Sabreliner, an iconic name in business jet aviation since the late 1950s, is making a comeback with ambitious plans to expand beyond maintenance and repair to provide aircraft rebuilds, refurbishments and engine overhauls.

Israel’s Elbit Systems is making further inroads into business aviation cockpits with novel, wearable head-up displays (HUDs) and a fusion of sensor images and synthetic vision in its latest enhanced vision systems (EVSs).

Rockwell Collins says it will certify its first aftermarket version of Pro Line Fusion late this year for the Beechcraft King Air, one year later than originally projected when the flight deck was launched at NBAA in 2011 for Pro Line 21-equipped aircraft. Adam Evanschwartz, director of business and regional aircraft marketing for Rockwell Collins, says the extra time resulted from “scope enhancements” to the cockpit, improvements that Rockwell Collins came upon during the flight-test campaign.

Wearable electronic devices are beginning to resemble a technology steamroller in the consumer market, and business aviation is already climbing aboard in an attempt to keep up.

New technology, new products and new relationships reflect a commitment to business and general aviation that’s growing by leaps and bounds at Safran, the French propulsion and power systems company.

Microturbo marked a strategic turning point this summer when it became the supplier of auxiliary power units for the Global 7000/8000 and Dassault 5X business jets.

Flying Colours Corp. has signed a multimillion-dollar joint venture agreement with China’s Sparkle Roll Technik Co., Ltd. (SRT). With a hangar facility set up at Linyi City in Shangdong Province, it will focus on private jet cabin modification and aircraft maintenance. The first project, beginning this month, will see eight B- Bombardier CRJ-200s converted to VIP configuration.

Every time I belt into the left seat of an Eclipse 500, I’m reminded that it’s the only jet I’ve yet flown with active sidesticks. That’s because the left and right cockpit controls are mechanically linked to each other as well as to the flight control surfaces.