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Honda Aircraft Co. has asked for an extension on the deadline for finishing its production plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Honda asked the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority to change its lease, moving the deadline to Dec. 31, 2010, from April 1.

The board made that change Tuesday.

Ted Johnson, the authority’s executive director, said Tuesday that he expects the company to begin building the plant this summer, as it has said earlier, but he does not know why it asked for the delay.

Honda, which finished its World R&D Center earlier this year, has always said it plans to deliver the first HondaJet aircraft by the end of 2010.

Johnson said he believes that is still the company’s goal.

Although no Honda spokesman could be reached late Tuesday, the company has said that it could build and deliver its first aircraft at the R&D center before moving into the production building.

Honda is now in the process of getting certification for the jet from the Federal Aviation Administration, a complex task. Meanwhile, the joint venture between Honda and General Electric that will build the engines for the jet in Burlington has experienced delays in its FAA certification, according to reports.

At PTI, Honda has already exceeded hiring expectations with 400 workers on site.

Contact Richard M. Barron at 373-7371 or richard.barron@news-record.com