Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
 Washington, DC:NBAA applauds new data security protections for business aircraft ownersThe National Business Aviation Association has welcomed key steps taken by the FAA to bolster the security of information regarding business aircraft.Publicly available, personally identifiable aircraft information has enabled flight-stalking by anyone, anywhere in the world, with any motive. Congress has historically recognized that the situation raises serious concerns regarding passenger security, safety and corporate espionage. In 2024, Congress passed bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the FAA that included language requiring the agency to take steps to bolster the security of information related to aircraft ownership and operations. “Security is a huge issue for companies large and small, all across the country, which is one of the reasons Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FAA to strengthen the protections for aircraft ownership information and flight-data,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased with the steps the FAA has taken to protect entrepreneurs and businesses.” Read a copy of the FAA statement
Wheeling, Illinois:George J. Priester Aviation marks 80th anniversaryIn the infancy of corporate aviation, George Priester foresaw its growth potential and transformational possibility. He recognized flying as a business tool, and that vision led him to begin an aviation business in 1945. Decades after Priester opened a flight training school outside of Chicago, George J. Priester Aviation celebrates its 80th company anniversary in 2025 as a multi-generational, family-run private aviation services leader, managing and operating aircraft across the US and internationally. “My grandfather, George, was an aviation pioneer,” said Andy Priester, Chairman of George J. Priester Aviation and its affiliated brands - Priester Aviation, Mayo Aviation and Hill Private Aviation. “He saw the immense value that air travel would have for businesses, communities and individuals. His vision still drives us 80 years later."
Flight School Beginnings Even before George Priester began his business, he had been involved in aviation, solo piloting in 1928 and then becoming an instructor pilot in 1938. He founded the company that would bear his name as a flight training school for military veterans in 1945 at Palwaukee Airport (PWK), Illinois. More than 5,000 pilots ultimately attended the school.
Tucson, Arizona and Nice Côte d'Azur, France:World Fuel welcomes Tucson Jet Center and DC Aviation G-OPS to Air Elite networkWorld Fuel has announced the addition of two new members to the Air Elite by World Fuel network: Tucson Jet Center at Tucson International Airport (KTUS) and DC Aviation G-OPS at Aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur (LFMN) “We welcome Tucson Jet Center and DC Aviation G-OPS to the Air Elite network,” said Malcolm Hawkins, senior vice president, global business aviation, World Fuel. “Their dedication to excellence and customer service is core to the standards that our customers and network members depend on. We look forward to supporting their growth and success.” Tucson Jet Center Located at Tucson International Airport (KTUS), Tucson Jet Center is known for its exceptional customer service and commitment to safety.
"Customer service has always been something we pride ourselves on. We are delighted to be joining the Air Elite network. We believe with their help, we can move to the next level of service," said Amand Lawver, owner of Tucson Jet Center.
Canada:Air Charter Service opens second Canadian office, in MontrealLeading aircraft charter specialist, Air Charter Service, has opened its doors in Montreal, Quebec, complementing its established Canadian operation in Toronto, and becoming the company’s 36th office globally.Gary Hopkins, CEO of ACS Canada, commented: “We have been serving the whole of Canada from our Toronto office since opening there 15 years ago, but we’ve been looking at Montreal as a second location for a while now, to better serve Quebec. "The city is an important centre of commerce, finance, industry and technology and the new operation means that we can be closer to our French-speaking clients in the province.”
Everett, Washington:ZeroAvia awarded USAF grant for an autonomous hydrogen-electric aircraftZeroAvia has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to conduct a feasibility study focused on integrating hydrogen propulsion into Cessna Caravan aircraft alongside advanced aircraft automation technology.AFWERX awards aim to address research questions with specific implications for the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). ZeroAvia will analyze the potential for developing and delivering an 8,000 lb autonomous aircraft with hydrogen-electric propulsion for reduced engine noise and low thermal signature, thus significantly reducing detectability. Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising technology for improving the range, duration and turnaround time of a range of electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Hydrogen has additional advantages as an aviation fuel as it can be produced at point of refueling given ready supply of electricity and water, which dramatically simplifies fuel logistics - a critical consideration for any defense applications. Finally, hydrogen has the highest energy per unit of weight of any chemical energy source, which allows for potential maximum range of over 2,000 nm (almost 4,000 km) in an autonomous aircraft of this type. Reliable Robotics - the California-based specialists in remote operation of aircraft - will support ZeroAvia in exploring relevant autonomous flight systems as part of the study.
