Brazilian authorities have cleared the HondaJet HA-420 to operate in controlled airspace as the entry-level jet continues to expand in markets beyond the USA.
Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC) awarded a type certificate for the HA-420 on 8 August. That came eight days after ANAC awarded a type certificate for the aircraft’s engine – the GE Honda Aero Engines HF120 turbofan, according to Brazilian government documents.
“We are eager to respond to customer interest in one of the largest business jet markets in the world,” says HondaJet chief executive Michimasa Fujino.
It was not immediately clear if Honda Aircraft has any pending orders from Brazilian customers, but the North Carolina-based company has cultivating sales in the country for at least two years.
The HondaJet made a debut appearance at the LABACE conference and exhibition in 2015. Honda Aircraft partnered with Lider Aviação, one of Brazil’s largest business aviation companies, as a local dealer. Previously, Lider had represented Bombardier Business Aircraft sales in the country.
“The aircraft is particularly ideal for intra-Brazil travel, connecting all the major cities,” says Eduardo Vaz, CEO for Lider Aviação.
Honda Aircraft faces a host of competitors for sales in the region, including the homegrown Embraer Phenom 100, as well as the Cessna Citation M2 and Eclipse Aerospace 550.
The type achieved a limited type certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration in December 2015. The FAA next cleared the HondaJet for flights in reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) airspace and flights into known or forecasted icing the following December. ANAC approved the same conditions with the 8 August type certificate, which applies to all aircraft after the first 10 HondaJets built by Honda Aircraft.
Separately, Honda Aircraft announced that the HA-420 led all entry-level class jet deliveries in the first half of 2017 with 24 jets handed over. By contrast, Textron Aviation delivered a total of 22 Mustang and M2 jets, Embraer delivered seven Phenom 100s and One Aviation delivered four Eclipse 550s.
