Business aviation weekly · 118 articles · updated July 08, 2026
EHang completed the first flights of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft in Switzerland in cooperation with Swiss federal aviation authorities, the municipality of Quinto, and partner DroneVia.
Daher Aircraft opened an enlarged 6,000-square-foot maintenance and logistics facility at Jonzac-Neulles Airport in western France, replacing its previous operation in Merpins to the north. The center serves multiple…
French aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft closed a new funding round of €45 million to launch its Equinox light aircraft program and accelerate international commercial expansion. The capital will also support the…
Cirrus Aircraft unveiled the TRAC10, a three-seat trainer aircraft designed for flight schools, with first deliveries scheduled for 2027 at a starting price of $499,900. International deliveries are planned to commence…
Tamarack Aerospace Group announced pricing for the Tamarack AirConnect system, a fuselage-mounted satellite communications antenna designed for Cessna Citation light jets. The expedited three-day installation option…
Pre-owned business jet transactions declined in the first quarter, but industry analysts characterize this as a market correction rather than a slowdown. The pre-owned market remains strong with appreciating aircraft…
Steve Varsano, an experienced business aircraft dealer, identified price as the primary pain point in aircraft transactions. The article addresses considerations for smooth pre-purchase inspections of business aircraft,…
Program operators' block purchases of business jets are experiencing rapid growth, with fleet orders representing 126% of deliveries year-to-date in 2026 compared to just 3% in 2022. Over 970 aircraft worth…
Sarla Aviation, an Indian startup based in Bengaluru, completed hover flight tests of a half-scale eVTOL demonstrator called Sylla 1.0, which weighs approximately 700 kg and operates uncrewed. The technology…
Vertical Aerospace expanded its piloted flight test campaign for the Valo eVTOL by adding a second aircraft to the program. After two years of flight testing, the company determined that the largest technical unknowns…
The FAA has installed new Surface Movement Radar-4 systems at three major airports—San Diego International, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International—as part of the Brand New…
Intelligent video systems integrate multiple monitoring channels—voice, video, and access controls—into a unified airport command center to address staffing challenges in air traffic control and ground operations. These…
Airbus Helicopters and Nigeria's Kasi Healthcare signed an agreement for up to two H135 helicopters, establishing Kasi Healthcare as the first Nigerian operator to order the aircraft in its Helicopter Emergency Medical…
Used business jet inventories declined 12% year-over-year in June 2026, with 1,041 aircraft on the market representing 4% of the total fleet. Average list prices increased 2% compared to the same period in the previous…
Textron Aviation organized the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift, which transported approximately 800 athletes and coaches back to their home communities on June 27 after competing in the Special Olympics USA Games in…
The Dassault Falcon 2000EX presents a value proposition offering super mid-size capabilities and wide-cabin space in the $7 million to $12 million price range for pre-owned models equipped with EASy avionics. The…
Swiss electric aircraft battery developer H55 is halving its workforce in Switzerland and restructuring operations to focus on commercialization of its energy storage systems rather than continued development. The…
Blue Spirit Aero has delayed the first flight of its hydrogen-electric Dragonfly light aircraft by one year to early 2027. The Toulouse-based startup attributed the postponement to funding challenges and organizational…
Bombardier has partnered with Rolls-Royce to offer enhanced aircraft monitoring for Global 5500 and Global 6500 customers. The program combines Bombardier's Smart Link Plus box with Rolls-Royce's new Pearl 15 engine…
Surf Air Mobility signed Wheels Up as the launch customer for Enterprise BrokerOS, an AI-powered charter brokerage platform. This deployment marks the first external rollout of Surf Air's SurfOS software suite and…
Dassault Aviation completed the inaugural flight of the Falcon 10X, its largest business jet, on June 19 from Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in southwestern France. The aircraft reached 45,000 feet and Mach 0.82 during the…
Flexjet announced its acquisition of The Jet Business, a London-based jet brokerage and advisory firm, on June 12, 2026, following months of negotiations. Kenn Ricci, chair of Flexjet and principal of Directional…
DC Aviation Al-Futtaim has added a fully managed Airbus ACJ318 Elite+ to its charter fleet, with the aircraft scheduled to enter service by end of June at its Dubai South facility. The addition reflects strong regional…
Onex Corp. and other investors agreed to acquire AirSprint, Canada's largest fractional jet operator, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter. AirSprint operates 44 business jets serving over 600…
