Daher plans to increase aircraft production this year to more than 60 TBM turboprop singles and more than 25 Kodiak utility turboprops, according to Nicolas Chabbert, the senior v-p of Daher’s aircraft division. Last year, the aircraft manufacturer delivered 56 TBM 910s and 960s from its Tarbes, France facility and 18 Kodiak 100s and 900s from its Sandpoint, Idaho plant. Backlog is now about two years for both product lines, Chabbert noted.

The 40 percent increase in Kodiak shipments will be facilitated by a recent reorganization of the Kodiak production layout in Sandpoint. Chabbert said parallel assembly lines have been introduced, with mirrored Kodiak 100/900 assembly from Stages 3 through 6. These stages cover wing and horizontal stabilizer mating, flight control integration and rigging, engine and avionics installation, first flight, interior outfitting, and customer delivery.

The increased production capacity follows other improvements at Sandpoint, including a $2.7 million, 9,000-sq-ft aircraft painting facility.

To date, 330 Kodiak 100s and Kodiak 900s have been delivered to customers. The most recent Kodiak 900—the seventh to date—was handed over to a private owner last month. Chabbert said Kodiak 900 production is now on a cadence of one per month.

Meanwhile, Daher’s plans to augment TBM and Kodiak production at its Stuart, Florida aerostructures facility continue to move forward.

Continuing declines in North America and Europe drove down global business aviation flight activity year-over-year (YOY) in March by 3.7 percent, according to the latest Argus International TraqPak report. Operations in the North American market dropped 4.2 percent from March 2023 and were off by 11.3 percent in Europe. This tamped down the global results despite the 10.2 percent gain in the other parts of the world.

Argus anticipates the YOY activity to still be down in April, but not as precipitously as in March. The data and safety analyst forecast business aviation activity in North America to be off by 1.4 percent YOY in April and only by 0.3 percent in Europe.

In North America, fractional activity logged the only growth area last month, climbing 12.6 percent YOY. Part 135 operations slid by 6.2 percent and Part 91 by 8.4 percent. Operations involving midsize jets edged into the positive side, up 0.1 percent, the only cabin class to do so. Turboprop operations were down 8.5 percent; large-cabin jets, -6.7 percent; and light jets, -3.2 percent.

In Europe, business aircraft turboprop operations dropped by 23.2 percent YOY in March; large-cabin jets, -11.2 percent; and light jets, -7.4 percent. The midsize jet segment was flat from a year ago.

European authorities are continuing to urge caution for flights in the Middle East region as a series of Saturday-published notams closing airspace in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran expired yesterday. Following Iran's attacks against Israel on Saturday, the European Commission and EASA are continuing to closely monitor the situation to assess safety risks and have remained in close contact with all relevant civil aviation authorities, in particular with the Israeli agency.

“Currently, there are a number of risk-mitigation instruments in place for the airspaces concerned, including publicly available Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIBs) and Information Notes that have been distributed to relevant parties on a need-to-know basis,” EASA said.

Caution is recommended for flights in Israel and neighboring airspace extending out 100 nm. EASA advised operators to follow all available aeronautical publications in place, including updates from the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform.

In addition, Iran is similarly recommending caution and to follow all available aeronautical publications, including on the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform. EASA noted that Iran has warned that “there continues to be an increased potential for miscalculation and/or misidentification at present over FIR Tehran.”

Iraq, meanwhile, is advising against flights below FL320 within FIR Baghdad, and Syria is advising against overflights at all altitudes of FIR Damascus.

Security officials also advise that incidents of GNSS spoofing are continuing throughout the region.

San Diego Jet Center at California’s Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM) has been purchased by Industrial Realty Group. The acquiring company also has a majority interest in Sacramento McClellan Airport (KMCC) and McClellan Jet Services, the field's lone FBO.

Now rebranded as Air Center San Diego, the KSDM facility sits on a 25-acre leasehold. The current FBO features a small World War II-vintage terminal that will receive minor upgrades and operate as an interim facility until a new complex opens in the third quarter of 2025. The FBO offers a variety of hangar space including 24,000 sq ft that can accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream G500. According to Industrial Realty, all staff will be retained.

Ground has already been broken on the new FBO complex on the eastern side of the field that will feature a 14,400-sq-ft terminal with a 1,200-sq-ft customs facility built to U.S. Customs and Border Protection specifications. The terminal will include a pilot lounge, snooze rooms, conference rooms, kitchen, dining area, and porte-cochère. In addition, plans for phase one of the development call for the addition of a new fuel farm, as well as a pair of 37,000-sq-ft hangars capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets.

An exploration of the transformative synergy of Extended Reality (XR) and its capacity to revolutionize aircraft maintenance technician training.

A new player has entered the business aviation maintenance software space: the WingWork aircraft maintenance-tracking platform, which also offers maintenance management features.

Miami-based WingWork said the software is an "end-to-end operating system built for maximum efficiency and functionality.” In addition to maintenance tracking, maintenance facilities and technicians can use WingWork to create work orders, manage inventory, generate invoices, fill out logbook entries, enter data related to maintenance activities, and receive customer feedback.

More than 50 industry advisors have helped WingWork develop the platform. “Our network of advisors has been a crucial element to our success,” said WingWork CEO Matt Castellini. “They give us invaluable feedback on building a world-class tool to power the modern aircraft mechanic. It’s clear from the market response that we’re on to something.”

WingWork plans to add more features based on customer feedback, including the ability to improve forecasting of maintenance events and their costs, which will help improve aircraft availability.

“The business aircraft maintenance industry is ready for a 21st-century solution that will use cutting-edge technology widely adopted in other industries,” said Karthik Srinivasan, WingWork’s chief technology officer. “We want to develop best-in-class software to help the maintenance industry make the transition from relying on manual processes to harnessing the power of next-generation technology to help assist them with their workflows and leveraging data to their benefit.”

HeliFlite has partnered with the 2024 Formula1 Miami Grand Prix to provide exclusive air access to the track at the Miami International Autodrome during the weekend of the event (May 3 to 5). According to the helicopter operator, the partnership will provide “convenient premiere access and a seamless, luxurious experience” to attendees. Passengers will be provided with private vehicles upon landing with transport to destinations at the Paddock Club, Palm Club, or 72 Club.

"As we gear up for this year's race, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with HeliFlite," said Tyler Epp, president of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. "This collaboration signifies our commitment to elevating the race experience for our guests. Offering seamless journeys to and from the event, we're delighted HeliFlite will provide unparalleled convenience and luxury as we redefine the standards of excellence in motorsport hospitality."

"We aim to provide an easy, seamless, luxurious, and most of all safe and secure travel experience to our clients who have come to trust us for our reputation in the industry," said HeliFlite CEO Kurt Carlson.

The operator's fleet of twin-engine, two-pilot-crewed helicopters will provide private helicopter charters to and from the Watson Island Seaplane Base on the causeway, Miami International Airport, Opa Locka Executive Airport, Palm Beach International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale.

As ever, you can count on AIN for full coverage of EBACE 2024. Our team will publish three of our award-winning daily EBACE Convention News editions at the show on May 28, 29, and 30. We will also have comprehensive real-time reporting of all the top news at AINonline.com and in our daily e-newsletters. If you are an exhibiting company that wants to share news or propose pre-show interviews and briefings, please contact show editor Chad Trautvetter.