Business & Commercial Aviation

ImagineAir, the membership-based charter outfit headquartered outside Atlanta that operated a fleet of Cirrus SR22s, ceased operations May 24.

Rolls-Royce said it began the Pearl program in 2012 amid an unprecedented attack by competitors on its previously unchallenged grip on the large business jet segment.

Republic Airways recently announced it will open a “Leadership in Flight Training Academy” in Indianapolis and equip the school with 50 Diamond Aircraft DA40 NG and DA43-VI training aircraft.

VistaJet and Avinode have announced a partnership that will allow brokers to request flights directly.

Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin says the company still sees “a great future” for its troubled Silvercrest business jet engine program and is working on redesigning its high-pressure compressor to have a fix finalized by next spring.

Flexjet pilots voted in late May to decertify representation by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1108 by 318-220.

Duncan Aviation is partnering with SmartSky Networks on SmartSky's new 4G LTE-based inflight network. The air-to-ground network delivers connectivity for passengers to stream video, chat, text, play games and hold videoconferences.

West Star Aviation's Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport location has received FAR Part 145 Repair Station Certification.

HK Bellawings Jet plans to field up to 18 Bombardier Global 6500 and Global 7500 very-long-range jets.

Serge Dassault, chairman and CEO of the parent company of Dassault Aviation, died May 28 after suffering heart failure at his office in Paris. He was 93.

Britain’s Gama Aviation is the latest to add its voice to the growing concern that the business aviation community is flirting with disaster if operators continue to ignore the Jan.1, 2020, deadline for equipping their aircraft with ADS-B technology.

The National Air Transportation Association has formed a group to address a growing concern among members and the industry: illegal charter operations.

German industrial giant Siemens is stepping up its involvement in the growing electric-aircraft market, supplying propulsion motors for projects in the U.S. and Europe.

Controller-pilot data-link communications technology is now operational at California’s Van Nuys Airport.

There is a considerable complication with directional control when the thrust reversers deploy asymmetrically.

Textron Aviation now has built more than 130 Cessna Citation Latitudes since the first deliveries began in early 2015, and operators say the aircraft is a worthy testament to the company’s time-proven, conservative design philosophy.

Bombardier has completed the $635 million sale of its aircraft assembly operation at Downsview Airport outside Toronto to Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board.

News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community

BBA Aviation, parent company of Signature Flight Support, is buying Epic Fuels for $88.1 million.

Pentastar Aviation has joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation.

By January 2019, Inmarsat expects to offer its European Aviation Network inflight Wi-Fi services to business aircraft operators.

Hong Kong-headquartered TAG Aviation Asia has agreed to a six-year agreement with the Macau Airport Authority to provide a full-service facility operating 24/7.

Harrods Aviation has a new automated check-in system for its VIP and group charter flights at its London Luton and London Stansted FBOs.

The London Oxford Airport and Oxfordjet FBO team have received the Sapphire Pegasus award for Best Business Aviation Airport for the second successive year.

Ross Aviation in Anchorage, Alaska, was recently named a gateway FBO through the DCA Access Standard Security Program, granting flights leaving the operation the ability to fly directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington.