Recent Developments At Business Aviation Facilities

Avflight, Beta Technologies Install Electric Aircraft Chargers In Michigan

Four Michigan-based fixed-base operators (FBO) have received electric aircraft charging infrastructure through a partnership between Avflight and Beta Technologies. Following a $2.6 million investment awarded to Beta by the state of Michigan, charging stations at Avflight Lansing and Avflight Holland have gone online. Additional charging stations are planned for Avflight’s Traverse City and Willow Run FBOs. The investment by the state of Michigan was made to support advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure across the state’s regional airports. According to Avflight, Beta commemorated the development by flying its fully electric ALIA aircraft to Avflight’s Lansing FBO for an inaugural charge. The chargers are also capable of charging electric ground vehicles, according to Beta.

KCAC Doubles Maintenance Service Capacity With New Hangar

Kansas City Aviation Center (KCAC), based in Olathe, Kansas, has opened its new 30,000-ft.² maintenance hangar at the Johnson County Executive Airport, doubling its Part 145 service capacity. KCAC is a factory-authorized Pilatus and Piper sales and service center. Construction began a year ago. Founded in 1966, KCAC provides avionics service, aircraft parts, charter, aircraft management and FBO services. It is also a factory-authorized Pilatus and Piper sales and service center and operates a Pilatus sales office at DuPage Airport in West Chicago. The expansion is one of the company’s largest expansions in its history.

FBO Backs Air Medical Service In North Dakota

FBO Overland Aviation, the city of Williston, North Dakota, and local hospital CHI St. Alexius Health have partnered to restore air medical service to their region following a two-year absence. The parties held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce the new service—Williston Care Flight—which operates from hangar and office space provided by Overland Aviation at Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) in northwestern North Dakota. Williston Care Flight operates single-engine Pilatus PC-12 turboprops to provide emergency flights to regional healthcare centers for patients who require specialized treatment. There has been no locally based air medical operator serving the region since Guardian Med Flight discontinued its helicopter service in Williston in July 2023, citing operating costs as the reason for its closure, according to the Minot Daily News. Williston Care Flight represents a new business model involving the city, which owns XWA, and Overland Aviation, the airport’s sole FBO.

Million Air Hollywood-Burbank Rebrands As Hollywood Burbank Jet Center

After 22 years of operations, Million Air has rebranded as Hollywood Burbank Jet Center. The independently owned FBO is located at Hollywood Burbank Airport (KBUR), within a 30-min. drive to downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills, according to the FBO. The facility features full concierge services, a pilot lounge, on-site rental cars, shuttle services and catering. Hollywood Burbank Jet Center will continue to operate as an Avfuel-branded FBO and offers sustainable aviation fuel.

Flightpath Opens Exclusive-Use Hangar At Boca Raton Airport

Flightpath Aviation USA opened its newest exclusive-use hangar facility at Boca Raton Airport (KBCT) in South Florida. The facility, measuring in at 30,000 ft.², is part of the Atlantic Aviation footprint and can accommodate aircraft as large as the Bombardier Global 8000 or the Gulfstream G700, according to the company. Flightpath Aviation USA, the sister company of Flightpath Charter Airways, operates as a private jet charter, but also provides aircraft management, maintenance and acquisition services in North America.

Briefs

Dubai South Sees 15% Surge In Bizav Traffic. Bizav traffic at Dubai South has continued its upward trajectory, with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub recording 9,753 private jet movements in the first half of 2025. The figure marks a 15% year-over-year increase.

Britten-Norman Reaches Midway Point On UK-Built Islander. The first Britten-Norman Islander to be built in the UK in nearly 60 years is more than 50% complete. “Wing assembly ... is expected to be finished later this year, with final assembly scheduled for early 2026 ahead of first delivery in spring 2026,” Britten-Norman said Sept. 16.

Textron Aviation Unveils First Production Citation Ascend. Textron Aviation has rolled out the first production unit of its newest bizjet in the 560XL series—the Cessna Citation Ascend midsize jet—with FAA certification expected later in 2025, the company announced.

Air Taxi Startups To Join White House eVTOL Pilot Program. Leading U.S. eVTOL air taxi startups announced plans to enlist in DOT's newly created eVTOL Integration Pilot Program to encourage eVTOL adoption. DOT said in a statement that the public-private program will run for five years and include at least five pilot projects.

ASTM Approves Swift’s 100R Unleaded Avgas. ASTM International has approved a production specification for Swift Fuels’ 100R unleaded aviation gasoline, advancing it toward commercialization. The performance of 100R is comparable to that of 100LL but without lead, and it consists of 10% renewable feedstocks.

Sikorsky, Cal Fire Initiative Could Lead To Autonomous Firehawk. A research and innovation project established by Sikorsky and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection could lead to an auto-nomous version of the airframer’s S-70 Firehawk helicopter. The two organizations will collaborate over the next five years.