processors, performance planning for all phases of flight, and takeoff/landing distance computation for runway length, V-speeds, climb/approach gradient, and more.

The autopilot now offers stability and protection with roll and angle-of-attack functions and coupled go-arounds with underspeed protection.

Buyers have new interior options such as a Bongiovi audio system with speakerless transducer-based immersive audio; a belted lavatory seat; galley with coffee brewer; and two-tone executive leather seats.

On the outside, new “premier signature” paint options are available, in colors that deliver greater depth using a new three-layer paint process. The colors are Ice Blue, Ruby Red, and Monarch Orange.