One important – but sometimes overlooked – aspect of creating a safe and high-quality maintenance operation is ensuring all technicians have a strong sense of moving along an attractive and professional career path.

Marco Túlio Pellegrini, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, invited us to belt into the left seat of the Phenom 100E at Orlando Executive Airport to evaluate key improvements the firm has made to the product line at serial number 325 and subsequent.

Rolls-Royce’s CorporateCare engine maintenance program is making a real difference to aircraft resale values, says Stephen Friedrich, VP for sales and marketing of civil small and medium engines.

Quest Aircraft Company has moved to expand its reach in China under an agreement that would give it a sales presence in the short term and ultimately provide for the manufacturing of its Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft there.

Piaggio Aerospace and Bravia Capital have formed a partnership to offer Avanti EVO turboprop twins to North American operators under a new cost management program. The aircraft will be supplied directly to Bravia Capital and offered on a lease-and-running-costs basis that the companies say “is both competitive and highly innovative.”

Ikhana Aircraft Services (Booth 3424) has appointed Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based John Hopkinson and Associates Ltd. as exclusive aircraft sales agent for its Twin Otter X2.

Talks on Comlux receiving its first Sukhoi Business Jet “are going pretty well right now,” says Comlux America CEO Jim Soleo. “Heavy commercial negotiations” include aircraft specification and development of an interior for VIP use.

The new jets share features with the flagship ultra-long-range G650, including wing aerodynamics, fly-by-wire controls and systems.