Abu Dhabi is positioning itself to lead in advanced air mobility through a cooperation between the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority and Abu Dhabi Mobility focused on design, manufacturing, and…
High Flying Hangars has begun construction at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland on an 11.45-acre site, with the first phase including 44 hangars and a clubhouse featuring restrooms, meeting space, kitchen, patio,…
Westchester County Airport will receive $18 million in Federal Aviation Administration upgrades over two and a half years to replace voice switches, radars, displays, and paper flight strips with electronic versions,…
Dassault Aviation's Falcon 10X, the largest in the Falcon family, completed its maiden flight on June 19, 2026 from Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in France, reaching 45,000 feet and Mach 0.82 during a 2.5-hour test flight.…
Honeywell Aerospace Technologies is preparing to run an experimental high-pressure engine core that could enable both a next-generation HTF7000 and a growth derivative for new large-cabin business jets. The company is…
The ninth Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation, transported approximately 800 athletes and coaches from 26 U.S. locations to St. Paul Downtown Airport in Minnesota on June 19, 2026, for the 2026…
Business aviation utilization across corporate, fractional, charter and private operators increased from March to May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 and 2019. Corporate operators, the largest segment with over…
Dassault Aviation completed the first flight of its largest business jet, the Falcon 10X, on June 19, 2026. The test flight took off at 11:10 a.m. local time from Bordeaux-Merignac Airport adjacent to the company's…
NetJets and Flexjet recorded 12% increases in flight hours during the March-May 2026 period compared to the same months in 2025, while VistaJet, Wheels Up, and Flyexclusive experienced declines of 8%, 54%, and 5%…
Canadian air medical provider Airmedic unveiled a new purpose-built medical interior for the Bombardier Learjet 45XR midsize business jet in collaboration with North Dakota-based Fargo Jet Center. The permanent medical…
German aircraft manufacturer MD Aircraft is developing the MDA1 eViator, a nine-passenger all-electric regional aircraft featuring a battery-swapping design. The company expects to commence flight testing in late 2027…
The national average for Jet-A fuel in June 2026 reached $8.18 per gallon, according to the Aviation Research Group survey of U.S. FBOs. The price increased $1.76 compared to June 2025 and decreased 39 cents from May…
The African Business Aviation Association has launched a research initiative with Seefeld Group to gather and analyze comprehensive data on business aviation activity across Africa, addressing a longstanding gap in…
Sentient Jet President Alan Walsh reported continued demand from private aviation customers for jet cards that provide a middle ground between ad hoc charter and fractional ownership. The company differentiates its…
Flexjet, a global fractional jet provider with a fleet of more than 340 aircraft, has acquired The Jet Business, a London-based aircraft brokerage and advisory firm. Steve Varsano, founder of The Jet Business, will…
Kriya Shortt assumed the position of senior vice president of parts and distribution for Textron Aviation in January 2026, along with leading McCauley Propeller Systems and Able Aerospace, marking a return to a similar…
Bombardier announced plans to nearly double its Singapore Service Center at Seletar Airport by adding a 250,000 square foot facility that will include aircraft hangars, enhanced operational support, recompletion…
Gulfstream Aerospace completed its 100th customer delivery of the G700 ultra-long-range jet and simultaneously set its 100th city-pair speed record for the aircraft, with the announcement made on June 10, 2026. A 101st…
Otto Aerospace has established the certification basis for its Phantom 3500 laminar-flow business jet with the FAA, closing the G-1 issue paper. The company is targeting Part 23 type certification in 2030 for the…
Bombardier unveiled the cabin design for its Global 8000 ultra-long-range flagship following a transatlantic flight in which the aircraft established a new speed record. A Global 8000 flew from Bombardier's Montreal…
Helios Horizon, a modified Pipistrel Taurus motorglider designed for stratospheric electric flight, completed the first piloted flight powered by solid-state batteries. Founder and chief test pilot Miguel Iturmendi…
More than 100 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots are transporting over 800 Special Olympics athletes and coaches using approximately 120 Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.…
FlyEpic, a new fractional company founded by CEO Toby Woods, launched operations in January offering fractional shares of the Epic E1000GX turboprop. The company positions the single-engine turboprop as optimal for…
Airhart Aeronautics and Polish startup Draco Aircraft announced on June 1 a collaboration to integrate Airhart's avionics and flight control system into Draco's future general aviation platforms. Airhart, based at Long…
