Bombardier and Vista today announced a services agreement valued at $300 million over the next five years, with the former providing Smart Parts cost-per-flight-hour services coverage for portions of the operator’s Challenger and Global fleets. The master services agreement provides a cost-per-flight-hour framework and parts cost protection.

The Smart Parts programs cover component exchanges for major systems, avionics, tires, and brakes, among others. Bombardier is investing to increase parts availability tailored to the Vista Bombardier fleet, which will support higher aircraft availability, according to Vista.

“This services and support agreement with Vista leverages our Smart Parts programs and further deepens the relationship that exists between the two companies, providing cost protection for select models of Vista’s Challenger and Global aircraft,” said Paul Sislian, Bombardier’s executive v-p of aircraft sales and aftermarket services.

The announcement comes a week after Vista took delivery of the first of 18 Global 8000 conversions (from the 7500) and follows the order Vista placed in February for 40 Challenger 3500s with options for another 120 aircraft. 

“This agreement marks an important step in further enhancing the reliability and performance of the Vista fleet,” added Vista COO Nick van der Meer. “By leveraging Bombardier’s Smart Parts programs, we are strengthening our ability to deliver a seamless and consistent experience to our clients around the world.”

A pilot’s decision to overfly convective weather instead of deviating around it caused a Cessna Citation III to sustain substantial hail damage over Colorado on June 13, 2025, according to the NTSB final report. The NTSB also noted that the right-seat pilot did not hold a type rating for the twinjet and did not meet regulatory requirements to act as a required second-in-command.

The accident remained unreported to the NTSB for three months until authorities received an anonymous complaint. Investigators found the damaged Citation III “at the airplane owner’s hangar at the destination airport where it was undergoing repairs.”

Departing Las Vegas on a Part 91 flight, the 58-year-old airline transport pilot/flight instructor was with a 26-year-old commercial pilot receiving instruction in the right seat. There was also one passenger onboard.

A sigmet for a line of weather was in effect near the accident location. The pilot attempted to overfly the weather at FL430 but encountered heavy turbulence and opted to descend to FL410, where heavy hail struck the aircraft, cracking the windscreen and damaging the leading edges. The pilot acknowledged in his statement, “This could have been prevented by diverting 80 to 100 miles north instead of attempting to overfly.”

After the aircraft took substantial damage, the pilot continued approximately 495 nm to the planned destination, rather than landing immediately at a closer airport.

MRO and completion/refurbishment provider Jet Aviation has developed its own in-flight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management system (CMS). Dubbed IFX, the first installation was recently completed at Jet Aviation’s Basel, Switzerland facility during a narrowbody VIP jet refurbishment project.

Available for Jet Aviation completion and refurbishment customers, IFX features a custom interface for controlling all IFE and CMS features. These include audio, video, lighting, passenger address announcements, and custom functions.

Jet Aviation engineers developed IFX using “certified hardware components in line with aviation standards” that include “Jet Aviation-certified units for the CMS,” according to the company. IFX is available for installation by Jet Aviation, and it is targeting a variety of aircraft types. “As with all our cabin solutions, the focus is on tailoring the system to the specific aircraft and customers, rather than targeting a single segment,” the company told AIN.

“This reflects the close collaboration between our engineers, production, and installation teams, with one another as well as with our customer,” said Florent Klinger, head of engineering at Jet Aviation. “Developing the system architecture in-house has enabled us to create a fully customizable system that can seamlessly support customer requirements throughout the aircraft life cycle, from installation through operation and upgrades.”

DC Aviation has opened its redesigned FBO at Malta International Airport. The company has had a presence in the European island country since 2008. Adjacent to Aprons 2 and 3 on the field, the facility is approximately 2,150 sq ft (200 sq m).

Completed over six months, the refurbishment focused on enhancing both passenger comfort and operational efficiency, better aligning the facility with the company’s service standards. The redesigned terminal includes separate passenger and crew lounges, a meeting room, and dedicated management and operations offices. In operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the facility ensures flexibility for its clients, according to DC Aviation.

“What sets our facility apart is the combination of efficient aircraft handling and a premium, highly personalized service experience,” said DC Aviation Malta managing director Stanley Bugeja. “From fast turnarounds to discreet concierge support, every detail has been designed to make each visit smooth, efficient, and tailored to our clients’ needs.”

DC also operates FBOs in Stuttgart, Munich, and Dubai, as well as a Nice, France facility in partnership with G-OPS.

