Despite improvements in aircraft, technologies, and safety systems, there was a noticeable uptick in fatal accidents involving business jets and turboprops during the first three months of 2024. Globally, 12 business aviation accidents resulted in 43 fatalities in the first quarter of this year. During the same period in 2023, there were seven accidents and 19 fatalities.

In each of these accidents, a pilot or crew was legally trained, qualified, and proficient, but found themselves in a situation that led to an undesirable aircraft state that ended in a catastrophe. Often these accidents involve an unexpected condition or threat that was not encountered during an initial or recurrent training event. Reviewing each accident case presents ample learning opportunities to improve safety. Unfortunately, traditional training programs are too rigid and cannot easily adapt to change.  

Every once in a while, even we succumb to an online celebrity rabbit hole. We discovered that Dr. Phil and Michael Bloomberg have something in common with many AINalerts subscribers.

And that is they all sit in the front left seat of an airplane.

Although the G280 traces its heritage to North American Rockwell, Galaxy Aerospace, and Israel Aerospace Industries (which manufactures the airframe), the super-midsize jet is all Gulfstream, from the design of the wing to the elegantly equipped cabin and the outstanding performance that pilots have come to expect from the Savannah, Georgia manufacturer.

Ultimately, the G280 doesn’t share much with the G200/Galaxy except the size and shape of the fuselage. The engines, wing, empennage, avionics, and systems are all new and improved, and thus the G280 required its own new type certificate.

When the Galaxy FBO chain broke ground on its facility at Dallas-area Addison Airport (KADS) in the summer of 2020, it had little idea that the opening of its third location would be delayed by a year due to labor and supply chain issues resulting from the global pandemic. As the saying goes, however, “Good things come to those who wait,” and the results have proven that adage.

The third service provider at KADS, Galaxy FBO opened on Nov. 1, 2022, and swiftly made its mark on its customers, landing in the top 5% of all FBOs worldwide in this year’s AIN FBO Survey.

You’re the leader of a Part 91 flight department and, unexpectedly, a senior captain hands in their resignation. They’re burnt out and an enticing offer from another operator was the final push they needed to leave. They left for higher pay, better-defined time off, and a better work environment.

When a tenured employee leaves for these reasons, it’s a clear sign of underlying issues. You can assume other staff might also be looking to leave. Now, as a leader, your focus needs to be on keeping your team happy and preventing further losses, since losing a key player can have a domino effect.

Volocopter has started crewed validation test flights with its two-seat eVTOL aircraft from the Paris-area Saint-Cyr-l’École airfield. The flight conducted on Thursday marks the start of work to develop air taxi routes around the French capital in a lower-profile exercise than the full public demonstration flights the German company had planned during the ongoing Olympic Games.

The flights are being conducted with Volocopter’s 2X technology demonstrator aircraft, with a permit to fly having been granted by France’s DGAC civil aviation authority. The company is working to achieve EASA type certification for its VoloCity production aircraft.

GE Aerospace has completed the first stage of its global research with Airbus Helicopters on a next-generation helicopter propulsion system. The milestone marks a significant advancement in the collaboration between the two companies. The first stage of the project focused on foundational research with further insights and findings gained during the effort to lay the groundwork for subsequent phases of development.

As the partnership advances into the next phase, GE Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters plan to focus on detailed designs and component efficiencies to create a propulsion system to meet new sustainability objectives, including significant reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. 

VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap

Vista America Plans To Sell Off Cessna Citation Ultra and X Fleets

Textron eAviation Joins NBAA's Advanced Air Mobility Roundtable

Blog: My Hollywood Moment as Maverick in the Flight Simulator

FAA Issues Approval for Helitak Fire Tank on Sikorsky S-92A Helicopter

House Lawmakers Move To Tighten Security for Part 380 Operations