Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
 Greenacres, Florida: NTSB investigates Learjet 60 crash in Florida that killed nineA National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation is under way following the crash of a Bombardier Learjet 60 in Palm Beach County, Florida, which killed all nine people on board. The aircraft crashed in a residential area of Greenacres, near West Palm Beach, at approximately 12:50pm local time on Sunday, 1 November. It was carrying two crew members and seven passengers. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at approximately 10:37am, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. According to the NTSB, the crew reported encountering light clear icing and moderate turbulence while cruising at 35,000ft. The pilots subsequently requested permission to climb to 37,000ft, which was approved by air traffic control. Less than 30 seconds later, the aircraft began a rapid descent. The crew declared an emergency and reported an overspeed condition as the rate of descent increased sharply. Investigators said the aircraft may have begun breaking up before hitting the ground. NTSB board member Tom Chapman said evidence of structural breakup had been identified, with additional aircraft debris potentially scattered some distance from the main impact site.
Reston, Virginia: Gulfstream and Jet Aviation post strong Q3 resultsTextron reports 51 Cessna Citation deliveries in Q3.General Dynamics’ aerospace division, comprising Gulfstream and Jet Aviation, reported strong growth for Q3 2026. Quarterly revenues climbed 9.3% year-over-year to $3.54bn, driven by increased aircraft deliveries, a favorable product mix, and expanding service operations. Operating earnings surged 19.3% to $513m. For the first nine months of the year, the division generated $10.34bn in revenue (+10.9% YOY) and $1.516bn in earnings (+19.8% YOY). Gulfstream shipped 40 aircraft during the quarter (including the 33rd G800 delivery), bringing its nine-month total to 119 jets, up from 113 in the same period last year. Company President Danny Deep, who will succeed retiring CEO Phebe Novakovic on January 1st, noted that demand remains highly resilient despite ongoing global macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds. Textron Aviation In further news, Textron Aviation reported deliveries of 51 Cessna Citation business jets in 3Q26, compared with 42 in the same period last year, representing an increase of 21%. The quarter's deliveries included 10 M2 Gen2, 11 Latitude and nine Longitude aircraft. Longitude deliveries nearly doubled from five a year earlier. Backlog on September 1st stood at $8bn.
Orlando, Florida: Signature Aviation introduces simplified FBO pricingSignature Aviation has introduced Signature Access, a new pricing structure designed to give business aviation operators clearer, more predictable costs when using its facilities. The scheme combines core access charges into a single price based on aircraft size, time on the ramp and terminal location. At participating locations in the continental US, eligible fuel purchases qualify for a waiver of the first hour’s access charge. Optional services, including hangar accommodation, ground power units (GPU) and lavatory services, are charged separately. "We are grateful to the guests and operators whose perspectives helped shape Signature Access," said Derek DeCross, Chief Commercial Officer, Signature Aviation. "Their feedback was instrumental in creating a clearer, more predictable pricing approach that gives guests greater visibility, flexibility and control."
Montreal: Bombardier plans 800 new US jobs as expansion drives wider employment growthBombardier is continuing to significantly enhance its American footprint with plans to hire 800 people across America. The company is actively recruiting for 500 positions across the country and plans to create an additional 300 jobs through footprint expansion projects. Texas is planned to be the next pillar of expansion and will account for 150 of the 300 new jobs. Hiring activities will further be spread across the company’s US home base in Kansas as well as in Indiana and Connecticut. Job creation in these states will be driven by infrastructure investments, which will total an estimated $270m in the first phase. “Our American service network is a key pillar of Bombardier's growth strategy. This new wave of expansion and hiring reflects our long-term confidence in this market and our employees in America,” said Eric Martel, President & CEO, Bombardier. “Based on our constructive conversations with the US administration, we see a bright path forward for our highly skilled aerospace workers as well as a positive environment for Bombardier to continue pursuing direct investments to grow our American footprint.”
Orlando, Florida: NBAA honors Signature Aviation for its efforts to combat human traffickingAl Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership recognizes the company’s work equipping aviation professionals to identify and report suspected trafficking.The National Business Aviation Association has awarded Signature Aviation the association’s 2026 Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership for its commitment to combating human trafficking, in part through collaboration with NBAA and other stakeholders. Through NBAA’s Operation Flightline initiative, Signature Aviation is helping equip aviation professionals with the knowledge and tools to recognize potential signs of human trafficking and report suspected cases.
