Greensboro-based Honda Aircraft Co. is planning to hold an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $20 million, 90,000-square-foot customer service facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport on Oct. 17.
The facility will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the HondaJet, a $4.5 million small business jet.
Honda Aircraft, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), broke ground on the facility about a year ago.
The company selected KBR Building Group, headquartered in Charlotte, and The Daniele Co., a minority-owned general contracting firm based in Durham, as the team to build the facility.
Honda Aircraft is moving closer to full-scale production of the HondaJet. GE Honda Aero Engines, the company that will produce engines for the HondaJet, is targeting the end of this year for obtaining its Federal Aviation Administration certification. After that, Honda Aircraft is targeting the end of 2014 for obtaining full FAA certification for the business jet, allowing production to begin.
Honda Aircraft employs a work force of 800 people at PTI and has its world headquarters, a research-and-development facility and a manufacturing building at the airport.