NBAA 2021 | FlightGlobal | Breaking news for airlines, aerospace and defence industry

Honda Aircraft unveils 10-passenger HondaJet 2600 concept

Momentum on the rise in electric air taxi sector

Thrive signs for three more Citation Longitudes

Honda Aircraft unveils 10-passenger HondaJet 2600 concept
Momentum on the rise in electric air taxi sector
Thrive signs for three more Citation Longitudes

The latest news from the show

Honda Aircraft unveils 10-passenger HondaJet 2600 concept

Honda Aircraft has unveiled a new business jet concept intended to sit at the upper end of the light-jet segment but have sufficient range and size to enable it to compete in the mid-size market.

Momentum on the rise in electric air taxi sector

Electric air taxis have descended on the NBAA show in Las Vegas this year, with several developers promising the emerging sector could soon eclipse traditional business aviation in size.

Thrive signs for three more Citation Longitudes

Las Vegas Henderson airport-based Thrive Aviation has signed a deal for three more Textron Aviation Citation Longitudes at the NBAA show.

VerdeGo completes validation of its VH-3 hybrid powerplant

Propulsion specialist VerdeGo has validated its VH-3 hybrid powerplant with a series of tests, bringing the industry one step closer to electrification of aviation and sustainable flight.

Jet Aviation president David Paddock on riding out the pandemic

Few companies in private air travel can take the temperature of the market as quickly and effectively as Jet Aviation. The Swiss-based service provider, part of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics since 2008, has operations on four continents, and across four distinct activities: maintenance, aircraft management and charter, fixed-base operations, and large-jet completions. Its 2018 acquisition of Hawker Pacific added a fifth: air force sustainment.

Rolls-Royce sees faster than expected rebound in business aircraft sector

Almost all Rolls-Royce-powered business aircraft are back operating to pre-pandemic levels after what the engine manufacturer describes as a faster than expected recovery in the sector.

Comlux chief executive Richard Gaona on hopes for the ACJ TwoTwenty

Charter and completions specialist Comlux is highly invested in the new corporate aircraft version of Airbus’s smallest narrowbody, the ACJ TwoTwenty programme.

Bombardier unveils Challenger 3500 launch customer

Bombardier has disclosed Entertainment Technology Partners chief executive Les Goldberg has become launch customer of the airframer’s Challenger 3500 business jet, an in-development update to the Challenger 350.

Collins launches cloud-based business-aviation platform

Collins Aerospace is showcasing Izon, a cloud-based business-aviation platform that integrates various operational services and will be compatible with some third-party-developed applications, after a launch just ahead of coming to Las Vegas.

Textron displays first mock-ups of enhanced business jet offerings

Textron Aviation has elevated its offering in the light and midsize business jet segments by launching updated variants of its Cessna Citation M2 and Citation XLS.

NBAA chief executive Ed Bolen’s excitement at return of in-person event

After steering its way through the crisis, NBAA chief executive Ed Bolen says the business aviation community cannot wait to reconnect in person for the first time in two years

NetJets signs follow-on deal for up to 100 Phenom 300E light jets

Fractional aircraft-ownership company NetJets is committing to buying another 100 of Embraer’s Phenom 300E light jets.

Honeywell strengthens outlook for long-term business jet demand

Remarkable optimism among business-jet operators has led Honeywell to hike its aircraft delivery expectations for the next 10 years.

Honeywell launches ‘cloud connected’ integrated avionics system Anthem

Honeywell has developed a new line of avionics that the company says is lighter and more intuitive than current systems and that significantly advances the state of avionics connectivity and autonomy, potentially one day allowing for fewer pilots in the cockpit.

Cirrus delivers with latest Vision of success

Having already impressed with earlier versions of its SF50 Vision Jet, Cirrus has again raised the bar with the newly available G2+ model, offering enhanced performance and new safety features.

Environmental focus takes centre stage for NBAA

The business aviation industry will use this year’s gathering to take stock of its sustainability credentials at a show expected to place more emphasis on the environment than ever before.

Why ultra-long-range jets have become big business

Covid-19 may be making long-haul travel difficult, but demand for the biggest business jets is rising. And with three new entrants to the market, competition is heating up in this profitable segment.

Air taxi investment booms, but could ‘bubble’ burst?

Air taxi developers have been buoyed by major recent investments in their advanced air mobility projects, but now the hard work begins on the path to achieving certification and service entry.

Betting on BACE

Despite worries about the pandemic’s effect on attendance, this year’s business aviation event in Las Vegas will cater for a booming sector awaiting a number of potentially disruptive developments.

