Press release

March 17, 2015

FAA Production Certificate Awarded to Produce GE Honda’s HF120 Engines in North Carolina

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- GE Honda Aero Engines (GHAE) today announced that the turbofan engine production facility in Burlington, N.C., Honda Aero, Inc. (HAI), has been issued a PART 21 production certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a milestone that will provide a steady supply of the HF120 engine that will power HondaJet and other GHAE customers’ aircraft.

"This is a significant milestone that will enable GE Honda to continue to build momentum for the HF120 turbofan engine program" said GHAE President Steve Shaknaitis. "With our primary production site now fully certified; we can focus on maximizing our production capabilities to anticipate all customer demands."

Initial production of the HF120 engines took place at GE's Lynn facility in Massachusetts. At the end of 2014, HAI started assembly of the HF120 under GHAE’s TC with FAA oversight. With this program milestone, the HAI Burlington facility can now produce engines under the HAI Production Certificate. In addition to engine assembly, the Burlington plant features a test cell, repair and overhaul functions and parts warehousing.

GHAE continues progress toward entry into service for its HF120 turbofan engine in 2015 on Honda Aircraft Company’s HondaJet. GHAE’s Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility will also be located at HAI in Burlington, NC and the company has developed a strong network of Authorized Service Providers (ASPs) to prepare its support for customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

GE Honda Aero Engines also offers long-term Engine Maintenance Care programs for the HF120 that extend beyond the basic engine warranty, with coverage of both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance events. The two levels of service coverage offered under this program are EMC2, a hands-off solution for customers requiring comprehensive service, and EMCb, which is predominantly a parts-only program. Both programs are offered through the GE Honda ASP network.

About GE Honda Aero Engines

GE and Honda formed a 50/50 joint venture in 2004, called GE Honda Aero Engines, 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 the HF120 Turbofan Engine

Rated at 2,095 pounds of thrust, the HF120 engine sets new standards of performance in fuel efficiency, durability, and low noise and emissions. HF120 technologies include:

  • A wide-chord, compound, swept front fan blisk, along with composite outlet guide vanes.
  • A high-temperature titanium impeller in the compressor for maximum engine pressure ratio and stall-free performance.
  • A compact reverse-flow configuration combustor and single-stage air-blast fuel nozzles.
  • Advanced materials in the high-pressure (HP) turbine as well as a two-stage low-pressure (LP) turbine and a counter rotating HP and LP spool shaft system.

For additional information about GE Honda, please visit our website at http://www.gehonda.com

For questions on GE Honda Aero Engines’ business, please contact Mel Solomon at +1-513- 552-7857.