Textron Aviation delivered 31 jets in the first quarter, down from 36 in the same period last year, as the manufacturer continues to recover from production disruptions caused by a labor strike in late 2024. Meanwhile, civil turboprop deliveries increased to 30 from 20 year over year, demonstrating strength in that segment despite ongoing challenges, the company reported today.

The Textron division posted revenues of $1.2 billion, up $24 million from first-quarter 2024, while segment profit declined to $127 million, down $16 million, “reflecting the mix of aircraft sold, partially offset by higher aftermarket volume.”

Textron Inc. chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly noted during this morning’s earnings call, “Aviation operations continue to improve as the factory progresses toward pre-strike performance levels while ramping production.”

The company’s first-quarter jet deliveries included five M2 Gen2s, five Citation CJ3+s, five CJ4 Gen2s, two XLS+ Gen2s, 11 Latitudes, and three Longitudes. By comparison, the first quarter of 2024 saw Textron Aviation deliver four M2 Gen2s, six CJ3+s, six CJ4 Gen2s, two XLS+s, 13 Latitudes, and five Longitudes.

Civil turboprop deliveries showed significant improvement, with 23 Caravans delivered in the first quarter versus 12 in the same period last year. The company also handed over one SkyCourier (unchanged from first-quarter 2024) and six King Airs, down from seven King Airs in the same period last year.

Embraer has set a new backlog record high for its Executive Jets division. In first-quarter delivery numbers released this week, the Brazil-based airframer reported that the business jet backlog rose to $7.6 billion, 3% higher than its previous record just established in the fourth quarter.

The company delivered 23 business jets in the first quarter—14 Phenoms light jets (two Phenom 100EXs and 12 Phenom 300s) and nine midsize Praetors (three Praetor 500s and six Praetor 600s). This was 28% higher than in the same period a year ago, reflecting continuing progress in the OEM’s plan to even out its deliveries throughout the year rather than backloading them to the fourth quarter.

Those 23 aircraft deliveries represent 15% of the 150-aircraft midpoint of Embraer’s anticipated 2025 delivery total (between 145 and 155 business jets), up from its average of 11% of its yearly deliveries in the first quarter for the past five years.

“Our production-leveling initiative, bolstered by the expansion of our industrial capacity, aligns well with Embraer Executive Jets’ market guidance for this year, and we’re very excited to see this increase of 28% in the first quarter customer deliveries,” said Michael Amalfitano, the division’s president and CEO.

Avionics Networks has created two kits for pilots who want to access SpaceX’s Starlink low-earth-orbit satellite network without paying $150,000 for hardware and installation of the satcom system designed for larger aircraft. SpaceX has opened access to the Starlink network at lower service prices for smaller aircraft using the Mini system.

The Avionics Network Pilot Kit comes with everything needed to add a Starlink Mini system as a portable system that isn’t permanently installed in the aircraft, except for a power supply. An optional add-on is Avionics Network’s SkyFi6 Smart Router. To use the Mini system in an airplane, the antenna must be mounted so that it has a clear view of the sky.

“The Avionics Networks Pilot Kit is a self-contained, aviation-grade, carry-on system designed to bring plug-and-play in-flight connectivity to general aviation and rotorcraft platforms,” according to Avionics Networks founder Gil Motta.

While the price of the regular Starlink aviation system nears $300,000 when including installation, the Starlink Mini system from Avionics Networks costs $1,250 or $26,000 with a dual antenna and SkyFi6 router. Service prices with the Mini system vary by aircraft speed, according to Motta, ranging from $65 per month for 50 GB (less than 308 knots groundspeed) to $250 per month for 50 GB (less than 480 knots) and $2,000 per month for 20 GB (more than 480 knots).

Signature Aviation has streamlined the arrivals and customs clearance process for internationally arriving customers at Teterboro Airport (KTEB). Its northwest facility on the field—Hangar 12, acquired by Signature last year during the purchase of rival FBO Meridian—has been designated as the company’s international arrivals venue at KTEB.

