Gulfstream Aerospace saw its highest-ever first-quarter delivery total, with 38 business jets (31 large-cabin and seven super-midsize G280s) handed over, Danny Deep, president of parent General Dynamics, said this morning during an investor call. That compares with deliveries of 36 aircraft (30 large-cabin and six G280s) in the same period last year.

According to Deep, the aerospace division—Gulfstream and FBO/MRO provider Jet Aviation—performed “very well” in the quarter. Revenues at the division rose 8.4% year over year, to $3.279 billion, while earnings soared 14.1%, to $493 million. Order intake stood at $3.843 billion, equating to a 1.2:1 book-to-bill ratio. Backlog, meanwhile, climbed to $22.267 billion as of March 31—up about $500 million quarter over quarter and some $3.3 billion higher than a year ago.

Despite the strong sales, Deep noted that the Iran war slowed some Gulfstream order intake toward the end of the first quarter, though he said the business jet industry remains “durable.” He also expressed concerns about supply of the G280, which is manufactured in Tel Aviv at Israel Aerospace Industries, due to labor issues caused by military call-ups related to the war.

Still, Deep expects deliveries in the second quarter to be similar to those of the first quarter, with the third and fourth quarters seeing increasingly higher shipments. He said the 25th G800 will also be handed over in the second quarter.

Operators of all models of the Cessna CitationJet/CJ1/M2 and CJ2 series light jets can now install SkyWay Group’s SkyFlush externally serviced lavatory modification. SkyWay recently expanded the applicability of the SkyFlush supplemental type certificate (STC) to accommodate the CitationJet/CJ1/M2 series.

The modification adds a ground-service-compatible external service panel behind the wing on the left side of the fuselage, according to SkyWay. “This panel, mounted aft of the wing on the left side of the fuselage, includes an aviation-standard four-inch waste drain fitting, blue-water service fitting, LED system-status indicator, and switches for operating the integrated macerator pump and filling the system with water and deodorizer.”

There are no structural changes to the airframe required for the upgrade, and no need to alter the existing cabinetry. Previously, SkyWay received an STC for CJ2 models.

With SkyFlush, owners and operators of these CJ-series twinjets no longer need to carry waste tanks through the cabin to empty them. “The modification delivers tangible improvements in cabin hygiene, serviceability, and passenger comfort,” SkyWay said.

Vern Raburn, who established Eclipse Aviation with the idea of carving out a new business aviation market niche with a low-cost very light jet, died on Saturday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was 75.

Raburn brought a strong technology background when he founded Eclipse in 1998, having served as one of Bill Gates’ first executives and ultimately executive v-p of Microsoft, as well as holding leadership roles with Lotus Development, Symantec, and Paul Allen Group.

A pilot who learned to fly as a teenager, Raburn built Eclipse on the belief that a twinjet sold for less than $1 million could spur a wave of point-to-point air taxi travel. The first prototype of the six-place, 1,200-nm Eclipse 500 flew with Williams EJ22 turbofans on Aug. 26, 2022, but, after a redesign, a second prototype flew two years later, sporting the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F.

Eclipse secured certification in 2006 and handed over the first copy in 2007. However, Eclipse filed for bankruptcy in late 2008. By August of 2009, the company was in Chapter 7 liquidation, with Eclipse Aerospace buying the assets to support the 260 aircraft in service.

Raburn later served as chairman and CEO of drone specialist Titan Aerospace. He had accumulated more than 6,500 hours of flight time and was type-rated in more than 15 aircraft.

A celebration of life is anticipated later this year.

Honeywell's FMS guided visual (FGV) approaches—precision-like guidance for aircraft to runway ends without published instrument procedures—have been added to Starr Safety Partnership's network of service providers.

The FGV approaches, coded as “RNAV H” procedures in the FMS navigation database, provide lateral and vertical guidance via strategically placed transitions around the airport. Pilots can fly the procedures manually or couple them to an autopilot. No regulatory approvals are required.

“Whether you’re flying in an unfamiliar area, landing at night, or navigating challenging conditions, FGV approaches are about adding an extra layer of safety and peace of mind,” said Carey Miller, senior technical sales manager at Honeywell Aerospace and a Gulfstream G600 pilot.