Europe:PACIFIC, a new European project led by Airbus, will advance research on contrail mitigation and non-CO2 impactsAirbus, within a consortium of 10 partners from four European countries, has launched PACIFIC, a project to study the impact of aviation's non-CO2 emissions on Local Air Quality and Climate with a focus on contrails.Recent studies suggest that the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) could reduce both soot particles and contrail ice crystals. However, additional information on fuel composition and its processing in the engine is necessary to better understand the effects and benefits of SAF.
PACIFIC (Particle emissions, Air Quality and Climate Impact related to Fuel Composition and Engine Cycle) seeks to bridge the gap in understanding aviation's non-CO2 emissions by testing an unprecedented range of fuels under controlled conditions. The project will ensure consistency in combustion parameters and hardware similarity from lab-scale experiments at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to full aircraft engine tests at Airbus Toulouse. The research will focus on understanding how soot forms during fuel combustion, using improved prediction tools to better anticipate its presence in engine emissions. It will also analyse the quantity of fine particles released at different engine power levels, refining methods to estimate their impact from ground tests to real flight conditions.
Modesto Jet Center Greg HolbrookModesto Jet Center (CA) has announced the appointment of Greg Holbrook as its new General Manager.Greg brings a wealth of experience in aviation operations, business development, and management leadership, positioning him to drive growth and elevate service excellence at the facility.With a proven track record of exceeding business objectives, he has demonstrated expertise in leading high-performance teams, strategic planning, and optimizing operational efficiencies. Most recently, he served as General Manager at Hawthorne Global Aviation in Sioux City, IA. His extensive industry background includes managing technical support for over 50 business aircraft while working with industry organizations, such as the National Air Transportation Association, advocating for regulatory improvements. Greg’s career highlights extend beyond aviation, showcasing his ability to lead and drive results across various industries. His leadership in the powersports sector has earned him recognition from major brands such as Yamaha, Honda, KTM and Husqvarna. Additionally, he played a key role in the creation of a professional motocross team that won the 2004 World Supercross Championship. As General Manager, Greg will oversee all aspects of Modesto Jet Center’s operations, ensuring the highest levels of customer satisfaction, safety, and business performance.. |
In Week 13 (24th-30th March), global business jet sectors grew 8% compared to the same week 13 in 2024, well ahead of the last four-week trend of +3% growth, and the highest week-on-week increase this year.According to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today, The biggest contributor this week is bizjet activity growth out of Texas and California, and overall private and corporate flight departments grew activity more than charter and fractional. As Q1 2024 comes to a close, 900,221 business jet departures have been recorded globally, 3% more than in Q1 2024 and 34% more than in Q1 of 2019. The active bizjet fleet has also grown, active tails were up 1% in Q1 compared to last year, up 24% compared to 2019. Globally, NetJets and Flexjet have recorded good growth in Q1, sectors up 10% and 17% respectively. In contrast, Vista Global sectors have fallen 10% this year compared to last year. North America In Week 13, there were 50,530 bizjet departures in North America, 8% more than last year, ahead of the last four-week trend of +4%. Part 135 & 91K operated sectors were 8% ahead of last year, ahead of the last four-week trend of +7%. Looking back 5 years ago, the pandemic lockdowns had reduced flight activity to just 12,016 bizjet departures across airports in North merica.
Myanmar:Air Charter Service arranges first flights into Myanmar and Thailand following earthquakeOver the weekend Air Charter Service has been busy arranging charters in response to the earthquake that hit Myanmar last Friday, with several charters having already delivered aid to Yangon in the country, and Bangkok in Thailand.
The epicentre of the earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale, was less than 20 miles away from Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, but caused damage as far away as south-west China and Thailand. Ben Dinsdale, Air Charter Service’s Director for Government and Humanitarian Services, commented: “With Mandalay’s main airport currently unavailable, and many of the local airports in the country unable to accept large aircraft, we have been having to use Yangon to fly the bulk of the aid in, with the possibility of ferrying into regional airports on smaller aircraft, or by road, from there.
Wichita, Kansas:Cessna Caravan celebrates 40 yearsTextron Aviation is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cessna Caravan single-engine utility turboprop with customers throughout the year, recognizing its growth and popularity throughout the world during the past four decades.
The Cessna Caravan platform, which also includes the Cessna Grand Caravan EX, has more than 3,100 aircraft delivered and is certified in 100 countries. The aircraft has accumulated over 25 million flight hours globally. Conceived as a rugged utility aircraft with low operating costs, the first Caravan delivery was celebrated in 1985. The aircraft is renowned for its ability to operate in remote areas with extreme weather changes, mountainous terrain and rough landing locations.
