GE Honda Aero HF120 engine receives FAA certificate

The HF120 turbofan engine powers the HondaJet

GE Honda’s HF120 turbofan engine receives FAA certificate.

The HF120 turbofan engine powers the HondaJet

The US FAA has awarded a Part 33 certification to GE Honda Aero Engine’s HF120 turbofan engine, certifying its airworthiness.

“Achieving US FAA airworthiness certification for the HF120 engine is a perfect way to end the year for the GE Honda Aero Engine team,” said Terry Sharp, president of GE Honda Aero Engines. “And this is just the beginning for our team, which has worked tirelessly to demonstrate the technologies in our engine. We have been ramping up the supply chain and production processes to prepare for a successful entry into service,” added Sharp.

Currently, the engines are being built at GE’s facility in Lynn, Mass but production will move to the Honda facility in Burlington, North Carolina next year.

The GE Honda HF120 engine programme was launched in 2006. It will be used to power the HondaJet. Now that the engine is certified Honda Aircraft hopes to deliver the first aircraft to customers in late 2014 or early 2015.