The service provider will provide start-to-finish assistance on the airport’s customs ramp, which is adjacent to the facility. Arriving aircraft will be marshalled onto the ramp by a Signature team member, and following clearance, they will offer baggage assistance and address other critical guest needs, including quick transportation to Hangar 12 with its dedicated pickup area for guests.

“We’re always listening and working with our guests and residents to create seamless experiences and find the best opportunities to enhance our network,” said Signature CEO Tony Lefebvre. “With updated transportation features and a more efficient process for our guests, Signature will continue to elevate the safe, seamless, and exceptional experiences guests have come to expect from Teterboro Airport and our other 200-plus locations across the globe.”

The FBO chain also recently announced having continuous supplies of sustainable aviation fuel at KTEB to help its customers meet their sustainability goals.

The aviation industry faces a growing talent shortage, but Western Aircraft is rising to the challenge. Through bold recruitment, hands-on training, and clear career paths, they’re building and retaining a stronger workforce. Discover how their innovative approach is securing the future of business aviation.

Following the success of AIN’s inaugural FBO Awards Gala last month in New Orleans, the window has reopened for the 45th edition of the annual survey of aviation service providers. Once again, AIN’s readers—those who frequent FBOs and know them best—will be able to rate the services and facilities of the locations they visit.

“AIN is proud to release our new and improved FBO survey for 2025 to 2026,” said Lisa Valladares, AIN’s director of marketing and client services, adding that this year’s survey has a new look and improved user interface. “We look forward to hearing from all of our readers as they submit their ratings of their favorite FBOs worldwide.”

While not all the improvements will be readily visible to the outside user, the FBO survey mechanism has been thoroughly updated and improved with a new website. All existing accounts from prior years have been migrated to the new survey, but all returning users will need to reset their passwords.

This survey window will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, and the second-annual AIN FBO Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the conclusion of NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

French accident investigators concluded that the pilots of a Pilatus PC-12 heavily damaged on Feb. 17, 2024, when it collided with the steep runway slope at Courchevel Airport (LFLJ) in the Alps had insufficient experience operating in mountainous regions. In a report published by the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) on Wednesday, the agency found that the turboprop single’s pilot in command (PIC) had flown a steeper glide path than the standard 5 degrees after initiating the descent late.

During final approach, the PC-12, flying at 85 knots and descending at 700 fpm, was below the 5-degree glide path at 0.75 nm from the 1,758-foot Runway 22, which has an 18.6-degree slope at the threshold. The aircraft’s main and nose landing gear collided with the slope before it veered to the left on the runway. It then hit a snow drift that separated the wing and spun the airplane 180 degrees, with additional damage to the propeller blades.

The Belgian-registered aircraft (OO-PCN) was operated by European Aircraft Private Club, a shared-use cooperative company. OO-PCN was flying into the ski resort from the Brussels-area Charleroi Airport to collect seven passengers.

Since the accident, the company, which solely flies for its member shareholders, has agreed to deploy only pilots holding mountain flight qualifications for trips into airports at high altitudes or with short/steep approaches.

FlyJets has pre-launched its secondary exchange platform, FlyJets Exchange, designed to enable peer-to-peer sales of air charter flight spaces, jet card hours, and prepurchased empty legs. The platform aims to give passengers a way to reduce costs while increasing aircraft utilization for aircraft providers. Interested parties can sign up for the Exchange and will be notified as beta testers ahead of the program’s release in the second quarter.

The exchange introduces real-time bidding, outright purchasing, and time-based auction options. It will be available through both FlyJets’ mobile and web-based applications.

An example provided by FlyJets illustrates how the exchange works: A passenger books a charter flight for $20,000 and, in partnership with the aircraft provider for that flight, resells three seats for $9,000 total, reducing their overall cost to $11,000.

“Now that we’re operating with both automated charter offerings and the forthcoming secondary exchange, FlyJets is primed to drive real efficiency in terms of increasing aircraft utilization within the air charter industry,” said FlyJets founder and CEO Jessica Fisher. She added that interest in group bookings has been high, and the exchange is expected to provide an effective solution for passengers and providers, including potential urban air mobility in the future.

FlyJets’ primary marketplace, which provides automated charter availability at wholesale rates, will continue to operate alongside the new exchange.

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