Polish startup Draco Aircraft is looking to secure a third investor that should give the company sufficient capital to launch a three-year development and certification program of its Wilga PZL-104-based platform…
China's AutoFlight completed a mixed-fleet formation flight on May 26 of one V5000 Matrix and two V2000-series eVTOL aircraft, with the V5000CGH cargo variant having a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kg and a 1,500 kg…
Airshare selected the Gogo Galileo HDX satellite communications system for its Embraer Phenom 300s fleet following a demonstration flight. During the test flight, eight passengers and two crew members used 23 devices to…
Daher is conducting joint standardization work with Airbus and ATR to establish common definitions for hardware in future high-voltage electric systems. The collaboration aims to support the development of aircraft…
Vista placed a firm order for 40 Bombardier Challenger 3500s in February while expanding its global private aviation network centered on fleet commonality, operational control, and long-range premium flying. The company…
Electra.aero forecasts U.S. demand for 12,000-16,000 short-haul regional shuttle aircraft within the first 10 years of operation, targeting underserved dense regional travel markets with direct aviation service. The…
Aviation Week & Space Technology published a data spotlight examining the CRJ's sustained relevance in commercial aviation operations on May 29, 2026. The analysis was offered as subscription content to the Aviation…
Platoon Aviation signed a multi-aircraft order with Textron Aviation that establishes it as Europe's largest Cessna Citation Longitude fleet operator. The Hamburg-based charter company expects deliveries to begin in…
Signature Aviation has begun construction on a $10 million hangar project at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport in Virginia. The facility includes 22,000 square feet of hangar space with a 28-foot-high door, along with a 3,000…
The 2026 NBAA White Plains Regional Forum took place on May 20 at Westchester County Airport with 3,400 attendees and representatives from 200 companies, featuring a static display of 25 aircraft including business…
Tamarack Aerospace Group developed the AirConnect system, an inflight connectivity platform for Cessna Citation light jets that accesses low-Earth-orbit satellite networks. The permanently installed, fuselage-mounted…
China completed the first flight test of its domestically developed F406 turbofan on May 23, 2026. The engine, produced by Sichuan Tianfu Light Power Technology, a subsidiary of state-linked Aero Engine, weighs 600…
Aerospace industry experts advise fixing business processes first before implementing artificial intelligence to address sector challenges including supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and maintenance…
Militaries worldwide are rapidly converting business jets into specialized aircraft for advanced defense missions including airborne communications networks, early warning systems, signals intelligence, and electronic…
Jet Aviation launched automated drone inspection services for its U.S. customers in May 2026, building on technology first introduced at its Basel, Switzerland headquarters in 2023. The service, developed with French…
NOEMI Aerospace, rebranded from Elfly, is developing the Noemi electric flying boat as a multi-mission platform with prototype first flight targeted for late 2027, designed for passenger transport, skydiving, military,…
Dassault Aviation introduced the Falcon 10X business jet to regain market share against Bombardier and Gulfstream, featuring the industry's widest cabin and advanced safety systems including automated upset recovery and…
Military forces worldwide have converted business jets into specialized aircraft for missions including airborne communications, early warning systems, signals intelligence, and electronic warfare. The U.S. Air Force,…
Aero Friedrichshafen 2026, held April 22-25 in Germany, set records as Europe's largest aviation trade show with 860 exhibitors and 37,000 visitors showcasing innovations across business and general aviation. Multiple…
Bombardier's Challenger 300 series has delivered over 1,000 aircraft since 2003, with the Challenger 350 accounting for 210,000 North American departures in 2024, making it the most active business jet model that year.…
Business jet prices have nearly tripled in real terms over 50 years, rising from $30 million in the 1960s to $85+ million today, with no indication of price elasticity as demand consistently increases with each new…
May 19, 2026 Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft at Sun N' Fun 2024. Credit: Molly McMillin BAE Expands Energy Storage Production Capacity BAE Systems has opened a $65 million addition to its Endicott, New York, campus dedicated…
The eVTOL industry faces a critical maintenance workforce challenge, as building and training technicians for electric aircraft has been largely overlooked compared to pilot certification efforts. Unlike traditional…
