First-quarter revenues at General Dynamics’ aerospace unit (Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation) climbed 45.2% year over year, to $3.026 billion, and earnings rocketed 69.4%, to $432 million. Meanwhile, aircraft deliveries at Gulfstream surged 50%, to 36 aircraft, General Dynamics reported today.

Gulfstream shipped 30 large-cabin jets, including 13 G700s, and six super-midsize G280s in the quarter, up from 21 large-cabin jets and three G280s in the same period last year. According to General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic, Gulfstream is projected to deliver 150 aircraft this year. She also noted that the last G650s will be delivered by July, with the newly certified G800 succeeding the older model, though Novakovic did not disclose when the first G800 would be handed over to its customer.

Because of the ramp-up in deliveries, book-to-bill fell to 0.8:1, with aerospace backlog eroding by 4% from the end of 2024, to $18.99 billion. However, Novakovic pointed out that demand for Gulfstreams remains strong, particularly in the U.S. and Middle East, and the $2.4 billion in sales in the most recent three-month period matched that of the third quarter last year.

She also gave a shout-out to business aviation FBO and MRO provider Jet Aviation, which saw aviation services revenues rise by 8% in the quarter while earnings jumped 22%.

Heico subsidiary Mid Continent Controls has purchased “all the ownership interests” of business aviation in-flight entertainment (IFE) products manufacturer Rosen Aviation. Eugene, Oregon-based Rosen Aviation makes in-cabin displays and control panels, including large displays and digital windows and skylights for VVIP jets for aftermarket and aircraft manufacturer customers.

The acquisition was for cash, and the terms of the deal were not disclosed. In addition to Rosen Aviation, Heico bought three other companies in the past six months, including Mid Continent Controls, Capewell Aerial Systems, and Millennium International. Heico also manufactures parts, and its Heico Parts Group is “the world’s largest independent provider of FAA-PMA approved engine and component parts,” according to the company.

According to Heico, the Rosen Aviation acquisition should be accretive to Heico's earnings within the year following the purchase. Thomas Hemphill, president of Heico Electronics Group’s Radiant Power division, will lead Rosen Aviation and Mid Continent Controls, which are now part of that group.

“The two businesses believe they can achieve important synergies, including, but not limited to, offering a larger set of aircraft interior IFE solutions [and] integrating their respective products to offer state-of-the-art designs and equipment to aircraft manufacturers, operators, completion centers, and subsystem suppliers.”

Canadian aviation services provider Skyservice Business Aviation has been awarded a supplemental type certificate (STC) from Transport Canada for the installation of the Gogo Galileo HDX system on the Gulfstream G280 super-midsize business jet. Validations of the STC from the FAA, EASA, and Brazil’s ANAC are still pending.

The HDX features a 21.6-pound, electronically steered antenna mounted on the top of the aircraft fuselage. Launched last year, the Galileo low-earth-orbit satellite communications system—backed by Eutelsat OneWeb’s network—offers service speeds up to 60 Mbps download and 11 Mbps upload.

Skyservice holds numerous STCs from multiple authorities on many cabin connectivity solutions. This latest provides another option for G280 operators needing to upgrade their systems, particularly those using legacy Gogo ATG products. It offers a streamlined opportunity for them to change to low-latency, high-speed broadband ahead of the end-of-2025 conversion deadline.

“We continue to expand our capabilities to support the latest in-flight connectivity solutions,” said Skyservice president and CEO Benjamin Murray. “Our robust and certified list of STCs alongside our expert aircraft maintenance engineers provides our clients with choice, accessibility, and consultancy to the fastest, most reliable connectivity options available in business aviation today.”

NATA urged the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to maintain the small aircraft exemption from agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees.

In May 2024, the APHIS issued a final rule that would increase the inspection user fees on commercial aircraft by 50% through fiscal year 2027 to about $340.90 and the per-passenger fee to $4.12 each. It also removed the “small aircraft” exemption, covering those with 64 or fewer seats, effective April 1.

Since the release of the rule, the APHIS has delayed implementation of the fees on small aircraft to June 2 and asked for comments.

In response, NATA urged APHIS to keep the exemption for small aircraft in place to ensure a more equitable cost allocation and support the economic viability of small aviation businesses.

Noting that Part 135 operators fly aircraft with a maximum of 30 passenger seats and a payload of 7,500 pounds, NATA said: “Given the limited payload capacities and overall small aircraft size, any burden for inspection service is inherently minimal and often de minimis."

This is especially true for medical transportation services, which must meet strict medical protocols, NATA added.

The association instead recommended lowering the threshold to 30 seats and allowing it to apply only in cases where the aircraft is not carrying certain cargo or serving certain foods.

Pilot John International (PJI) has expanded its e-commerce platform with product offerings from industry suppliers Gill by Teledyne and ADS, adding to its inventory of more than 100,000 aviation products. The additions include Gill by Teledyne batteries, ADS hardware kits, and Sesame Technologies vertical engine covers.

An expanded catalog targets aviation professionals across corporate flight departments, business jets, general aviation, and military sectors, allowing users to search by brand, product category, part number, and specific aircraft make and model. “Our goal is to simplify the sourcing of aircraft parts and ground support equipment, and customer feedback guides every decision we make about expanding our product catalog,” said PJI president and CEO John Werner.

The e-commerce system offers registered users additional features, including a virtual aircraft hangar for personalized parts recommendations, real-time inventory and pricing, corporate discounts, order tracking, complimentary certificate of conformance document management, and same-day shipping options.

PJI’s product selection spans ground support equipment, avionics test equipment, tools, pilot supplies, safety equipment, and consumables. The platform architecture specifically addresses the complex needs of aircraft maintenance operations with aircraft-specific part-sorting capabilities.

Growing Texas maintenance provider Jets MRO has received Part 145 engine repair certification from the FAA. Located at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), the two-year-old company specializes in legacy light to large-cabin jets, including Hawkers, Citations, Beechjets, Bombardier Challengers, and Learjets, and received its initial FAA Part 145 maintenance authorization in January.

Along with the team’s expertise, the new engine approval, granted soon after due to established quality management systems, allows Jets MRO to perform maintenance and repair at its 40,000-sq-ft facility at KRBD on the powerplants for those aircraft. In addition to onsite repair, the company’s mobile maintenance capabilities now include engine diagnostics and limited repair services in AOG support throughout the Metroplex.

“This engine certification represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy,” said Jets MRO CEO Suresh Narayanan. “We can now provide our customers with truly comprehensive maintenance solutions, eliminating the need to outsource engine work and reducing aircraft downtime substantially.”

A pilot who left a threatening voicemail last July after a rescinded job offer at a Florida charter company was sentenced earlier this month to one month in jail and one year of probation, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG).

Patrick White was sentenced on April 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, following a July 2024 criminal complaint and August indictment on a charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

According to court documents and statements from the DOT OIG, White had interviewed with a Florida-based charter company for a chief pilot position on Feb. 6, 2024, and received a tentative job offer on February 26.

However, the offer was rescinded following his failure to pass a required pre-employment alcohol screening conducted on March 5. His blood alcohol content was reported at 0.04, according to the OIG. On March 14, the charter company rescinded White’s job offer in an email, citing the failed alcohol test. In mid-March, White was reported as making harassing phone calls to the charter company’s director of operations for five days before stopping, according to the July 2024 criminal complaint.

The complaint states that White re-initiated contact with the operations director on June 28 and 29. On July 2, the threats were reported to have escalated with a voicemail explicitly threatening to kill the victim, saying, “I’m coming after you…"