Business & Commercial Aviation

Enstrom anticipates its new TH-180 single-engine trainer will win FAA and, possibly, EASA certification by year-end. The helicopter manufacturer has two prototype aircraft in the certification program.

FlightSafety International has added master-level advanced training courses for the Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy and 900EX EASy series aircraft.

Honda Aircraft has received type certification for its HA-420 HondaJet from Transport Canada, clearing the way for deliveries to Canadian customers.

Innovative Solutions & Support has received the FAA’s Supplemental Type Certification for its non-FADEC turboprop autothrottle for retrofit in the Pilatus PC-12.

Jet Aviation has redelivered a ACJ330 and ACJ319 to its customer in the Middle East after extensive renovations. Work was completed in Basel, Switzerland.

Flexjet reports that strong growth is prompting it to hire more pilots. The fractional operation said new business is up 50% during the first five months of this year compared to a year ago, and that is on top of 20% growth in new business last year.

Global aviation support and aftermarket services giant BBA Aviation on June 5 announced the imminent departure of Simon Pryce as chief executive. Wayne Edmunds was appointed interim CEO, pending a permanent successor.

Jet Aviation will operate a fixed base operation at Al Maktoum International Airport within Dubai World Central. The new facility will open in the third quarter of 2017. The project is a joint venture between Jet Aviation and Al Mulla Business Group.

Compare Jet-A and avgas fuel prices by U.S. region based on a survey conducted in June 2017 by Aviation Research Group/U.S. Inc. and an analysis of the lowest fuel prices reported by FBOs on acukwik.com

Delivery of a Supervan 900 to National Skydive Center Teuge, the third for the European operator, marked the 100th Honeywell TPR331-12JR installation by Texas Turbine Conversions.

The first production Citation Longitude rolled off the Textron Aviation line in Wichita in mid-June. The super-midsize, $24 million jet is to join the company's demonstration fleet this summer and travel the world to showcase the clean-sheet design.

Germany-based charter operator Air Hamburg is the launch customer for Embraer's Legacy 650E large business jet, and will expand its fleet with an additional order for three new Legacy 650Es.

The diesel-powered Cessna 172 Turbo Skyhawk JT-A is now certificated by both the FAA and EASA, clearing the way for customer deliveries.

Helicopter maker Leonardo says it has entered exploratory discussions with the U.S. Army to investigate potential missions for its AW609 commercial tiltrotor.

Business flight activity in May rose 6.5% overall, with increases in all operational and aircraft categories. Activity by large and midsize jets posted the biggest gains in May compared to a year ago,with large jet activity up 9.3% and midsize jet activity up 9.2%.

Using data from its proprietary customer database, the FAA and other industry sources, Duncan Aviation reports that as of March 31, roughly 10,000 U.S. registered business jets—73% of the fleet—have not yet been made compliant with the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate.

More than ever, business jet customers are choosing which jet to buy based on criteria beyond how far the aircraft flies, said David Coleal, Bombardier Business Aircraft president.

FlairJet, a division of Flexjet, has signed a contract to manage the first Phenom 300 aircraft for Surf Air Europe as it grows its operations.

TAG Aviation's Farnborough Maintenance Services has been approved as the first UK-based Rolls-Royce authorized service center. It will support Rolls BR710 engines on Bombardier Global Express aircraft.

Airbus Helicopters reports construction is underway for its H135 Final Assembly Line in Qingdao, China. The work is expected to be completed by 2018.

The Triumph Group and Bombardier appear to have entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement that concludes all pending litigation related to the design, manufacture and supply of wing components for the Global 7000 business jet.

Citing the economic downturn and the inflexibility of the regulatory environment there, TAG Aviation is exiting the Spanish market after doing business there for many years and consolidating its several air operator certificates.

Gulfstream Aerospace has added a Field and Airborne Support Team at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. The unit includes European Aviation Safety Agency -trained technicians and a custom truck outfitted with specialty equipment.

West Star Aviation has received FAA Part 145 repair station certification for its Denver satellite location at Centennial Airport, which opened in 2014.

The world's most printed engine, GE's new Advanced Turboprop, in which additive manufacturing replaces 855 normally made parts with just 12 printed components, is on track to run for the first time this year. It will power Cessna's new Denali aircraft.