Pivotal, a U.S. startup, has launched a proof-of-concept project with Hyde County, North Carolina, to demonstrate that electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft can deliver first responders to emergency sites…
They were flying the night shift on Spirit 2. Based on the conversation and accompanying video images from the flight recorder, one thing was obvious: They were all tired. The two medical crew in the back of the…
Several companies are introducing technology-driven solutions to streamline aircraft charter booking and operations. Elevate Jet offers an AI-powered mobile app with instant pricing and itinerary generation, Revaire…
Bombardier and Wheels Up, led by CEOs Eric Martel and George Mattson respectively, pursued strikingly similar turnaround strategies despite operating in different business segments—one manufacturing business jets and…
Hill Helicopters, a UK-based developer, is approaching the first run of its in-house-developed turboshaft engine for the HX/HC50 light helicopter, a single-engine aircraft targeted at the general aviation market.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol released its first guidance on how sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) book-and-claim mechanisms should be reflected in corporate greenhouse gas accounting, addressing a longstanding ambiguity in…
Otto Aerospace has progressed its Phantom 3500 business jet into detail design phase after completing a preliminary design review, with the first flight test vehicle scheduled for late 2027. The aircraft employs natural…
Hal Shevers, founder and chair of Sporty's, died May 12 at age 90. Shevers graduated from Purdue University with a degree in mechanical engineering and earned his private pilot certificate through the Purdue Flying Club…
Iridium Communications has agreed to acquire the Aireon space-based air traffic surveillance system for $366.7 million, a system it currently hosts on its satellite network. The acquisition expands Iridium's portfolio…
A private aviation operator with over two decades of experience warns that the jet fuel crisis facing the industry this summer is primarily a supply issue rather than a pricing problem, with European prices reaching…
Duncan Aviation addressed Nebraska's aviation maintenance technician shortage through a partnership with Lincoln North Star High School that includes work-study programs, hangar expansion support, and the donation of a…
Embraer announced the Praetor 600E, with the company's vice president of design operations presenting an overview of the new aircraft. The manufacturer opened the order book with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
The UK's National Police Air Service (NPAS) received Home Office approval for funding to purchase two additional Airbus H135 helicopters beyond aircraft already on order. The procurement utilizes two of three available…
NetJets and Flexjet recorded higher flight hours from February to April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with Flexjet showing a 12% year-over-year increase and 172% growth versus 2019 levels. VistaJet,…
Four major aircraft operator classes—Corporate, Fractional, Charter, and Private individual—demonstrated improved hourly utilization performance during February through April 2026 compared to the same periods in both…
Bombardier launched an accelerated six-week FastTrack certification program at its Hartford Service Center to help maintenance technicians obtain FAA Airframe and Powerplant credentials, requiring a minimum of 18 months…
Wheels Up completed major milestones early in executing its new business model despite reporting a first quarter loss. The company modernized its entire fleet to exclusively operate Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft, a key…
Sim Shain founded ParaFlight, an air ambulance brokerage, after being inspired by his father's emergency medical career and mentor Steve Zakheim's use of a Learjet to transport critically ill patients to specialized…
The preowned business aircraft market demonstrated resilience and discipline during the first quarter of 2026 despite geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Industry leaders characterized the market as fundamentally…
Boeing announced plans to invest $1 billion over the next three years in its recently reacquired Wichita facility during a Boeing Backs America event on May 11. The site manufactures critical components for the…
U.S. Jet-A fuel averaged $8.57 per gallon in May 2026, up $2.09 from the prior year but down 6 cents from April, according to an Aviation Research Group survey of U.S. FBOs. The Western Pacific region posted the largest…
Embraer designed and certified a proprietary seat frame for the Praetor 600E that will offer enhanced comfort levels to customers. The seats represent part of the aircraft's interior innovation series, with deliveries…
Embraer's vice president of design operations demonstrates the new 4K smart window featured in the Praetor 600E business jet. The system utilizes 4K cameras to provide panoramic external views while enabling passengers…
Starlink's announcement of a new pricing structure prompted the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to warn that general aviation pilots may be forced to cancel their subscriptions due to rate increases. AOPA…
