Daher Aircraft’s new TBM 980 is making its U.S. debut this week at the Sun ‘n Fun (SNF) Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Also at the airshow, the company is accepting applications for workers at its future TBM/Kodiak assembly plant in Stuart, about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach.

The TBM 980 and its Kodiak 100 Series III stablemate at Daher’s SNF static display are both sporting Daher’s Tehuano livery, named after the powerful mountain wind in southern Mexico. Unveiled in January, the TBM 980 is the French aircraft manufacturer’s latest TBM family member, featuring Garmin G3000 Prime avionics that allow pilots to better customize how they view the flight data.

Meanwhile, Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert said the company plans to start TBM assembly in Stuart in mid-2027 under its EASA production approvals. Though the assembly facility is still under construction, the company is participating in the SNF career fair, seeking to immediately hire an initial 35 people for assembly line positions in Stuart, where the company already has an aerostructures plant. Chabbert told AIN that the TBM 980 will be the first aircraft to be assembled there, with the Kodiak 100 and 900 to be added later.

Also this week, Daher is looking to hire assembly workers for its Kodiak production facility in Sandpoint, Idaho, and A&P technicians at its Pompano Beach, Florida service center.

Fractional start-up Bond has boosted its commitment for Bombardier aircraft under an agreement now valued at up to $5 billion and is planning to accelerate deliveries in 2027 to meet demand, the nascent company revealed Tuesday morning.

During NBAA-BACE in October 2025, Bond announced plans to launch a fractional ownership model using a fleet of 50 Bombardier Globals and Challengers under a $1.7 billion firm order that included options for up to 70 more, which could push the value of the deal to $4 billion.

In a release this morning, Bond said it had “achieved oversubscription” in the first three months and has expanded that commitment with firm orders for four additional Globals and the exercise of 24 of its existing options to Global 8000s—with flexibility to convert them to Global 6500s.

Backed by a series of investors, including KKR, Bond is entering the fractional market with an aim to create a boutique model that specializes in super-midsize to ultra-long-range jets. This includes offering fewer owners per aircraft, a members-only fleet, flight attendants on every flight, and premium interiors.

Bond did not detail plans for the initial accelerated deliveries but confirmed plans for the launch of operations in early 2027. To accommodate this, KKR increased Bond’s credit facility to $290 million, and the company separately has raised $150 million in equity through its founding membership program.

Luxaviation has committed to being the launch operator for Beyond Aero’s hydrogen-electric aircraft. In an agreement announced with the French start-up today, the Europe-based business aviation services group said it will help to prepare a path to service entry for the eight-seat BYA-1 model, which is targeted for type certification in 2030.

According to the partners, their collaboration will focus on “real-world operational readiness,” including the definition of mission profiles and how the aircraft will be deployed and supported when operational. Luxaviation has not made any firm commitment for orders or delivery slots for the model, which is expected to have a range of 800 nm with six passengers on board.

Beyond Aero described the agreement as a “pre-commercial memorandum of understanding” and explained that Luxaviation’s involvement at this point is intended to “de-risk the path to service entry” for the BYA-1. The group, which provides aircraft management and charter services through multiple air operator certificates, will help to define how the jet could be deployed commercially through these business models.

Luxaviation said it will provide guidance on certification and market expertise, including factors such as “customer readiness” to travel in a hydrogen-powered aircraft, and how airport and FBO infrastructure can be prepared.

F/List has expanded the use of its product lines into corporate helicopter completions. Preparing for its second appearance at the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany, this week, the company now supports all sectors of high-end passenger aviation, including commercial jets and private and business aircraft.

“Expanding into helicopter interiors is a natural first step for F/List,” said Michael Müller, managing director of F/List Aviation. “Many of our customers operate across multiple high-end interior environments, and with this addition, we can now accompany them across their entire ecosystem, whether in the air, on land, or at sea, delivering the same level of imagination, technological innovation, advanced material engineering, and consistent craftsmanship in every space.”

At its booth at AIX, the company is showing off its new Lightshifter technology, which uses wood veneer to reveal or hide illumination hardware at the touch of a button. F/List’s real wood veneer 65/65 is the industry’s first fully heat-compliant wood veneer for commercial aerospace applications.

Austria-based F/List is also debuting a new lighting collaboration, the Schott Opal reading light series, which integrates its customizable natural wood and stone surfaces into the light housing itself. The concepts can be tailored to match the cabin environment.

