The HondaJet HA-420 light business jet has received type certification, allowing Honda Aircraft to begin making deliveries within days.

The US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the airworthiness certificate for the HA-420 was approved on 8 December. The approval occurred “as scheduled”, an FAA spokesman says.

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Honda Aircraft has been pursuing certification of the light jet for more than 12 years. The original HA-420 prototype completed first flight in 2003.

But flight testing prompted Honda to redesign and enlarge the aircraft’s engine. A partnership with GE Aviation produced the HF120 turbofan.

Honda Aircraft

After several more delays, Honda Aircraft received a provisional type certification from the FAA last March.

Honda Aircraft chief executive Michimasa Fujino announced at the NBAA convention in November that the HA-420 had also completed functional and reliability testing, ending the flight test phase of the certification campaign.

Source: FlightGlobal.com