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GREENSBORO — These are heady, hectic, high-flying days for the people who want to build the $4.5 million HondaJet.

Their to-do list includes air shows and conventions, a new television commercial, the demands of FAA certification and gearing up for production of the seven-seat jet, which is expected to begin next year.

Plus, there’s the prospect of a major company expansion.

The latter could result in more than 400 new jobs at Honda Aircraft’s headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Local leaders have been waiting since mid-August for Honda’s decision. Some believe they may not have to wait much longer.

“I’m looking for something later this week from the state or HondaJet,” City Councilman Zack Matheny said Monday. “It’s getting about time.”

A spokesman for Honda Aircraft said Tuesday that no announcement about the expansion is planned this week.

“I would just say soon,” said Mark Lee, the company’s director of marketing and communications. He would not elaborate.

In August, a Honda official said an announcement could come in 30 to 60 days.

Over the next five years, Honda’s decision could result in an additional investment of $80-plus million at PTI and produce up to 419 jobs.

Local leaders feel optimistic that the airport will land all three parts of the project: a HondaJet service center that would do major maintenance and repair, a parts warehouse, and a center where the company would make components such as wings, doors and windows.

“I feel like they are coming, but that is just a gut feeling,” said Kirk Perkins, a member of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. “This has been a good fit for HondaJet. Ultimately, I think they will make the decision to locate everything here.”

But an expansion hasn’t been the only item on the company’s schedule.

Last month, for example, the HondaJet made its first public demonstration flights in North Carolina.

The plane spent three days at the 100th annual Winston-Salem Air Show .

“There were people who came out just to see the HondaJet,” said Steve Flippin, air show director. “We couldn’t be any happier with the response.”

Next week, the plane will make its first appearance out West. It will be on display in Las Vegas, the site of the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention.

Honda Aircraft has scheduled a news briefing for next Monday afternoon that Lee described as “a program update.”

In addition to its public appearances, the jet has been appearing in a nationally televised commercial for Honda’s 2012 Accord automobile. The company said the ad, which comes in three versions, also can be seen in theaters in the Triad.

But Honda executives haven’t been the only ones who have been busy of late.

Local leaders reportedly have gotten assurances from the state that it will provide funds to help convince Honda to expand its PTI operation.

That money would be in addition to $775,000 in incentives from Guilford County, nearly $524,000 from the city of Greensboro and a $1 million grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation in Rocky Mount.

The money is part of the $8.1 million the airport needs for infrastructure improvements at the proposed expansion site.

Greensboro leaders said they’re working to find all the money they need to convince Honda to expand here. But no one would say how much the state might contribute or which state agency would provide the money.

Also, PTI’s board has given its executive director the authority to negotiate lease agreements with clients on the east side of the airport. Those could cover a possible Honda expansion.

Leaders here also wonder if Gov. Bev Perdue will meet with Honda officials when she travels to China and Japan later this month.

“It would make sense,” said Melvin “Skip” Alston , chairman of the Guilford County commissioners. “There’s no sense wasting that trip when she has something back home worth lobbying for.”

Perdue’s office would not provide specifics about her trip other than to say she has a number of economic development meetings in both countries with unidentified companies.

“We can’t comment on any active projects,” said Chris Mackey, the governor’s press secretary. “She is going to Tokyo.”

The governor’s trip will run from Oct. 12 to 26.

Lee, the Honda spokesman, said the company would welcome a visit from Perdue if that would be of interest to the governor, “but right now we have nothing to announce.”

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com