Developed in collaboration with NBAA and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the initiative was unveiled earlier this year at NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC). The award was presented on October 21st during a luncheon at the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas. How is Signature Aviation helping combat human trafficking?
JMC Aviation Alan BarnesDevon, UK-based recruitment and engineering solutions specialist, JMC Aviation, has appointed Alan Barnes as its new Commercial Director, strengthening its leadership team as the business continues its international expansion plans. Starting his aviation career on the tools as an engineering apprentice with British Aerospace, Barnes brings an array of leadership skills within the aviation sector to the role, along with well-founded knowledge and experience of the industry. Most recently, he held the position of Head of Operations at Complete Aircraft Group, and prior to that has worked in Managerial roles at Inflite the Jet Centre and Gulfstream Aerospace. As Commercial Director at JMC Aviation, he will be responsible for business development, contracts, customer account management and marketing strategy across the company’s workforce solutions and managed engineering services. Barnes will focus on strengthening client relationships, while refining the commercial structure of the business to support future growth. He will also continue to manage the ongoing integration opportunities presented by the acquisition of JMC Aviation by LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions in January of this year.
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Global bizjet activity fell 2.4% year-on-year in Week 44 (26 Oct-1 Nov), with just over 74,000 departures operated globally. Halloween fell in Week 44 in both years, and while Halloween week is always quieter than a typical week in the US, this year’s dip was a little deeper than usual, but it could be attributed to Halloween falling on different days of the week. The Middle East was also hit by the postponement of Riyadh’s Future Investment Initiative (FII), which inflated last year’s comparison. The four-week trend has turned slightly negative at -0.5%, while the year-to-date figure stands at +3.0% ahead of last year through 1 November. North America slipped 1.6% and Europe 2.4%, while Central America (-21.7%) and the Middle East (-22.5%) remained the weakest regions last week. On the fleet side, JETNET data shows 1,784 business jets listed for sale, 6.9% of the in-service fleet and up for a fourth consecutive week. What Drove the Week The chart below breaks global growth down by sub-region. North America took 1.12 points off global growth, while Central America and the Middle East each subtracted a further 0.58 points. South America (+0.24 points), Africa (+0.11 points) and the Caribbean (+0.06 points) were the only sub-regions to grow.
Columbus, Ohio: NetJets to add 800 jobs in major Columbus HQ expansionNetJets is planning a major expansion of its global headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, adding more than 365,000 sq ft of new facilities and creating approximately 800 additional jobs.
The multi-year project will see two new buildings constructed at the company's Bridgeway Avenue campus, providing additional office accommodation and a dedicated training centre for NetJets crewmembers. NetJets expects its Central Ohio workforce to increase to approximately 3,200 employees once the expansion is complete, reflecting an additional 800 positions.
Tampa, Florida: Joby brings eVTOL air taxi to FloridaJoby Aviation has begun a week of piloted electric air taxi flights across Florida, flying between Tampa, Orlando and the Space Coast as part of plans to develop the state’s Aerial Highway Network.
Joby’s vertical lift electric air taxi flies over Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, Oct. 29, ahead of the state’s first eIPP flights. The flights will include demonstrations at Orlando International Airport and Kennedy Space Center, marking Florida’s first operations under the White House-backed eIPP (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program), announced by the US Department of Transportation in March 2026. The programme brings government and industry together to accelerate the safe integration of electric air taxis into US airspace.
Broomfield, Colorado: Jet Excellence to equip Citation X fleet with Gogo Galileo HDX connectivityGogo has announced that Jet Excellence, a leading US-based charter operator, will equip its entire fleet of Cessna Citation X aircraft with the Gogo Galileo HDX connectivity system.
Jet Excellence is also taking advantage of Gogo’s flexible financing solution, helping the operator manage the cost of upgrading all of its Citation X fleet while accelerating access to the latest high-performance inflight connectivity technology. The announcement follows receipt of an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of Gogo Galileo HDX on the Citation X.
