HF120 engine nears completion of certification testing

GE Honda Aero Engines announced it will complete Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification testing on its HF120 engine by year end.

“It has been an eventful year for HF120 engine certification tests,” said Terry Sharp, president of GE Honda Aero Engines. “GE Honda Aero Engines has submitted more than 93 percent of the certification documents to the FAA with more than 83 percent already approved. We anticipate finishing the remaining tests by late December with engine type certification from the FAA expected mid-2013.”

A total of 13 HF120 engines have accumulated more than 5,500 hours and more than 7,000 cycles during development and certification testing at eight locations, including Evendale and Peebles, Ohio; Lynn, Massachusetts; Tokyo and Takasu, Japan; Burlington and Greensboro, North Carolina; and Valparaiso, Florida (Eglin Air Force Base). Among the tests successfully completed this year are low pressure shaft separation, initial maintenance interval, induction icing, emissions, fan blade out, water ingestion and over temperature testing. The three remaining tests for certification include medium bird, the 150-hour block endurance test and crosswind.

The supply chain is ramping up for HF120 engine production and components are arriving for the first production engine at GE’s Lynn, Massachusetts facility, where the initial production of the HF120 engine will occur. Soon after obtaining certification of the HF120, production will transition to Honda Aero engine production facility in Burlington, North Carolina.