Click for more.
Honda Aircraft Company* today announced that the HondaJet Elite II has become the first production model twin-turbine very light business jet certified with Emergency Autoland (EAL), following certification of the system by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Adding Emergency Autoland (EAL) to the HondaJet Elite II demonstrates our commitment to delivering new value to our customers,” said Honda Aircraft Company President & CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “I’m proud that our team is fulfilling on this promise by offering Emergency Autoland and giving our HondaJet Elite II customers greater peace of mind during every flight.”**
Emergency Autoland
The EAL system is designed to enable the aircraft to land autonomously in an emergency situation where the pilot has become incapacitated. The system may be initialized either by pushing a button to engage the EAL, or by automated monitoring systems, which can detect pilot unresponsiveness that may render EAL activation appropriate. When active, the EAL system automatically transmits an emergency code and conducts radio calls to alert air traffic control to the emergency. EAL-equipped aircraft can autonomously evaluate weather, terrain, fuel, and runway dimensions to select the optimal diversion airport, configure the aircraft for landing, navigate along the approach path, land the aircraft, and apply the brakes to a full stop on the runway.
In October 2024, the HondaJet Elite II became the first twin-turbine very light business jet to equip Autothrottle, a key technology related to the EAL system. Certification flight testing of EAL was completed in October 2025, paving the way for this latest achievement.*
*AutoInformed on
**About Honda Aircraft Company
Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. Inc. responsible for the research, development, sales, marketing, customer service, and manufacture of the innovative HondaJet Elite II. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters is located in North Carolina. In 2023, the company announced plans to develop and produce the HondaJet Echelon, its newest 11-occupant aircraft which will be offered alongside the HondaJet Elite II. Cumulative HondaJet deliveries surpassed 250 planes globally in 2024. Honda Aircraft continues to advance the original challenging spirit of Honda embodied in the global Honda brand slogan “The Power of Dreams: How We Move You.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
FAA Certifies HondaJet Elite II Emergency Autoland
Click for more.
Honda Aircraft Company* today announced that the HondaJet Elite II has become the first production model twin-turbine very light business jet certified with Emergency Autoland (EAL), following certification of the system by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Adding Emergency Autoland (EAL) to the HondaJet Elite II demonstrates our commitment to delivering new value to our customers,” said Honda Aircraft Company President & CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “I’m proud that our team is fulfilling on this promise by offering Emergency Autoland and giving our HondaJet Elite II customers greater peace of mind during every flight.”**
Emergency Autoland
The EAL system is designed to enable the aircraft to land autonomously in an emergency situation where the pilot has become incapacitated. The system may be initialized either by pushing a button to engage the EAL, or by automated monitoring systems, which can detect pilot unresponsiveness that may render EAL activation appropriate. When active, the EAL system automatically transmits an emergency code and conducts radio calls to alert air traffic control to the emergency. EAL-equipped aircraft can autonomously evaluate weather, terrain, fuel, and runway dimensions to select the optimal diversion airport, configure the aircraft for landing, navigate along the approach path, land the aircraft, and apply the brakes to a full stop on the runway.
In October 2024, the HondaJet Elite II became the first twin-turbine very light business jet to equip Autothrottle, a key technology related to the EAL system. Certification flight testing of EAL was completed in October 2025, paving the way for this latest achievement.*
*AutoInformed on
**About Honda Aircraft Company
Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. Inc. responsible for the research, development, sales, marketing, customer service, and manufacture of the innovative HondaJet Elite II. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters is located in North Carolina. In 2023, the company announced plans to develop and produce the HondaJet Echelon, its newest 11-occupant aircraft which will be offered alongside the HondaJet Elite II. Cumulative HondaJet deliveries surpassed 250 planes globally in 2024. Honda Aircraft continues to advance the original challenging spirit of Honda embodied in the global Honda brand slogan “The Power of Dreams: How We Move You.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.