With aircraft deliveries being the latest battlefield in the trade war recently initiated against China, financial analyst Jefferies examined the possible effects on U.S. business aircraft manufacturers.

According to published reports, China has ordered its airlines to stop accepting further orders of Boeing airplanes in response to the U.S. government's imposed tariffs. The Chinese government has also reportedly demanded a halt of purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from U.S. companies.

Jefferies examined the backlogs of Gulfstream and Textron Aviation based on data from Cirium and determined their exposure in China. Since 2015, the country has accounted for 7% of Gulfstream deliveries and 3% of those from Textron Aviation.

Textron Aviation lists 10 single-engine turboprop Caravans to China in its backlog, but no pending business jet deliveries, while Gulfstream does not have any disclosed business jet deliveries to China, per the Cirium data. Historically, China would account for 4% of the General Dynamics subsidiary’s backlog, increasing to as much as 7% if the “unknown” deliveries are included.

Last year, business jet departures in China accounted for just 1% of the world’s total across all business jet types. Jefferies noted that “this implies that any services or parts sales to China would also be in the range that is manageable with other demand.”

For 2025, the analyst predicts a 13% increase in business jet deliveries from the five major OEMs.

March marked the deadliest month for U.S. rotorcraft operations in fiscal year 2025 so far, with 11 reported accidents, four of which were fatal, resulting in six deaths, according to the FAA’s latest rotorcraft monthly accident briefing.

While the total number of accidents fell slightly from February, the number of fatal events was the highest for any single month so far this fiscal year (FY), which runs from October 1 to September 30 for the federal government. The four fatal crashes in March exceeded the previous monthly high of two for FY25 and were the most in any month since July 2024.

Of the 44 rotorcraft accidents reported between October 2024 and March 2025, 12 were fatal, resulting in 24 total deaths. The estimated fatal accident rate for the six-month period was 0.87 per 100,000 flight hours—68% higher than the same period last year and 29% above the five-year average. The overall accident rate during the same period fell 4% year over year to 3.19 per 100,000 hours.

The personal/private sector led all industry categories in overall accidents (30%) and fatalities (nine fatalities in five fatal accidents). Helicopter air ambulance operations accounted for 14% of all accidents and 25% of fatalities (six deaths). Air tour/sightseeing flights contributed 9% of overall accidents in a tie with aerial application flights. Air ambulance fatalities totaled six, while sightseeing tours accounted for four fatalities.

Federal prosecutors have initiated legal proceedings against Walter Benjamin Bius and his Huntsville, Texas-based Prairie Flower Air Asset Company for allegedly operating an illegal charter service using deceptive aircraft leasing practices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas filed the civil penalty action on April 3, seeking millions in penalties for violations of FAA regulations.

According to the complaint, Bius operated Prairie Flower as a direct air carrier without obtaining the required FAA certification to demonstrate that the company met necessary safety standards. The action specifically targets the use of what industry insiders refer to as “sham dry leases”—a practice where an aircraft is purportedly leased to a client while the leasing company covertly maintains operational control of the aircraft.

Federal investigators allege that between 2019 and 2023, Bius and Prairie Flower conducted at least 237 charter flights under these questionable leasing arrangements, with each flight allegedly violating a minimum of 16 FAA regulations. The investigators identified multiple safety concerns, including the use of pilots who had not completed mandatory competency checks, as well as instances where Bius himself reportedly piloted aircraft without proper authorization.

U.S. attorney Nicholas Ganjei emphasized the safety implications of these alleged violations, stating, “When people choose to book private charter travel, they need to feel confident that the company transporting them meets all applicable safety and regulatory standards.”

GKN Aerospace is scrambling to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on its global supply chain, and it may soon take mitigation measures that could include boosting manufacturing on the other side of the Atlantic from its UK headquarters. The aerostructures and engines group’s CEO, Peter Dilnot, told attendees at a press briefing in London today that the current 10% base rate tariff is “unwelcome” and could be extremely disruptive to an aerospace supply chain that is already facing significant difficulties.

