OREANDA-NEWS. Honda Aircraft Company announced today two significant milestones in the development of the world's most advanced light jet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the first Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) certificate for the HondaJet and has certified Honda Aircraft Company's customer service facility as a Part 145 repair station.

FAA grants HondaJet Type Inspection Authorization
"Achieving FAA Type Inspection Authorization is a tremendous milestone for the HondaJet program and a significant step toward type certification," said Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. "We have successfully demonstrated through ground and flight testing that the HondaJet will meet certification requirements. We are now ready to begin the final stage of certification flight testing with FAA pilot participation."

Type Inspection Authorization is a pivotal point in the development and certification of a new aircraft. It signifies that the HondaJet meets type design requirements and is ready for FAA pilots to perform onboard flight tests required for certification. Nose-to-tail FAA review during this final testing phase will pave the way for HondaJet type certification and the first deliveries to HondaJet customers.

"We have been working closely with the FAA to finalize our certification schedule for the HondaJet," said Fujino. "Based on the recent FAA type certification of the HF120 turbofan engine and this TIA milestone achievement, we can expect aircraft type certification in the first quarter of 2015 with deliveries following immediately after."