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Valo Aviation becomes first business aviation operator with Bahrain AOC

Valo Aviation has become Bahrain’s first home-grown business jet charter operator, marking its formal launch at the country’s air show on 13 November with its first aircraft, a Kuwaiti-owned Gulfstream G550.

Bombardier swings to $117m Q3 profit and plans year-end delivery push

Strong performance from Bombardier’s aftermarket services business pushed the Montreal business jet manufacturer to a $117 million profit for the third quarter of 2024, reversing a $37 million loss during the same period last year.

Lilium appoints KPMG to handle sale process

Lilium has appointed accountancy firm KPMG to sell the business, as the cash-strapped air taxi developer seeks new investment.

Air campaigns: how business jets play a key role in US elections

Business jets play a key role in any presidential election, the USA’s vast size requiring candidates to traverse thousands of miles to win votes

Supply chain pressures dent Gulfstream’s G700 delivery forecast

Gulfstream has slashed the number of G700s it expects to deliver this year on the back of continued supply chain issues.

Industry seeks privacy amid private jet tracking concerns

Aviation leaders have at least one thing in common with pop star Taylor Swift: they want to make it harder for private jets to be publicly tracked.

FAA’s eVTOL rule sets safety ‘baseline’ but flight limitations remain unclear

While electric aircraft manufacturers insist they are close to certificating their designs, uncertainty abounds about operating limitations and how the aircraft will be integrated into complex airspace.

Gogo sees gains from deal with long-term target Satcom Direct

While Gogo agreed to acquire fellow connectivity specialist Satcom Direct at the end of September, the company’s interest in teaming up with the established player in the business aviation market long pre-dated that.

How Garmin’s new G3000 Prime avionics suite builds off 20 years of experience

Leaning on the institutional knowledge that comes with installing more than 30,000 flight decks across various aircraft types over the past 20 years, Garmin’s latest avionics suite – the G3000 Prime – is the Kansas firm’s most advanced yet.

Wheels Up to acquire used Phenom 300s and Challengers in overhaul of jet fleet

Charter aircraft provider Wheels Up has secured fresh financing and revealed plans to replace its fleet of owned jets with used Embraer Phenom 300s and Bombardier Challengers.

Viasat sees bright response to enhanced connectivity for business aviation market

Satellite communications specialist Viasat is yielding the benefits of acquiring fellow network provider Inmarsat as it receives positive feedback from initial trials of an enhanced in-flight connectivity programme for business aviation, called JetXP.

FAA finalises rule establishing new class of ‘powered lift’ aircraft to enable commercial air taxis

Clearing the way for a new class of “powered lift” aircraft to get off the ground, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 22 October released a finalised rule outlining operational and pilot-training requirements for the burgeoning electric air taxi sector.

Jet Out eyes more expansion after opening Florida base

A blend of hometown service and national reach is how emerging ‘co-ownership’ operator Jet Out describes its offer. The Milwaukee-based company has opened its second base and is eyeing more

FlyExclusive chief sees strong year ahead after IPO milestone

After a turbulent run-up to its IPO late last year, fast growing private flight provider FlyExclusive chief executive Jim Segrave anticipates a strong 2025 thanks to a growing fleet and customer base

New Airbus-commissioned reports highlight heightened role for business jets

Business aviation’s annual contribution to the US economy is expected to climb by over $50 billion within five years, bringing the industry’s annual input to $183 billion.

Business jet demand seen as still strong despite macro challenges

While geopolitical tensions, regional wars, economic instability and supply chain issues are shaking optimism in the global business aviation market amongst owners and operator alike, demand and pricing for business jets and turboprops remains strong and the outlook for the industry over the next decade is bullish.

How are AAM developers positioning for business aviation market

Several AAM developers are displaying their wares at this week’s NBAA BACE show with the sector at a pivotal time on its journey to certification, production and market acceptance

Blackhawk completes early TBM 700 STC testing

Blackhawk Aerospace has completed “baseline” flight testing for its Daher TBM 700 Series supplemental type certificate (STC) programme, describing as a “major milestone” the first flight of the single-engine turboprop powered by a higher-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D.

Textron Aviation rolls out upgraded ‘Gen3’ series of light jets with standard auto-land

Textron Aviation is rolling out at the NBAA show in Las Vegas a series of upgrades to its Cessna Citation family of light business jets that will represent “Gen 3” variants of the M2, CJ3 and CJ4 platforms.

Military operators increasingly turn to business jets for specialty missions

Drawn by reliability and affordability, militaries are increasingly turning to business jets to fill niche roles within their aviation fleets including intelligence collection and electronic warfare.