Bombardier has delivered the first of 18 Global 8000 upgraded aircraft to longtime customer Vista. Converted from the Global 7500, the Global 8000 was handed over to Vista at Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill Service Center. Plans call for Bombardier to update Vista’s full fleet of Global 7500s by year’s end to the speedier and longer-range Global 8000s. Bombardier anticipates that it will complete the upgrades at a rate of two per month, ultimately giving Vista the largest such fleet.

The updates will boost range from the Global 7500’s 7,700 nm to the 8000’s 8,000 nm and give it a top speed of Mach 0.95. Completion of the first upgrade follows EASA certification of the Global 8000 in January, along with Transport Canada and FAA nods in December.

“For our members, greater speed and extended range translate directly into practical benefits such as reaching their destination faster or traveling more efficiently with direct flights,” said Vista founder and chairman Thomas Flohr. “With more members flying further and more frequently, these capabilities allow us to offer greater flexibility while maintaining the consistency and service that sets Vista apart.”

Along with the conversion program, Vista recently took steps to further build on its Bombardier fleet with a firm order announced in February for 40 Challenger 3500s. That contract also included purchase options for an additional 120.

In a move that aims to strengthen its presence in the high-end European travel market, car rental provider Sixt has formed an agreement with Signature Aviation to introduce rentals directly into its FBOs, starting with more than 30 locations in the region.

Signature’s customers will gain access to Sixt’s premium fleet, which includes luxury sedans and SUVs, including ramp-side delivery where permitted. To ensure a seamless transition from air to ground, vehicle reservations will be coordinated primarily through Signature Aviation. At the participating locations, Sixt will deliver vehicles to the respective location, with Signature staff managing the final handover to the customer.

Also available are one-way rentals between private aviation terminals and commercial airports, with dedicated handling and priority service for repeat guests.

“Our guests expect a consistent, high-quality experience at every touchpoint of their journey,” said Rick Elieson, Signature’s senior v-p for commercial strategy and guest experience. “By aligning our European network of private aviation terminals with Sixt’s premium rental services, we are enhancing the continuity between air and ground travel. This partnership strengthens our ability to provide reliable, service-driven solutions that meet the expectations of private aviation guests in EMEA.”

The partnership launches at 31 Signature locations across Europe and includes key private aviation gateways in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, and Ireland.

Gulfstream delivered the 10th G700 to Qatar Executive, completing an order placed by Qatar Airways’ charter division in October 2019. The delivery marks the 25th Gulfstream aircraft Qatar Executive has received since the partnership began in 2015. Qatar Executive was Gulfstream’s international launch customer for the G700 in April 2024.

“We were honored to have them as our international partner for the G700 launch and first delivery and appreciate their continued trust,” said Mark Burns, Gulfstream president.

Qatar Executive’s fleet includes the G700s, 15 G650ERs, two Bombardier Global 5000s, and one Airbus A319CJ. The charter operator uses a floating fleet model, repositioning aircraft across destinations to meet demand.

The ultra-long-range G700 features 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows and a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935. The aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and equipped with combined vision systems that merge enhanced flight vision system and synthetic vision system displays.

Gulfstream said the G700 has set more than 90 city-pair speed records.

Pro Star Aviation has brought a large-cabin-jet amenity to the Pilatus PC-24 with the first installation of the Send Solutions Oasis Moving Map platform in the rugged light jet.

The system features an FAA-approved, bulkhead-mounted 11-inch iPad mounting solution that shows real-time flight data sourced directly from the flight deck, including aircraft position and estimated time of arrival. Multiple display sizes can be accommodated, depending on aircraft configuration. The Send Solutions system offers a customized 3D model of the actual aircraft, down to the paint scheme and registration, bringing the full “airshow” experience to a new, smaller class of private jets.

Pro Star, which has MRO facilities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Michigan, has noted the increasing expectations of business aviation passengers and delivered an installation that reflects the shift toward factory-style integration rather than portable solutions.

“Owners today expect cabin technology to feel like it belongs on the aircraft from day one,” said Jeff Shaw, Pro Star’s director of sales and marketing. “This installation shows how those expectations can be met on platforms like the PC-24, with a solution that is both highly functional and thoughtfully integrated.”

The U.S. House of Representatives last night approved the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (Alert) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613) by a 396 to 10 vote. The Alert Act was designed to address all 50 of the NTSB’s safety recommendations stemming from the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA).

Receiving wide praise from the business and general aviation community, this approval follows the introduction of the bill in February after the NTSB released its full report of the investigation. The original legislation drew objections that it didn’t go far enough on an ADS-B In mandate and the use of such technologies in the U.S. military. After revisions, both the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) and Armed Services Committees passed their respective portions of the bill on March 26.

The bill requires ADS-B In and corresponding collision prevention technology on aircraft required to have ADS-B Out by Dec. 31, 2031. It further ensures use of the technologies, updates helicopter safety and separation requirements, calls for improvements to air traffic control training and processes, directs the FAA to establish a database to monitor close calls, addresses safety culture and data-sharing shortcomings that the accident highlighted, and strengthens military aircraft safety standards and cooperation with the FAA, among other provisions.

Daher Aircraft named Columbia Aircraft Sales and sister company Columbia Air Services as authorized sales and service providers for the Kodiak, adding to the companies’ similar and longstanding status for Daher’s TBM family. Under the agreement, Columbia’s portfolio now includes sales and support for the Kodiak in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

“Columbia Aircraft Sales and Columbia Air Services have consistently set the standard for TBM customers, which is fully aligned with our strategy of delivering long-term value for the growing base of Kodiak and TBM owners/operators,” said Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert.

Columbia Air Services is providing support for both Kodiak and TBM turboprop singles at its headquarters at Groton-New London Airport (KGON) in Connecticut and newly opened facility at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (KMRB) in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Services include maintenance, repair, and overhaul; avionics upgrades; and parts support. Columbia CEO Melissa Düzgüner said the 19,000-sq-ft Martinsburg operation was developed in part to support Kodiaks. The company is also working to add float certification to its FAA Part 145 approval.

Meanwhile, Columbia Aircraft Sales has taken delivery of its initial Kodiak 100 from Daher, with a Kodiak 900 expected later this year.

Bose is celebrating 40 years of active noise reduction (ANR) aviation headsets, kicking off the effort this week at the Sun ‘n Fun (SNF) Aerospace Expo with a “40 Years, 40 Pilots” campaign. At its SNF booth, Bose is asking pilots to share their aviation stories (no mentions of headsets required) on video, which will later be posted to the company’s social media and other outlets. It plans to gather more stories at EAA AirVenture in July and potentially online.

Founder Amar Bose sketched the math for the ANR technology on a napkin during a long-haul airline flight in 1978. The company is using the Voyager flight in December 1986 as the marker for its ANR headsets. The Voyager crew used pre-production Bose ANR headsets on their record-setting 10-day nonstop flight around the world after a medical assessment found that the pilots would lose 20% of their hearing on the flight.

“Voyager was stripped down to reduce weight, and it had no soundproofing. It was like flying in a tin can,” Bose business development manager Chris Wuerfl told AIN. “The Bose ANR headsets prevented any crew hearing loss from happening.”

According to Wuerfl, Bose is running a promotion this week at SNF, where those purchasing a $1,299 A30 or $1,099 ProFlight headset during the show get a free Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker.