Media

April 19, 2016 - BURLINGTON, North Carolina
Honda Aero, Inc. (HAI) today added to its capability to produce world-class light-jet engines as well as top-flight maintenance and service, as it breaks ground on a new $21 million, 50,000-square foot facility expansion on its Burlington, North Carolina campus. The addition is expected to create 20 to 30 new jobs over the next few years.
HAI expects to complete the facility by early 2017, which will allow it to expand its manufacturing flexibility and production capability for the HF120 light-jet engine as well as any future projects.
"Honda Aero is very excited to expand upon the strong foundation we have established in North Carolina and increase our production capabilities," said Honda Aero President Atsukuni Waragai. "This facility will give us increased flexibility and capacity to continue providing the very best products and services for our customers."
HAI currently produces the HF120 engine for GE Honda Aero Engines, LLC, building and servicing the engine that powers the HondaJet at its Burlington facility. HAI received its Production Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration on March 17, 2015. Equipped with the HF120 engine, the HondaJet began delivery in December 2015. The HF120 is also available for other airframe applications.
HAI is the official Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility for the HF120 engine, and features a state-of-the-art test cell, repair and overhaul along with parts warehousing.
"In addition to being an important day for our business, this is another big step for our Honda Aero associates, as we continue to grow and mature our aviation manufacturing capabilities in Burlington," said Tony Brandewie, vice president of Honda Aero. "As the footprint of our operation expands, so does our partnership with the local community, especially with the Burlington-Alamance Airport Authority which has been instrumental in supporting our business."
About Honda Aero, Inc.
Honda Aero, Inc. (HAI) conducts parts procurement, assembly and testing of jet engines at its 82,000-square-foot facility, located adjacent to the Burlington-Alamance County regional airport in Burlington, North Carolina. HAI also provides engine maintenance and overhaul services for its customers at its Burlington facility.
About GE Honda Aero Engines
GE Honda Aero Engines, LLC is a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Honda and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The joint company integrates the resources of GE Aviation and Honda Aero, Inc., a Honda subsidiary established to manage its aviation engine business.
About Honda in North America
Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion. Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet. Honda also operates 14 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

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