London:OPUL Jets acquires Zenith Aviation, strengthening UK and European charter and management capabilitiesOPUL Jets UK Ltd has announced its acquisition of Zenith Aviation, a respected UK-based operator headquartered at London Biggin Hill Airport.The acquisition includes Zenith’s UK-issued Air Operator Certificate (AOC), a managed fleet of G-registered aircraft and a fully accredited CAA Part-145 maintenance facility, significantly expanding OPUL’s regulatory reach, technical capabilities and in-house expertise.
The acquisition marks a pivotal milestone in OPUL’s growth strategy, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of private jet charter, aircraft management, and engineering services across the UK and Europe.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic:FL Technics nears completion of new Punta Cana facility, expanding MRO services in the AmericasFL Technics, a global MRO provider and subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, is expanding its global footprint by establishing a new aircraft maintenance hangar facility in the Dominican Republic.
As the facility nears completion, the company has already secured key specialists and is actively recruiting the remaining team. Additionally, the certification process with the FAA and Instituto Dominicano De Aviación Civil (IDAC) is currently underway. Located in Punta Canta, the site will open in October 2025 and will allow FL Technics to heavy maintenance operations in the Americas through a 52,000-square-meter complex, delivering base maintenance for Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 family aircraft.
Washington, DC:Aircraft laser strikes continue to be dangerously highPilots made nearly 13K reports in 2024; the most in California, Texas, and Florida.Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration last year. While that is a 3 percent decrease from 2023, the numbers are still too high.
Shining a laser at an aircraft poses a serious safety threat and is a federal crime. Lasers can incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers. Pilots have reported 328 injuries since the FAA began tracking laser strike reports in 2010.
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 United KIngdom:NATS and University of Exeter launch new PhD’s in Air Traffic ManagementNATS, the UK’s leading air traffic services provider, and the University of Exeter have launched the first NATS led Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) for Air Traffic Management (ATM).The programme, worth over £1m, has drawn substantial funding from UK government through the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council’s (EPSRC) Industrial Doctorial Landscape Awards scheme, will open its doors to its first ten PhD students in October 2025. The CDT aims to develop the next generation of researchers and industry leaders who will tackle the most pressing challenges in air traffic management (ATM) through cutting-edge research and innovation in key areas such as Artificial intelligence technologies, Human-computer interaction, Operational research, Control engineering. This programme builds on the existing partnership between NATS and the University of Exeter through work on Project Bluebird. Bringing together leading academics, industry experts and doctoral candidates, research will focus on AI for Air Traffic Control/Management, Human-Machine Teaming for Air Traffic Control, and technology to enhance airspace efficiency, resilience and sustainability, whilst keeping safety at the forefront.
Luxembourg:Luxaviation joins Project SkyPower to drive aviation’s transition to electro-sustainable fuelLuxaviation Group has joined Project SkyPower, an international CEO-led initiative dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of
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Airbourne Colours paints Brussels Airlines’ newest Belgian Icon livery
Airbourne Colours, industry-leading experts in aircraft painting and refinishing, has successfully transformed Brussels Airlines' Airbus A320 (OO-SNM) into the latest Belgian Icon livery 'Atomium' at its aircraft paint facility at East Midlands Airport, UK.
The meticulous painting process required over 400 litres of paint and took approximately 2,400 hours to complete, resulting in a stunning tribute to one of Belgium's most recognised symbols. The 'Atomium' proudly joins the prestigious line-up of Belgian Icons, reinforcing Brussels Airlines' commitment to showcasing local heritage worldwide and bringing little pieces of Belgium to the skies.
‘Atomium’ at Airbourne Colours' paint facility, East Midlands Airport.
This marks the sixth Belgian Icon livery that Airbourne Colours has created for Brussels Airlines in the last 10 years, highlighting the company's expertise and long-standing partnership with the airline. The Belgian Icons series aims to introduce the best of Belgium to the world, making flying even more enjoyable for passengers.
Simon Cracknell, Airbourne Colours’ Sales and Marketing Director commented: "We are thrilled to have partnered with Brussels Airlines again to bring their vision of the Atomium to life. This project showcases our team's skill and dedication in creating intricate, eye-catching aircraft liveries.”
The newly painted A320 made its debut at a special ceremony in Brussels before embarking on its maiden commercial flight to Prague on March 27th. Aviation enthusiasts and travellers alike can look forward to spotting this impressive aircraft as it serves Brussels Airlines' European network. |
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