Arriving at West Star Aviation with your aircraft properly prepared for maintenance helps technicians begin work immediately, keeping projects on schedule and costs under control.

The Air Charter Association (ACA) has joined the “Climbing Fast” NBAA-led advocacy program for business aviation. The industry group announced its decision last week, saying that it will highlight the new partnership in the European Regional Forum it is staging at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany from April 22 to 25.

The Climbing Fast campaign was launched in 2023 with the objective of what its backers say is “setting the record straight” about business aviation’s positive socio-economic impact. Multimedia output distributed via a dedicated website provides members with resources they can use, such as social media output, stories to share, and various advocacy resources.

“Climbing Fast” underlines business aviation’s role in creating jobs, boosting economic development, connecting communities, supporting humanitarian missions, and promoting more environmentally sustainable aviation. Advocacy efforts are mainly focused on informing policymakers and opinion leaders.

The ACA has more than 450 member companies across 64 countries, including charter operators and brokers. It provides accreditation and training and works with regulators and other industry groups to promote best practices through campaigns, including efforts to prevent illegal charter flights through its Fly Legal Day.

Recently, both the Irish and the British business and general aviation associations signed up to support Climbing Fast. The ACA is the 17th group to join.

For private aircraft operators heading to Uzbekistan, there have been recent changes made to the accessibility of airports serving the capital city of Tashkent. According to OpsGroup, the local government is no longer allowing business aircraft to use Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (UZTT) and is now directing them to nearby Tashkent East (UZTP), which is now the designated business aviation airport there.

Tashkent East has a single 13,123-foot (4,000-meter) runway with ILS on both ends. It is already operating to receive general aviation flights, with customs and immigration available 24/7.

The airport has no slot or PPR requirements at present, OpsGroup noted, with just a standard Uzbekistan landing permit needed. That can usually be obtained within 24 hours, it said.

Ground handling at UZTP can be arranged through Flight Consulting Group. As for fuel, like most areas in the former Soviet Union, TS-1 is available. With many similarities to jet-A, it is widely used throughout Central Asia for a variety of aircraft.

Garmin has unveiled the D2 Mach 2 Pro, a watch that combines satellite and cellular connectivity with the aviation maps, flight planning, weather, health monitoring, and fitness features of previous D2 models. The price of the new watch, announced at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo on Tuesday, is $1,549.99.

The D2 Mach 2 Pro’s 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display is housed in a 51-mm case surrounded by a carbon gray DLC titanium bezel. The watch includes both a Chestnut leather and silicone QuickFit watchbands. Battery life is up to 24 days.

Adding Garmin’s inReach Iridium satellite technology to the watch allows users to send and receive text messages, trigger an SOS request, send location check-in messages, and monitor weather forecasts without a cellphone. The watch has its own LTE cellular connectivity.

Like its predecessors, the D2 Mach 2 Pro includes on-device navigation, aviation maps, connection with the Garmin Pilot app, display of PlaneSync information, on-device voice commands, variable-intensity LED flashlight, and red shift mode for night flying.

“From the hangar to the great outdoors, D2 Mach 2 Pro helps aviators stay connected, even without their smartphone,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin v-p of aviation sales, marketing, programs, and support. “Satellite and LTE connectivity allows aviators to keep in touch with family or get help if needed, adding extra peace of mind right on their wrist.”

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada business has added MRO capabilities for helicopter and regional airliner engines at its Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore. The facility opened in 1983, specializing in turboprop engine services.

The added capabilities cover the PT6C-67C, more than 300 of which power Asia-Pacific-based Leonardo AW139 helicopters, and mark the introduction of turboshaft services at the Singapore facility. This includes a new modular test cell that supports overhauls. On the regional airliner side, the Singapore site now supports full overhaul support for the PW127XT that powers current-generation ATR 42 and 72 turboprop twins.

“Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Singapore facility has been a cornerstone of our Asia-Pacific operations for over four decades, delivering heavy maintenance support to regional turboprop and APU operators,” said Anthony Rossi, v-p of customer service for Pratt & Whitney Canada.

“With the addition of these new heavy MRO services, we are better positioned to meet rising demand from our in-region customers by offering advanced, localized maintenance solutions and reducing turnaround times.”

More than 3,000 PT6C-67Cs have been delivered and have accumulated more than 10 million flight hours, while the PW100 family has logged more than 220 million flight hours, including 300,000 for the PW127XT.

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2026 AIN Product Support Survey is now open, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been picked to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their password and link to the online survey by e-mail. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on May 31. Please contact Lisa Valladares if you have not received your access code.