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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All business aviation stories

Daher deliveries climb after solid year

French airframer Daher saw deliveries rise by almost 11% across its TBM and Kodiak product lines in 2024, while also booking 100 new orders for the turboprop types.

Partners praise BeautHyFuel results from liquid hydrogen engine tests

A French government-backed initiative has demonstrated the feasibility of powering a light aircraft using a liquid hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine, with the results even showing slightly improved performance over a kerosene-burning equivalent.

Baykar’s Piaggio purchase should be wrapped up by mid-April

Baykar Technolgies’ acquisition of Italian airframer Piaggio Aerospace is likely to conclude towards the middle of April, with preliminary contracts due to be signed in the coming weeks, FlightGlobal understands.

Smartflyer eyes electric training revolution with innovative SF-1

A Swiss start-up with a unique concept hopes to be the first to bring to market a purpose-built electric training aircraft.

EcoPulse partners hail ‘major milestone’ and weigh next moves

Following the end of flight testing, three partners behind the EcoPulse hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrator are already contemplating next steps, with a series of follow-on projects to debut next year.

Pilot errors caused 2023 Challenger 300 upset that killed one passenger: NTSB

Failure to remove a pitot probe cover and a cascade of resulting pilot missteps caused a 2023 inflight upset near Hartford that involved a Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet and killed one passenger.

Pilot deliberately crashed Cessna 208 while returning from parachute drop

French investigators believe a Cessna 208 pilot, under psychological pressure, deliberately flew the aircraft into a mountain ridge while returning to Gap-Tallard airport after a parachute drop.

Gogo completes acquisition of Satcom Direct

In-flight data provider Gogo completed its planned acquisition of once-competitor Satcom Direct on 4 December and named Satcom’s former president Chris Moore as CEO.

First flight for all-electric Integral E trainer

French aircraft developer Aura Aero has performed the first flight of its Integral E – the all-electric version of its two-seat trainer.

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.