Montenegro and Hong Kong: Air Charter Service adds European and Asian honours to award-winning yearAir Charter Service (ACS) has added two more international accolades to its growing list of industry awards, being named Europe’s Leading Private Jet Charter Company at the 2026 World Travel Awards and Best Charter Brokerage at the Asian Business Aviation Association’s (AsBAA) Icons of Aviation awards.
The World Travel Awards ceremony took place at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort in Montenegro on 17 October, where ACS secured the European title. The company also picked up the Best Charter Brokerage award at the AsBAA gala in Hong Kong on the same date, retaining the title for the second consecutive year.
Manhattan, New York: No runway required: Electra takes off and lands Ultra Short airplane at Manhattan HeliportElectra's hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft has completed a successful takeoff and landing at Downtown Skyport in Lower Manhattan, marking what is believed to be the first-ever landing at the heliport by a fixed-wing aircraft without vertical takeoff capability.
The demonstration, the latest in Electra’s ongoing Life Beyond Runways series, showcases Direct Aviation, a new model for regional mobility that uses accessible air travel to connect passengers directly from where they are to where they want to go. Direct Aviation enables people to skip congested roads and crowded airport hubs for more accessible and efficient travel.
Boise, Idaho: Western Aircraft celebrates 300th PC-12 deliveryMarks 30 years as Authorized Pilatus Sales & Service Center.Western Aircraft, part of Greenwich AeroGroup, marks three significant milestones in 2026 as part of its long-standing partnership with Pilatus: the delivery of the company’s 300th PC-12 - a PC-12 PRO, the delivery of the 30th new PC-24, and its 30th anniversary as an Authorized Pilatus Sales & Service Center.
The three special milestones were jointly acknowledged in a ceremony held at Western Aircraft’s head office in Boise, Idaho, USA. Since the partnership began in 1996, Western Aircraft has become one of the most successful and experienced Authorized Pilatus Sales Centers, and the first to achieve these milestones.
Sacramento, California: Axis Jet unifies charter operations and introduces FAA-approved pilot development programAxis Jet, a Northern California private aviation company specializing in aircraft charter, management and sales, is bringing its charter operations together under a single FAA Part 135 operating certificate while introducing a newly-approved Pilot Development Program designed to support the next generation of professional aviators.
The company consolidated its charter operations - previously conducted under Eldorado Air and Modesto Executive Air Charter - into a single FAA Part 135 operating certificate under Modesto Executive Air Charter, Inc., doing business as Axis Jet.
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 Toulouse, France: Airbus: Business aviation seeing growing demand from governmentsAirbus Corporate Jets has published its latest research, based on a global survey of 280 business aviation financiers and brokers, revealing growing demand from governments and government departments to buy or charter business aircraft. The trend reflects an increasingly complex geopolitical environment and a rise in international diplomacy, driving demand for secure, flexible and reliable air transport.
Business aviation is taking on a broader role beyond traditional executive transportation, with aircraft supporting diplomatic travel, crisis response, humanitarian missions, medical evacuation and repatriation. For governments, these aircraft are becoming mission-critical assets capable of responding to complex operational needs at short notice. Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets commented: “The findings demonstrate just how significantly the role of business aviation is evolving within government."
Brazil: Eve and FlyBIS sign binding agreement for up to 12 eVTOLs in Southern BrazilEve Air Mobility and FlyBIS Aviation have announced the signing of a binding agreement for up to 12 electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The agreement comprises two firm orders and purchase rights for ten additional units, and builds on the Letter of Intent the companies announced in 2022, advancing their collaboration to establish electric air mobility operations in Brazil. FlyBIS plans to deploy Eve’s eVTOL in Southern Brazil, initially connecting destinations in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
“This binding agreement is an important step in our relationship with FlyBIS and demonstrates how our customers are progressing from early market development to concrete fleet commitments,” said Johann Bordais, Chief Executive Officer of Eve.