Honeywell has incorporated FGV approaches into its FMS database for approximately 100 airports. Recent additions include challenging operations at Marana, Arizona (KAVQ) Runway 30, where no published approach exists and night operations can be stressful; San Diego (KSAN), which overlays the Sweetwater Visual to Runway 27; and Madeira, Portugal (LPMA), which overlays the RNP Visual to Runway 05 at an airport known for strong winds and frequent go-arounds.

Other recent FGV additions include Basel-Mulhouse, France (LFSB) for Runway 25, coded to provide access when the main Runway 15/33 is closed, and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (KEEO) Runway 21, where terrain and a 270-degree circling maneuver from the northwest make night landings unauthorized without additional guidance.

Aloft AeroArchitects, 101 Aviation, and True Blue Power have been developing a supplemental type certificate (STC) to replace the original nicad or lead-acid main-ship batteries in the Gulfstream IV, IV-SP, IV-X, V, and V-SP with TB50 lithium-ion batteries. After that STC is issued around June or July, it plans to develop a similar STC for the G650.

The TB50 is FAA technical standard order approved and weighs 44 pounds. With two main-ship batteries, the TB50 installation weighs up to 60% less than nicad or lead-acid batteries.

While the FAA issued special conditions applicable to this STC, “We do not anticipate any challenges in meeting [them],” 101 Aviation president Mike McClain told AIN. True Blue Power lithium-ion batteries are installed in more than 20 aircraft models and 5,000 aircraft, he explained, “logging more than 13 million safe flight hours with zero in-flight failures.

“The lithium found in everyday consumer devices like smartphones and laptops uses a lithium metal oxide chemistry that is prone to thermal runaway, oxygen release, and self-sustaining fires when damaged or stressed, whereas this battery uses lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4), a fundamentally different chemistry that remains stable under extreme conditions, releases no flames, and produces carbon dioxide rather than oxygen in the rare event of a thermal incident.”

Additionally, the TB50 is maintained on-condition, which eliminates capacity checks or, for nicads, deep cycling.

In celebration of Earth Day last week, Desert Jet, an FBO and MRO provider in California’s Palm Springs area, announced a sustainability partnership with 4Air. “We are pleased to welcome Desert Jet as a partner in the 4Air sustainability framework,” said COO Nancy Bsales. “Their approach reflects a strong balance between growth and measurable sustainability efforts.”

As part of the process, the industry environmental solutions provider conducted an audit of Desert Jet and found that it has offset 43 tonnes of CO2, mainly through investments in verified carbon offset projects. This builds on the company’s existing sustainability initiatives, including the availability of sustainable aviation fuel at its Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) location, to support lower carbon emissions.

“At Desert Jet, we’re committed to scaling our business in a way that is both operationally excellent and environmentally responsible,” said CEO Jared Fox, noting that the company is preparing for a major expansion project at KTRM as well as managing a new hangar development at Colorado’s Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN).

“As we continue to expand our footprint, sustainability will remain embedded in how we build, operate, and serve our guests. Partnering with 4Air allows us to take tangible, credible steps toward reducing our impact.”

GE Honda Aero Engines (GHAE)—the joint venture that manufactures the HF120 engine powering the HondaJet—has named Colorado-based maintenance provider Straight Flight as an authorized service provider (ASP).

Located at Denver Centennial Airport (KAPA), Straight Flight—which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year—is an FAA Part 145 repair station with multiple ratings, including Class 1 and Class 3 certifications. It is now approved by the manufacturer to provide line maintenance and engine support services on the HF120.

ASP members can perform engine removals and offer rental engine use for HF120 shop visits. The ASP network also promotes, sells, and facilitates GHAE’s engine maintenance care (EMC) program, with subscribing customers benefiting from predictable costs and confidence for warranty and EMC services, such as scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, parts, and labor.

“We are pleased to welcome Straight Flight to our global authorized service provider network,” said Tim Varga, president of GHAE, which was established about two decades ago. “Straight Flight’s decades of experience, strong technical capabilities, and commitment to customer service align well with GHAE’s standards and will provide owners and operators with additional high-quality support options.”