Autonomous flight is at a pivotal juncture, marked by groundbreaking advancements and the promise of transforming air travel and cargo services. Industry-wide efforts signal a future where autonomous technology not only enhances safety and operational efficiency but also reinvigorates regional connectivity, potentially reshaping the landscape of air transport for passengers and cargo.

The evolution of autonomous flight in general aviation reflects a dynamic journey. This evolution is characterized not only by remarkable technological advancements but also by a gradual and deliberate integration of autonomous technologies. “General aviation is the incubator of technology,” according to Walter Desrosier, v-p of engineering and maintenance at GAMA.

It’s boom time in the fractional aircraft ownership world: a spate of recent fleet orders and deliveries is expanding opportunities for customers and bringing new platforms to business aviation. That’s good news for prospective fractional-share owners who not long ago were told by providers that sales were suspended, as fleet operators struggled to service existing customers amid the post-Covid bump in demand for lift.

Today, the segment outpaces charter and Part 91 private flight activity, underscoring the continuing demand for fractional aircraft shares. Fractional flight activity was the only growth story in private aviation in 2023, up 13.4 percent for the year through November, according to the TraqPak report from Argus International.

Dassault Aviation released details on its newest business jet, the Falcon 6X, a replacement for the 5X that was canceled due to multiple delays in the development of its proposed Snecma Silvercrest engines. The 6X instead has Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D ("D" for Dassault) engines.

“I had no choice to stop the 5X program and find the best possible engine,” Dassault chairman and CEO Eric Trappier had told reporters gathered in the company’s large Le Bourget hangar, where he unveiled a large model of the new 6X. He revealed that in 2015/2016 Dassault engineers began developing a Plan B for the Falcon 5X when the Silvercrest engine began experiencing problems with its high-pressure compressor. As the troubles intensified, the company took the opportunity to design an aircraft with more range and space.

Turkey has quietly abandoned its annoying and often confusing visa requirement for travelers from North America. Until Dec. 31, 2023, its government required Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans to apply in advance for an E-Visa, purchasable online from Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various private online vendors.

No more. Turkey has joined every other country in Western Europe as a visa-free destination.

A visual approach is an effective tool that ATC utilizes to maximize aircraft traffic flow and reduce controller workload. For pilots, the greatest benefit of flying a visual approach is that it allows for tighter sequencing between aircraft, which equates to less time in the air and a reduction in fuel burn.

According to a recent issue of NASA’s ASRS Callback newsletter, “Many pilots consider a visual approach to be less demanding than instrument approaches flown in poor weather conditions…But visual approaches can present a number of hazards, particularly when localizer and glideslope indications are not used to backup visual impressions.” For many reasons, a visual approach is much more complex than perceived by pilots.

Supernal has revealed its first full-scale mockup of the eVTOL aircraft it aims to bring to market in 2028. It is showcasing the four-passenger S-A2 aircraft this week at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where the company has constructed a vertiport exhibition to give show attendees a taste of the urban air mobility experience.

Three years ago, Supernal, which is a subsidiary of Korean automotive giant Hyundai, debuted its first eVTOL cabin concept, called the S-A1, at CES 2020. Since then the company has shown off the cabin concept at trade shows such as Farnborough, NBAA-BACE, and EBACE, where visitors had the opportunity to experience a virtual eVTOL ride over a simulated cityscape.

Business aviation leaders are encouraged that FAA’s leadership has settled in place and that Congress has crafted a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill they believe will foster new technology, sustainability, and workforce. However, the five-year reauthorization bill has been hung up in Congress, and leaders hope for quick passage early in 2024 to provide the FAA the wherewithal to move on those issues.

In addition, leaders are watching an array of issues before the agency this year that range from the implementation of safety management systems and a looming new special federal aviation regulation for advanced air mobility to the possible reshaping of Part 380, all of which the business aviation community has weighed in on through comments.

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