Mitsubishi Aircraft opens US headquarters in Renton

Mitsubishi Aircraft has opened its US headquarters at Renton, in Washington state.

Photo by: @AviationWeek

The company says that the office will focus on “finalising” the MRJ programme, including sales, marketing and engineering.

“It will also play a key role in future product development,” Mitsubishi Aircraft adds.

Its Renton office is the second US facility, after its Flight Test Centre at Moses Lake.

At the opening on May 10, Mitsubishi Aircraft chief development officer Alex Bellamy said: “We view the North American market as a driver of our growth, and it is strategically important for us to be close to our customers and support that market demand. Today’s announcement reiterates our commitment to and optimism about this market moving forward.”

The MRJ is currently undergoing certification flight tests. Hitoshi Iwasa, Mitsubishi Aircraft America’s president, added that the manufacturer is making “progress” in these tests, in partnership with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau and the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Mitsubishi Aircraft is also working towards a 2020 delivery of its first aircraft to launch customer All Nippon Airways.