Press release

October 20, 2014

GE Honda engages with Sierra Industries to develop a new Citation Jet engine retrofit program

Orlando, Florida – October 20, 2014 - GE Honda announced a joint project with Sierra Industries, of Uvalde, TX, to develop an engine retrofit program for the legacy Citation Jet platform using the recently certified HF120 engine.

This new project, known as the Sapphire program can be applied to all CitationJet, CJ1 and CJ1+ models. The HF120 engine will provide the CitationJet with improved performance and enhanced productivity. The Sapphire retrofit plan would include FADEC engine management, and a comprehensive suite of upgrades to modernize these aircraft

“It’s been a landmark year for the HF120,” said Masahiko Izumi, executive vice-president of GE Honda Aero Engines. “Our goals have included supporting the HondaJet certification program while pursuing new applications for the HF120 – we’re pleased with the progress we have accomplished on both goals this year.”

Following the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 33 certification of the GE Honda HF120 turbofan engine obtained on December 13, 2013, initial European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) familiarization sessions have been completed earlier this year. GE Honda expects to achieve EASA validation of the HF120 certification in the first quarter of 2015.

With the first production ship set delivered in May, assembly and delivery of the HF120 is continuing from GE’s Lynn facility in Massachusetts. Preparation to transition production to Honda Aero, Inc.’s new state of the art facility in Burlington by year end is also progressing as planned. As part of the readiness validation for Burlington, six engines are progressing through various stages of the assembly and test process, including 3 fully completed engines. The local test cell has been validated for FAA testing including complete cell correlation and acceptance test plan verification.

To date, the HF120 program has accumulated close to 20,000 cycles and more than 10,000 hours demonstrating maturity prior to entering service in early 2015.

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.

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. The GE Honda HF120 engine program was launched in 2006 and was selected to power Honda Aircraft Company’s advanced light jet, the HondaJet.

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

To learn more about GE Honda Aero Engines and the HF120 engine, visit us at Booth 5031 during the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), held from October 21-23 in Orlando, Florida.

About Honda

Honda (NYSE: HMC) is the world’s largest engine manufacturer, annually producing more than 27 million engines for a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and Honda and Acura automobiles.
Honda’s website: http://www.honda.com and its media website: http://www.hondanews.com

About GE Aviation

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. GE Aviation’s global headquarters is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
GE’s website: http://www.ge.com, and its Aviation business: http://www.geaviation.com

About Sierra Industries

Celebrating 30 years in business in 2013, Sierra Industries, Ltd. has specialized in Cessna aircraft modifications since 1983. They are acknowledged worldwide as the leader in Cessna Citation Performance Enhancements and hold more than 75 proprietary Citation modifications and prod¬ucts – covering only a fraction of the company’s 300 FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC). Sierra is a wholly owned subsidiary of The SkyWay Group, Inc., which owns a business portfolio of numerous aviation related companies, including aircraft sales & brokerage arm SkyWay Aero, Inc., FlighTime Business Jets, the largest Part 135 charter firm and Citation aircraft management company in South Texas, and the Uvalde Flight Center, a full service fixed based operator. The Texas-based firm holds FAA Repair Station certificate SI6R285J, with a primary base of operations at KUVA, Uvalde and a certificated satellite repair station at KSAT in nearby San Antonio. For more information about Sierra’s business jet re-engining programs, avionics upgrade programs, MRO services and much more, please contact Sierra Industries toll-free at 1-888-8FLYERS, visit their website at www.sijet.com or email them at sierra@sijet.com.