Still in Its Infancy, SAF Growing by Leaps and Bounds

As the topic of sustainability looms larger in the psyche of the aviation industry, the question is no longer whether, but when.

Fifteen years ago this month, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the International Business Aviation Council announced their Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, establishing aggressive industry targets to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In 2021, it was updated to include the business aviation industry pledge for net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050.

BJT: Patrick Mahomes Scores Touchdowns with Airshare

Airshare, started 25 years ago as a small fractional aircraft provider out of Wichita, has steadily increased its footprint across the U.S. to become the one-stop aviation services enterprise it is today. Last year, Airshare tripled its fleet and doubled its number of employees after acquiring Wheels Up’s aircraft management division.

Today, the company offers everything from charter to aircraft management, including a days-based fractional model, and has offices based throughout the U.S. Business Jet Traveler sat down with Airshare CMO Andy Tretiak to discuss the ins and outs of fractional shares, company ambassador and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and more.

From the Archives: The ‘Little Jet That Could’ Just Did

Eclipse Aviation received FAA type certification for the Eclipse 500 on Sept. 30, 2006, becoming the second very light jet manufacturer to achieve the milestone approval behind Cessna, which had the card for its Citation Mustang VLJ punched a few weeks earlier.

Depending on your perspective, you’re eagerly awaiting or pensively dreading the entry into service of this new breed of super-light business twinjet. For most of the attendees at the 2006 NBAA annual meeting and convention, the mood probably leans heavily toward the excitement end of the scale.

Artificial Intelligence Looms Large in Bizav's Future

Artificial intelligence’s (AI) impact on the business aviation industry promises to be profound, encompassing virtually every aspect of its operations. The different applications and their implications were threaded throughout the convention floor and industry panels during the 2024 edition of NBAA-BACE.

“Artificial intelligence has transformed from the realm of science fiction to becoming an integral part of our daily lives and industries,” said Todd Giles, Honeywell Aerospace's chief technology officer at the OEM’s annual forecast event on Sunday evening, unofficially kicking off NBAA-BACE.

BJT: A Closer Look at the New Gen3 Cessna Citations

Textron Aviation is upgrading the flight decks of its Citation CJ4, CJ3, and M2 business jets, along with some other improvements. Announcing the changes during the recent NBAA-BACE show in Las Vegas, the manufacturer explained that the CJ4 Gen3 model will be equipped with Garmin’s latest G3000 Prime avionics suite, while the G3000 suites in the Gen3 versions of the CJ3 and M2 will get Garmin's Autoland technology, as will the CJ4 Gen3.

In this video, you'll get a better look at the new models that were at the NBAA-BACE static display last week.

FutureFlight: Lilium Scrambles for Funds, Delisting Looms

Trading in shares in eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium are set be suspended when New York’s Nasdaq market opens on November 6 after a German court approved the company’s filing for insolvency on October 28. Lilium, which is scrambling to line up new financial backing, has until November 4 to appeal the ruling by Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Department.

Last week, Lilium said it would start self-administration proceedings after the German parliament’s budgetary committee rejected its application for a €50 million ($54 million) loan guarantee. This decision blocked a matching €50 million loan from the state of Bavaria.

G3000 Prime Moves Touchscreens into Part 23 Cockpits

In a move that cements touchscreen displays as the primary pilot interface, today Garmin introduced its technical standard order-certified third-generation flight deck, G3000 Prime.

The Olathe, Kansas avionics manufacturer has already secured its first OEM customer for G3000 Prime, and deliveries of this Part 23 business jet will begin in 2025. The target market is Part 23 turbine, advanced air mobility, and commercial and military aircraft.