Robinson Helicopter Company will equip future helicopters and a portion of its existing fleet with Crewchief Systems digital aircraft management software to modernize maintenance tracking and operational data. The…
A private owner in Brazil has installed Gogo's Galileo satellite communications system on a Bombardier Global 6000, making it the first aircraft in the country to achieve multi-orbit connectivity. The aircraft uses…
Dimor Group announced on April 30 the closure of Waco Aircraft Corp.'s manufacturing and maintenance operations at Battle Creek Executive Airport in Michigan, eliminating 60 jobs. The manufacturer of retro classic…
Air Charter Scotland began operating a public service obligation (PSO) route between Aberdeen and Wick airports in January 2026 using a Jetstream 32 aircraft. This marked the first time a business-aviation entity has…
Boni Caldeira has served as Cirrus Aircraft's vice president of international sales since 2007 and developed a passion for aviation early in life, though he did not begin flying until after college. The article features…
Unither Bioelectronics successfully completed a test flight of a Robinson R44 helicopter modified with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell system at Bromont Airport in Quebec. The demonstrator produces only water vapor as…
Textron Aviation produces the Cessna Citation CJ4 twin-engine business jet, a commercial designation of the Model 525C that first flew in 2008 and entered service in 2010. The company released the Gen2 variant in 2021…
The Twin Otter Classic 300-G and Series 400 can be equipped with various landing gear types including floats, amphibious floats, skis, and wheels, performing cargo, medevac, VIP transport, and special mission…
The Bombardier Global 7500 and Global 8000 share a maximum operating altitude of 51,000 feet, though initial cruise altitude at maximum takeoff weight is limited to 43,000 feet for both airframes. The Global 8000 offers…
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter offers a maximum passenger capacity of 11, including seats in both the cabin and cockpit, with cabin layouts customizable for specific operational needs. Agusta VIP configurations range…
Aircraft Overview: Beechcraft King Air B200GT, 250 & 260 Credit: Nigel Prevett/Aviation Week Credit: Nigel Prevett/Aviation Week The Beechcraft King Air B200GT, 250 and 260 are commercial designations of Textron…
The H135 is a light, twin-engine helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters capable of performing corporate transport, emergency medical services, offshore operations, and law enforcement missions. At the 2025 Verticon…
Textron announced plans to separate from its industrial businesses to become a pure-play aerospace and defense company anchored by Textron Aviation, Bell, and Textron Systems, with the split targeted for completion…
Organizers of the Business Aviation Asia Forum & Expo expect the March 2027 edition in Singapore to be approximately 50% larger than the 2025 inaugural event, projecting more than 75 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors versus…
Textron Aviation opened a service facility at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne, Australia, to support Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft operators throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The facility more than…
NetJets received its first three Cessna Citation Ascend business jets, becoming the first fleet operator to take delivery and begin operations with the newly FAA-certified midsize aircraft. The delivery is part of a…
Jetex and iGA Istanbul Airport officially inaugurated the Jetex iGA Terminal on May 6, described as the world's largest VIP terminal for private and commercial airline travelers. The terminal features private suites…
The aviation industry's maintenance and training sector reported developments in workforce development, with partnerships like the Aviator Institute joining Airbus Flight Academy and Alaska Air Group strengthening its…
Aviation industry announcements from early 2026 highlighted advances in aircraft connectivity and interior technologies, with Gogo expanding 5G services, Embraer introducing smart windows and new seating designs, and…
May 08, 2026 The strike occurred at about 8:00 a.m. local time and was part of a large air attack from Ukraine. May 08, 2026 Editors examine Joby Aviation’s piloted New York City demos and Unither Bioelectronics’…
Advanced air mobility technologies reached new milestones in May 2026, with Unither Bioelectronics demonstrating hydrogen-electric Robinson R44 aircraft in Quebec and Joby Aviation conducting piloted urban air mobility…
The aviation industry witnessed significant advances in aircraft training, certification, and new model development during the first four months of 2026. Major manufacturers including Tecnam, Cirrus, Dassault, and…
Aviation industry news for spring 2026 covered expansion by major manufacturers and service providers, including Embraer's higher Q1 shipments, Textron Aviation opening a service facility in Australia, and Jetex…
Aviation moves fast. The brief lands every morning before show time.