Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Honda Aircraft (Booth C11634, SD13) has appointed Honsan General Aviation as its authorized sales representative in China and has applied for type certification validation for the HA-420 HondaJet with the Chinese CAAC. Honsan is based at the Guangzhou Airport in Southern China, strategically located to service markets in Hong Kong and Macau, said Honda Aircraft CEO Michimasa Fujino.

 


He noted that Honda already has widespread brand recognition in the country as the best-selling Japanese car in China. From Guangzhou the HondaJet can reach Beijing non-stop. Fujino said he expected CAAC approval to take 18 months.

 


The HondaJet has already received approval in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Canada and Brazil. Through early October, 58 of the light jets had been delivered, including 24 in the first six months of this year. Collectively, the fleet has amassed 10,000 flight hours.

 


Fujino said Honda plans to keep production at its current rate of four aircraft per month from its Greensboro, North Carolina assembly plant, which currently employs 1,800. He once again declined to divulge the company's remaining order book for the aircraft or any plans for a follow-on model. "We are looking for growth at our company," he said.

 


At NBAA 2017, Fujino introduced Julian and Kim MacQueen who had recently completed a leisurely round-the world tour in their HondaJet over the course of 80 flight hours. Julian MacQueen reported that he set five speed records during the trip, including a flight time of 3 hours 22 minutes from Amman, Jordan, to Dubai, with just two maintenance issues—a tire that needed replacing and a CAS message received in Italy that was quickly resolved by Honda service technicians dispatched from Germany.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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