Check out the new HondaJet facility coming to PTI.
GREENSBORO -- Starting from a small research facility back in 2000, seven years later HondaJet broke ground for its world headquarters and production facility at PTI Airport Tuesday morning.
“I believe this is the first time since 1903 there we’re actually going to be building airplanes in North Carolina,” said NC Assistant Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland. “We've built parts of airplanes in North Carolina but now we're going to be building airplanes in North Carolina.”
The 369,000 square-foot facility will replace the company's existing hangar and office complex at PTI. It will also bring about 350 jobs to the Triad, an addition that helps the recovering manufacturing industry.
“We are transforming North Carolina from a state primarily based on horse power to one on mega bites and mega bits,” said Copeland.
HondaJet
"We're already hiring. We're currently looking for people with technical backgrounds in aviation, engineering, aerodynamics, also in the testing and certification of aircraft. And then as we get closer to production we'll be opening our employment to production workers," said Stephen Keeney, department manager of corporate affairs for Honda Aircraft Company.
Good thing, because so far the company has received over 100 orders for the state-of-the-art, $3.65 million HondaJet.
“By breaking ground for this new Honda aircraft facility today, we take the next important step in getting HondaJet into the sky tomorrow," said President and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company, Michimasa Fugino.
Phase one of construction should be complete by spring of 2008. Deliveries of HondaJet to customers are slated for 2010.
For more information about jobs with HondaJet or more information about the company in general log onto their Web site.