HondaJet Elite II: The First Twin-Engine Jet with Autoland System
Honda Aircraft Company made a landmark announcement on February 4, 2026. The HondaJet Elite II has received FAA certification for Garmin’s Emergency Autoland system. This makes it the first production twin-turbine, very light business jet equipped with this autonomous safety technology.
The Emergency Autoland system is ingeniously designed to allow the aircraft to land autonomously in the event of the pilot becoming incapacitated. The system can be activated in two ways:
- Manually, by pressing a dedicated button
- Automatically, through onboard monitoring systems that detect pilot unresponsiveness
Once the system is engaged, Emergency Autoland performs a series of critical tasks. It transmits an emergency code, conducts radio calls to alert air traffic control, and autonomously evaluates weather, terrain, fuel, and runway dimensions. This information is used to select the optimal airport, navigate the approach path, land the aircraft, and apply brakes to a complete stop.
Honda Aircraft completed certification flight testing in October 2025, paving the way for FAA approval. The HondaJet Elite II is the ninth aircraft type approved for Emergency Autoland, following several single-engine aircraft and turboprops. The company is actively pursuing similar certifications from international regulatory agencies to offer this revolutionary technology to customers worldwide.
This achievement builds on the Elite II’s 2024 certification of Garmin’s Autothrottle system. Together, these systems enable more efficient single-pilot operations.
Source: https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/hondajet-elite-ii-faa-emergency-autoland