Business & Commercial Aviation

Esterline CMC Electronics and NovAtel have formed a partnership to extend their collaboration in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning technology.

Are we not flying manually enough, or are we flying automatically too long? Many cockpits are missing a system or a technique for initiating go-arounds.

News of business aviation promotions, appointments and honors.

BCA shares news of the latest products and services for the business aviation industry.

In December 1967, BCA published pieces about the Britten-Norman Islander, Lear Jet 25 and a reason behind a pilot shortage.

Illegal charter operations are a growing problem in the industry, and more must be done to address that, the National Air Transportation Association said during the Oct. 24 FAA General Aviation Safety Summit in Washington.

NetJets and Teamsters Local 284 announced on Nov. 6 they had reached an agreement-in-principle regarding a new contract covering the fractional operation's union mechanics, maintenance controllers, aircraft fuelers, cleaners and stock clerks.

The FAA has proposed a $3.685 million civil penalty against NavWorx of Rowlett, Texas, for allegedly producing and selling automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast units containing a GPS chip that did not meet the agency's requirements and misrepresenting the products to customers.

Reignwood International Investment Group of Beijing has agreed to purchase 50 additional Bell 505 JetRanger Xs.

Its production halted years ago, the Windecker Eagle is soon to be reborn, this time through new owners in China.

Priority Aviation has spun off its subsidiary, Priority One Jets, and is entering the cannabis business with the acquisition of Telluride Health Co.

Munich and Moscow Domodedovo airports have signed a sister agreement to provide an exchange of knowledge for employees and managers at both airports.

Astronautics has completed the preliminary design review for its new connectivity platform for the Astronautics Air-Ground Communications System for Airbus Helicopters.

Boeing completed the acquisition of Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. in early November. The developer and manufacturer of advanced aerospace platforms and autonomous systems, Aurora will operate under Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology as a subsidiary.

The number of pre-owned business jets for sale has declined to 2,225, although it remains a buyer's market, said JetNet, which released September and year-to-date figures on Oct. 30.

DC Aviation Al Futtaim in Dubai opened a second hangar on Nov. 12, the first day of the Dubai Airshow.

ONE Aviation has laid off most of its production workers as it phases out production of the Eclipse 550 very light jet to transition to the Eclipse 700.

JetCraft has partnered with Aerolineas Ejecutivas to expand its presence in Latin America. The aircraft sales division of Aerolineas Executives will operate as a Jetcraft authorized representative in Latin America, the Caribbean and Latin markets in Florida and Texas.

ARGUS International has introduced an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) integration into its aircraft activity analysis and market intelligence tool TRAQPak FBO.

Greenpoint Technologies is the choice of supersonic business jet developer Spike Aerospace for its S-512 cabin design, although progress has been pushed to a back burner while Spike is focused on the inaugural flight later this year of its scale aircraft.

CenTex Aerospace is offering increased-gross-weight conversions to the King Air 350 turboprop with a new STC. Final approval is expected this month on the Halo 350.

​Business jet takeoffs and landings in North America rose 3.5% in September, Vertical Research Partners reports, using FAA figures. The figure is in line with a year-to-date average increase of 3.5%, although it is lower than the 6% reported in August.

Airbus has sold its Vector Aerospace subsidiary, best known for its rotary-wing repair and overhaul work, to StandardAero.

According to Forecast International, business jet production is expected to total 12,282 aircraft valued at $354 billion from now through 2031. It believes annual unit production will increase to 799 in 2020 from 647 aircraft this year. That figure is projected to slightly decline in 2021 and 2022 due to cyclical economic factors, followed by a quick rebound in 2023. Annual output is then expected to rise steadily to 957 business jets by the year 2030, it said.

Mercy Flight, a nonprofit provider of air and ground medical transport services, has signed a purchase agreement for an additional three Bell 429 light twin-engine helicopters.