Dilnot told reporters he has executives working to establish exactly how the Trump Administration tariffs will apply in practice and what exemptions might be available. “Then you have to look at where you [as a company] sit in terms of contractual liabilities [with customers], what mitigation actions you could take, and then decide what you need to do in terms of your supply chain,” he explained.

GKN is considering multiple options, such as changing shipping routes for components and parts. According to Dilnot, aerospace manufacturers could also take a hit from indirect tariff impact, such as if commercial airline flight hours decline in the wake of a global recession. He warned that some smaller companies, currently earning margins below the 10% level, may struggle to survive.

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Canadian helicopter operator Helijet International has donated a Sikorsky S-76A equipped for emergency medical service operations to Ukraine. The helicopter is now being reassembled and tested in the country before being deployed to airlift patients needing urgent treatment in hospitals in the war-torn country.

The Vancouver-based company has trained Ukrainian technicians to maintain and support the S-76A. Helijet president and CEO Danny Sitnam is in the country this week to oversee the delivery and entry-into-service process for an aircraft that Helijet has been using for patient transportation on behalf of British Columbia’s health ministry.

Under the terms of the donation, the aircraft is to be used for noncommercial, humanitarian evacuation missions. It was arranged by a consortium of nongovernmental organizations working in Canada and Ukraine under the auspices of Maple Hope Foundation and the Ukrainian World Congress.

“Once you are here, what the war has done to the Ukrainian people and their villages and cities suddenly becomes real in a way that just can’t be fully conveyed in the reports we see on the news,” Sitnam commented. “Having helped with various Ukrainian relief efforts in Canada since the Russian invasion began here three years ago, I knew gifting one of the now-surplus aircraft for use over here would make a positive impact.”

Weston Aviation, one of the largest FBO operators in the UK, was selected to provide FBO services at the newly opened Aether–The Private Terminal at Manchester Airport (EGCC). Owned and operated by CAVU, a company founded by Manchester Aviation Group and specializing in airport/airline passenger connections, the modern terminal offers a streamlined, upscale experience for commercial as well as private aviation customers.

Services include dedicated security clearance, a passenger lounge with gourmet dining options and beverage service, private suites, valet parking, and chauffeur-driven gate transfers.

In addition to Manchester, Weston—which was founded in 1995—operates at four other airports in the UK and Ireland: Gloucestershire (EGBJ), Cornwall Airport Newquay (EGHQ), Humberside (EGNJ), and Cork (EICK) airports.

“We are thrilled to begin offering our full suite of services at Aether, an exceptional facility that aligns perfectly with our market and our commitment to providing outstanding customer care,” said Nick Weston, the FBO chain’s CEO. “This collaboration strengthens our position in the market, allowing us to innovate the way we provide our premium service at Manchester Airport.”

Turkey-based CMC Savunma Sanayi has renewed its aerial firefighting contract with Columbia Helicopters for the 2025 fire season, marking the fifth consecutive year of collaboration. The agreement extends Columbia’s role in supporting the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry’s wildfire response efforts.

Columbia will deploy four Chinook Model 234 multi-mission helicopters, the commercial variant of the CH-47, each equipped with a 2,600-gallon Bambi Bucket for targeted water and fire retardant delivery. Flight crews and maintenance personnel will support missions throughout the fire season, which runs from May to October and peaks in the summer months.

“After four years of successful firefighting operations, their 234 multi-mission Chinook helicopters have become a key asset in our support to the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry,” CMC president and CEO Cem Çolak said.

There is growing demand for aerial firefighting resources as wildfire activity intensifies across the region. Data from Turkey’s General Directorate of Forestry indicates that wildfire incidents in the country have risen from approximately 2,950 in 2020 to an estimated 3,800 in 2024.

Scott Rumsby, crew chief for Aircraft 37 and Turkey operations lead, acknowledged the increasing severity of fire seasons. “The 2024 season was especially challenging, with record-breaking temperatures driving conditions that required rapid and sustained response,” he said.

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