February 21, 2014

Press relase

GAMA Adds GE Honda Aero Engines as Newest Member

Washington, D.C. - The Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufactures Association (GAMA) approved GE Honda Aero Engines as the newest addition to the international trade association, which now includes 87 members.

Membership approval follows the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Part 33 certification of the GE Honda HF120 turbofan engine in December, 2013.

"GE Honda is honored to join our industry partners within GAMA, which has led the advancement of business aviation for more than 40 years," said Terry Sharp, president of GE Honda Aero Engines. "We plan to play our part in continuing that legacy through the introduction of our HF120 engine."

HF120 assembly is currently under way at GE's facility in Lynn, Mass., which is responsible for initial production. Production will transition to the Honda Aero Inc. facility in Burlington, N.C., later this year.

Rated at 2,095 pounds of thrust, the HF120 engine is designed to set 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.

A key cost-of-ownership advantage of the HF120 will be the ability to operate at a best-in-class 5,000 hours between major overhauls. The advanced airfoil materials and coatings that GE and Honda have developed for the engine's HP turbine enable this capability.

In 2004, GE and Honda formed a 50/50 joint venture, 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. The GE Honda HF120 engine program was launched in 2006 and was selected to power Honda Aircraft Company's advanced light jet, the HondaJet.

Honda (NYSE: HMC) is the world's largest engine manufacturer, annually producing more than 25 million engines for a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and Honda and Acura automobiles.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.

For additional information, visit GE Honda Aero Engines: http://www.gehonda.com/

Honda website: http://www.honda.com and its media website: http://www.hondanews.com

GE website: http://www.ge.com, and its Aviation business: http://www.geaviation.com

For questions on GE's engine division, please contact Matt Benvie (513) 243-3249

For questions on Honda's Aero Engine business, please contact Mel Solomon (513) 552-7857