With quick startup, enhanced display responsiveness, and advanced features like SurfaceWatch and Runway Occupancy Awareness, the G1000 NXi provides King Air pilots with substantial situational‑awareness and safety improvements that remain highly relevant for 2026‑era flying. View the complete guide to Garmin G1000 NXi.

Colorado’s Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (KASE) will be closing for a month of pavement maintenance starting on April 23. According to airport authorities, after a busy ski season, annual spring maintenance is required on the aging 8,000-foot runway and taxiway to ensure it remains safe and reliable for both commercial and general aviation users.

Conducted in coordination with airport stakeholders and the local community, the work will commence at 9 a.m. on April 23 to allow for evening flights to depart and to minimize disruptions. It will reopen on May 21 at 7 p.m. to enable aircraft to reposition for a full flight schedule the following day. Nearby Rifle Garfield County (KRIL) and Eagle County Regional (KEGE) airports could see traffic increases during the closure.

“This closure approach has been well-received in recent years, and we are continuing the practice in 2026,” said KASE director Diane Jackson. “We’re also pleased to complete the work ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, with a second phase of improvements taking place overnight later in the season to avoid an additional runway closure.”

Two years ago, area voters approved a measure for a full runway upgrade, which is slated for completion next year. Once completed, that will negate the need for the annual spring runway closure.

Piper Aircraft will offer a seven-blade MT-Propeller as a factory option for the M700 Fury following EASA supplemental type certificate approval, the Vero Beach, Florida manufacturer announced today during the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. FAA certification is expected soon, according to Piper. European customers can contact Piper dealers to equip their M700 Fury with the propeller.

The company is displaying the seven-blade composite propeller at the Central Florida airshow on an M700 featuring a red, white, and blue livery celebrating America’s semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary. The seven-blade propeller provides decreased takeoff distance, higher climb rate, and a quieter cabin—by about three decibels, a spokeswoman told AIN.

“Integrating the seven-blade MT-Propeller into the Fury platform underscores Piper’s commitment to continuous innovation and customer-driven enhancements,” said Piper v-p of engineering and manufacturing Marc Ouellet. “This option provides operators with improved takeoff and climb performance while reducing noise levels for both passengers and communities.”

The M700 Fury received EASA type certification on Oct. 29, 2024. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engine producing 700 shp, the aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 301 knots and a maximum range of 1,852 nm.

Piper has handed over some 100 M700 Furys since the airplane received FAA approval in February 2024.

Tim and Sheri Lilley—whose son was killed in the Jan. 29, 2025, midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA)—are encouraged by progress on Capitol Hill to pass legislation to strengthen ADS-B requirements. But they are continuing their advocacy to ensure enhanced safety regulation.

In a heartfelt session at the 2025 Air Charter Safety Summit, the Lilleys shared their story about the loss of Sam Lilley, one of the pilots of the PSA Airlines Flight 5342 accident airplane.

That accident led to a quest to ensure the lessons learned from the accident would elevate safety standards so such an event could not happen again. Both Lilleys left a video message updating attendees at the ACSF summit on their progress over the past year, with Sheri pledging, “We are in this for the long haul. We are going to be engaging with anyone who wants to hear our opinions and our experience.”

The Lilleys pointed to a need to look at transponders, emergency vehicles, and updates on disaster family assistance requirements.

Tim is hopeful that comprehensive aviation safety legislation, the Alert Act, will pass the House shortly. While improved, he added that once the act passes, the Lilleys are hoping to see a few adjustments in the Senate.

Like the arrival chart available on the Garmin Pilot app last year for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Garmin has created a SmartCharts arrival for the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo this week in Lakeland, Florida.

Although the Lake Parker VFR arrival is somewhat simpler, the Sun ‘n Fun organizers and FAA published a 28-page notam outlining the arrival procedure. The SmartCharts arrival, which is available for Garmin Pilot subscribers, simplifies the depiction of the arrival and allows the user to select a flight path depending on which transition is assigned by ATC and the runway for landing at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL).

Last year, the arrival fed aircraft to one side of the airport, and the pilot then had to break off to the appropriate downwind leg, so this year’s arrival is simpler.

Pilots flying with modern Garmin navigators can also select the Lakeland arrival once the database is updated on April 15, one of the busier arrival days at Sun ‘n Fun, and also the first day of the 56-day chart database update cycle. The Lake Parker arrival can be used to navigate, including coupling to the autopilot. This will help pilots focus on watching for conflicting traffic while flying through the busy area.