FlightSafety and Honda Aircraft Expand Partnership with New Runway Safety Training
FlightSafety International (FSI) and Honda Aircraft Company are expanding their longstanding partnership with the introduction of a new runway safety training program designed for HondaJet pilots. The new Runway Operations Mastery course will provide specialized instruction for pilots operating the HA-420 Elite and Elite II aircraft, reinforcing the companies’ shared commitment to aviation safety and operational excellence.
Announced in Columbus, Ohio, the expanded collaboration introduces a voluntary training opportunity focused on improving pilot proficiency during runway operations. The course has been developed jointly by FlightSafety International and Honda Aircraft Company to help pilots strengthen essential skills, improve situational awareness and make informed decisions in challenging operational conditions.
The initiative reflects the importance of specialized pilot training in maintaining safe aircraft operations. By combining digital learning, instructor-led briefings and advanced flight simulator exercises, the program aims to give HondaJet pilots additional opportunities to develop their knowledge and practical capabilities.
New Training Program Focuses on Runway Safety
Runway operations are an important part of aviation safety, requiring pilots to maintain awareness of aircraft positioning, runway conditions, operational procedures and changing circumstances. Effective preparation and sound decision-making are essential for managing these activities safely.
The new Runway Operations Mastery course is intended to help HondaJet pilots strengthen their understanding of runway operations through structured training and practical exercises. Developed specifically for the HA-420 Elite and Elite II aircraft, the program offers a focused learning experience that addresses operational challenges pilots may encounter.
The course is voluntary and provides an additional training option for eligible HondaJet operators. Through specialized instruction, pilots can revisit important procedures, practice decision-making and reinforce skills that support safer operations.
The collaboration also highlights the value of cooperation between aircraft manufacturers and aviation training providers. By working together, FlightSafety International and Honda Aircraft Company can align specialized training with the needs of aircraft operators and the characteristics of the aircraft they fly.
FlightSafety International Expands Its Aviation Safety Commitment
FlightSafety International has a long history of providing professional aviation training and simulation-based learning. The company works with aircraft manufacturers and operators to develop training programs that help pilots build proficiency and prepare for real-world operational demands.
The introduction of Runway Operations Mastery builds on this experience by addressing a specific area of flight operations. Rather than replacing existing pilot training, the new course adds a dedicated opportunity for HondaJet pilots to focus on runway-related procedures and decision-making.
Ben Carter, Executive Vice President of Learning Center Operations at FlightSafety International, emphasized the company’s continued focus on addressing the practical challenges pilots face.
According to Carter, FlightSafety’s mission for more than 75 years has been to advance aviation safety through training that responds to real-world operational challenges. He explained that the new course demonstrates the company’s commitment to collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to deliver specialized programs that reinforce critical skills and support confident decision-making in demanding conditions.
This approach reflects the role of recurrent and supplementary training in professional aviation. Pilots must maintain their proficiency as operating environments, procedures and individual circumstances change. Focused courses can provide opportunities to review specific skills and practice responses in a controlled setting.
Through the expanded partnership, FlightSafety International aims to continue providing training solutions that support the needs of HondaJet pilots and operators.
Honda Aircraft Company Supports the HondaJet Ownership Experience
Honda Aircraft Company views the new training initiative as part of its broader commitment to supporting customers throughout the aircraft ownership lifecycle.Beyond delivering aircraft, manufacturers can contribute to the ownership experience by helping operators access resources, technical support and training opportunities that support safe and effective operations.
Amod Kelkar, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Honda Aircraft Company, said the company seeks to provide HondaJet operators with additional tools and knowledge to strengthen confidence, improve proficiency, enhance operational readiness and maximize aircraft performance.
Kelkar also highlighted the importance of working with FlightSafety International to make industry-leading training available to operators.
The collaboration demonstrates how aircraft manufacturers and training providers can work together to support pilots after aircraft delivery. By developing a course tailored to the HA-420 Elite and Elite II, the companies are offering a focused learning opportunity that reflects the operational requirements of HondaJet aircraft.
For operators, access to additional training can support efforts to maintain professional standards and improve familiarity with procedures. The voluntary nature of the program also gives eligible pilots an opportunity to pursue further development in an area directly related to flight operations.
Course Combines eLearning and Full-Flight Simulator Training
The Runway Operations Mastery course is structured as a 5.5-hour training program that combines several learning methods. Its format includes eLearning, briefing and debriefing sessions, and Level D Full-Flight Simulator training.
Each component contributes to the overall learning experience.
Digital Learning and Preparation
The eLearning component provides an opportunity for pilots to review course material before or as part of the practical training process. Digital instruction can help establish a foundation of knowledge and prepare participants for the subjects addressed during instructor-led sessions and simulator exercises.
This preparation allows the course to combine theoretical learning with practical application, giving pilots an opportunity to connect procedural knowledge with operational scenarios.
