Business Aviation

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.

​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.

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.

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.

Astronautics Corp. of America is undertaking the next phase of a contract with the FAA focused on developing and validating the methodologies for cybersecurity on core avionics systems.

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.

FedEx Corp. plans to add Apparel Systems' Vision 1000, an FAA-certified cockpit recording device, to its fleet of 240 Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster aircraft.

The tables above show results of a price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in November 2017.

Tradewind Aviation has launched an interline agreement with United Airlines for travel to certain Caribbean destinations.

Rectrix MRO at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Mass., is now an authorized dealer for Rockwell Collins.

These new features bring advanced capabilities and even more functionality to new and existing GTN 650/750 navigators. These new features and capabilities for the GTN 650/750 are available immediately for hundreds of fixed-wing aircraft makes and models.

West Star Aviation announced its Chattanooga, Tennessee (CHA) facility has entered into agreement with Embraer to receive Authorized Service Center approval for all Legacy models by year-end 2017 with the Lineage 1000 and 1000E and Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft in 2018.

A Senate bill reforming the nation’s tax code now includes a provision clarifying that aircraft management services are not subject to air transportation taxes, the National Air Transportation Association said.

The activity may be partly driven by lower prices, with pricing falling 14% on average compared to a year ago, the survey said.

Bombardier’s recent announcement that it will add 1,000 jobs in Montreal is welcome news for the area, said Aero Montreal, a Canadian-based aerospace think tank.

Latin American carriers will require deliveries of 1,050 new 60- to 150-seat aircraft in the next 20 years, Patrick Baudis, Bombardier vice president and head of marketing, said.

The steady demand for aircraft management and charter services in the Middle East continues to grow.

The recently remodeled Glass Simulator Center in Aurora, Illinois, has been rebranded Simpro Flight Training and now includes an updated pilot lounge and a new classroom.

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), has admitted the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) to become a member of the Council.

Bombardier plans to add 1,000 new positions in Montreal over the next 18 months as production of its new Global 7000 large business jet ramps up. It also plans to move its Global 5000 completions work to Wichita.

Inflight connectivity provider Gogo is in talks with several Middle Eastern airlines, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, to provide its 2Ku satellite internet system, the company says.

Magellan Aerospace, a Canadian manufacturer of aerospace parts and systems, on Nov. 15 declared a groundbreaking on its new manufacturing and assembly facility near the Bangalore International Airport. This is part of the company’s play into the “Make in India” initiative and away from flatter prospects at home.

Business aircraft flight activity in October grew 4.1% compared to a year ago with increases in every aircraft and operational category, according to Argus International TraqPak data.