Jersey, Channel Islands: Unifi Aviation expands into Jersey with aircraft detailing operationUnifi Aviation has established a new operation at Jersey Airport, providing aircraft cleaning and detailing services to business aviation customers using Gama Aviation’s FBO. Operating as Unifi Aviation Jersey, the new business will offer interior and exterior cleaning and specialist detailing for executive aircraft. It will operate as a dedicated subsidiary, also known as Up and Away, complementing the passenger and crew handling services already provided by Gama Aviation. “Moving into the Channel Islands has been on our wish list for many years,” commented Stefan Murphy, CEO of Unifi Aviation UK, Ireland and Jersey. "Aircraft are subject to high salt conditions in and out of the Channel Islands, requiring regular exterior washing. We will support the upper end of business/general aviation from Cirrus sized turboprops and jets right up to ultra long-range Gulfstream, Bombardier and Dassault business jets." The service will also be available to regional airlines operating sports and ad hoc charters through the FBO.
Malta: DC Aviation Malta welcomes third Global 7500 to fleetDC Aviation Malta has announced the arrival of another Bombardier Global 7500, further expanding its fleet. The business jet will be operated on the Maltese AOC. Bringing the company’s total fleet to six aircraft, this addition underscores DC Aviation Malta’s growth strategy and commitment to operating a modern fleet of high-performance ultra-long-range business jets. “The addition of a third Global 7500 to our fleet is an important step in our growth strategy and reflects the experience we have developed in managing and operating Bombardier aircraft”, says Stanley Bugeja, Managing Director of DC Aviation Malta. “We continue to strengthen our ultra-long-range capabilities while remaining focused on providing our clients with a truly distinctive flight experience, tailored to their individual needs.”
Lausanne, Switzerland: Simply Jet announces acquisition of FlyTyrolSimply Jet has announced the acquisition of 100% of FlyTyrol (ABC Bedarfsflug GmbH), a business aviation operator based in Innsbruck, Austria. Completed in early September, the transaction makes Simply Jet one of the few business aviation brokers in Europe to hold, within its group, an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by the Austrian authority Austro Control. Founded in 2001, FlyTyrol employs 14 people. Its fleet consists of four aircraft based in Innsbruck and Salzburg, Austria. A Cessna Citation M2 and a Cessna Citation CJ3+ are available for charter, while a Cessna Citation CJ2+ and a Cessna Citation XLS are privately managed and used exclusively by their owners. FlyTyrol will retain its name and its entire staff. FlyTyrol will be able to draw on Simply Jet’s extensive charter network, as well as its support and expertise in marketing, finance, and IT.
Phoenix, Arizona: TBMOPA raises its flight safety focus at 2026 Annual ConventionThe TBMOPA (TBM Owners and Pilots Association) has taken its flight safety focus to a new level, dedicating the organization’s 2026 Annual Convention to three days of activities exploring the principles and practices of sound aeronautical decision-making. Held in Phoenix, Arizona, this year’s event attracted more than 300 attendees, including TBM owners/operators and their companions, equipment and services suppliers, along with representatives of Daher Aircraft - the TBM manufacturer and a key TBMOPA sponsor.
A total of 78 TBMs were flown to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, representing the full family range: the TBM 700, TBM 850 and TBM 900-series, with these aircraft arriving from across the US, and from Canada, the Bahamas, Switzerland and South Africa. Included in this overall count were nine TBM 980s - the latest version that Daher Aircraft began delivering to international customers in January. The convention’s aeronautical decision-making theme addressed the decisions that pilots face throughout a flight, beginning with the go/no-go assessment and extending to hazard identification and risk management.
IADA Market Report shows rising dealer confidence, preowned demand remains strong Universal Aviation rebrands as Affinity Aviation NetJets flight activity in Las Vegas rises as new airport facility opens Civil Air Patrol orders 21 new Cessna aircraft to strengthen lifesaving and community missions Cirrus breaks ground on $8m Engine Run-Up Center Affinity Aviation Group welcomes strategic UK partnership with AeronautX amid strong year of growth
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Global Medical Response expands Bell fleet with additional Bell 407GXisIFR-equipped aircraft will support reliable, all-weather air medical operations.
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| GMR is the nation’s largest EMS provider, operating an extensive network of air and ground assets that provide critical and prehospital care to communities across the United States. GMR’s air medical teams connect patients with the advanced care they need, often serving rural and hard-to-reach areas where rapid access is essential. GMR operates the largest Bell HAA fleet with more than 170 Bell aircraft supporting emergency medical missions nationwide. |  |
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