Briefing and Debriefing Sessions
Briefings and debriefings form another important part of the program. Briefings help establish training objectives and prepare pilots for the exercises they will undertake. Debriefings provide an opportunity to review performance, discuss decisions and identify areas for further improvement.
These sessions can help participants understand how their actions relate to operational procedures and safety objectives. They also create an opportunity to reflect on decisions made during simulator exercises and reinforce lessons from the training.
Level D Full-Flight Simulator Exercises
The program also includes Level D Full-Flight Simulator training. This component allows pilots to practise relevant skills in a simulated environment rather than relying exclusively on classroom instruction or theoretical study.
Full-flight simulators can recreate operational scenarios in a controlled setting, allowing pilots to practise procedures and decision-making without exposing an operating aircraft to the risks associated with training exercises.
Within the Runway Operations Mastery program, simulator training complements the digital learning and briefing components. The combined approach is intended to strengthen pilot proficiency through a structured sequence of preparation, practical application and review.
The companies have not specified additional course modules or individual simulator scenarios in the announcement. However, the program’s stated focus is on runway operations and strengthening the skills needed to support safer aircraft operations.
Training Available in the United States and United Kingdom
FlightSafety International will offer the new course by request at two locations: Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States, and Farnborough, United Kingdom.
The availability of training in these locations gives HondaJet operators options in both North America and Europe. Operators can contact their FlightSafety representative to obtain further information about the course, scheduling and participation.
The company has also announced plans for its sales team to contact HondaJet operators in the coming weeks to provide details about the program. This outreach will include information about a special introductory promotional offer available for a limited time.
Operators interested in participating are encouraged to contact their FlightSafety representative for current details about the offering and course arrangements.
The announcement does not specify the promotional price, the offer’s expiration date or a fixed schedule of course sessions. Interested operators will therefore need to obtain those details directly from FlightSafety International.
Strengthening Pilot Proficiency Through Industry Collaboration
The expanded partnership between FlightSafety International and Honda Aircraft Company illustrates the role of cooperation in developing specialized aviation training.
Aircraft manufacturers bring knowledge of their aircraft and the needs of their customers, while training providers contribute instructional expertise, simulation technology and experience in pilot education. Bringing these capabilities together can help produce training programs tailored to specific aircraft and operational requirements.
For HondaJet pilots, Runway Operations Mastery offers an additional opportunity to focus on runway safety through a combination of digital instruction, instructor-led discussions and simulator-based practice.
The program also reflects a broader emphasis on continuous professional development in aviation. Pilot training does not end when an individual obtains the qualifications required to operate an aircraft. Maintaining proficiency, reviewing procedures and practising responses to operational challenges remain important parts of a pilot’s professional responsibilities.
Supplementary courses can support these objectives by providing a structured environment in which pilots revisit particular skills and strengthen their decision-making capabilities.
Although participation in the new course is voluntary, its introduction gives eligible HondaJet operators another option for developing runway-related skills. The companies’ collaboration is designed to support safer operations while enhancing the training resources available to customers.
Supporting the Future of HondaJet Operations
The launch of Runway Operations Mastery marks a further step in the longstanding relationship between FlightSafety International and Honda Aircraft Company. By introducing a course focused on runway operations, the companies are extending their collaboration beyond general training to address a specific area of operational proficiency.
The 5.5-hour program brings together eLearning, briefing and debriefing sessions, and Level D Full-Flight Simulator exercises. It is designed for HA-420 Elite and Elite II pilots and will be available by request in Greensboro and Farnborough.
The initiative also reinforces the importance of collaboration between aircraft manufacturers and training organizations in supporting the needs of operators. Through specialized instruction and practical simulation, the program provides an additional resource for pilots seeking to strengthen their skills and operational readiness.
As FlightSafety International begins outreach to HondaJet operators, interested participants can contact their FlightSafety representative for further information about availability, scheduling and the limited-time introductory offer.
The expanded partnership underscores the companies’ shared focus on aviation safety, pilot proficiency and customer support. By making specialized runway safety training available to HondaJet pilots, FlightSafety International and Honda Aircraft Company aim to strengthen the resources operators can use to support safe and confident flight operations.
About FlightSafety International Inc.
FlightSafety International is the world’s preeminent professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems, and displays to educational, commercial, government, and military organizations. In 2026, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary, marking more than seven decades of advancing aviation safety through rigorous, real-world training programs delivered to pilots, technicians, and other professionals from 170+ countries. FSI currently operates a global fleet of advanced simulators at learning centers and training locations on six continents.
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. Global deliveries of the HondaJet surpassed the 250-mark in 2024. The company is now developing its newest aircraft, the 11-occupant HondaJet Echelon, which will be produced in North Carolina alongside the HondaJet Elite II, as Honda Aircraft continues to advance the global Honda brand slogan “The Power of Dreams: How We Move You.