Rolling Business Aviation Daily Briefs (October 2026)

October 5, 2026

Kite Sets Up Australia Production For VTOL Logistics Drones

Australia’s Kite Aerospace has begun production of its Kite, a fixed VTOL logistics drone capable of carrying 5.5 lb. 150 mi., in partnership with Sykes Advanced Manufacturing in Geelong, Victoria, an advanced composites facility previously operated by Quickstep.

KlasJet Earns Approval For Charter Flights To U.S.

KlasJet has received FAA Part 129 Operations Specifications approval, clearing the company to operate approved charter and ACMI flights to and from the U.S. The authorization covers KlasJet’s Boeing 737NG fleet and follows earlier DOT, TSA, CBP and other required approvals.

Korea Airports To Help Develop UTM For Kazakhstan

The governments of Kazakhstan and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on technology transfer, development and implementation of an uncrewed traffic management (UTM) system for low-altitude airspace in Kazakhstan. To be implemented by Korea Airports Corp. and Kazakhstan’s Alatau Advance Air Group, the project is to begin in Alatau City.

North Carolina Begins FAA EIPP Demonstration Flights

Flights have begun under the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s eLIFT-NC project, part of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Joby flew from Dare County Regional Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Sept. 17 and from Sept. 17-24 BETA Technologies flew daily between Raleigh Executive Jetport, Pitt-Greenville Airport and Dare County.

October 2, 2026

EHang, CAFUC Team On Low-Altitude Operations

EHang and the state-owned Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAQFUC) have established the Low-Altitude Operations Research Institute to advance research, applications and workforce development for commercial operation of pilotless eVTOLs.

Embraer Delivers First Praetor 600E To Flexjet

Embraer delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet, making the fractional operator the fleet launch customer for the upgraded super-midsize business jet. The aircraft features Embraer’s 42-in. 4K OLED Smart Window, while Flexjet is also scheduled to receive its first Praetor 500E in the fourth quarter of 2026.

ExecuJet’s Aukland FBO First In New Zealand to Earn IS-BAH

ExecuJet announced that its Auckland FBO has become the first in New Zealand to achieve IS-BAH Stage I accreditation following an audit in July. The facility joins ExecuJet’s Sydney and Melbourne locations in Australia holding IS-BAH accreditation, with Auckland now targeting Stage III.

Gama Aviation Begins FBO Operations In West London

Gama Aviation has begun FBO operations at RAF Northolt in West London, adding the airport to its existing network in Glasgow, Jersey and Sharjah. The company plans to refurbish passenger lounges and crew facilities at Northolt as part of a broader investment in its FBO network.

October 1, 2026

Air Charter Expo Regional To Debut At AERO Friedrichshafen

Air Charter Expo Regional-Europe will debut at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany from April 14-16, 2027, under a partnership between The Air Charter Association, Business Air News and AERO organizer Fairnamic. The event will feature dedicated networking and educational programming within AERO 2027, which organizers say has already signed more than 300 exhibitors.

Beyond Aero Picks TAT For Hydrogen Propulsion Cooling

French startup Beyond Aero has selected aerospace systems supplier TAT Technologies to support definition of the thermal management architecture for its planned BYA-1 hydrogen-electric business aircraft, integrating TAT’s Universal Cooling System into the gaseous-hydrogen, fuel-cell-powered aircraft.

Brazil’s Desaer To Use Siemens For Design Of ATL-100

Brazilian startup Desaer has selected Siemens’ Xcelerator software portfolio to create a digital twin and digital thread for development of the planned ATL-100 twin-turboprop 19-passenger utility transport. Development of the ATL-100 is supported by investment from the Brazilian municipality of Maricá in Rio de Janeiro state.

U.S. Pump Specialist Wins Role On European LH2 Refueling Project

Pennsylvania-based Ebara Elliott Energy is to supply a specialized liquid hydrogen (LH2) pump system for the Airbus-led, EU-funded Goliat project to demonstrate high-flow LH2 handling and refueling technologies for future large commercial aircraft ground operations.