Embraer continues to post record results, reporting an all-time high in second-quarter revenue of $2.2 billion, as well as reaching its largest-ever backlog of $34.5 billion, the Brazilian manufacturer reported this morning. Marking 23% year-over-year (YOY) revenue growth in the three-month period ending June 30, the results come off a first quarter where Embraer reported a 31% YOY revenue jump, to $1.4 billion.

At its executive aviation division, revenues climbed 32%, to $725 million, reflecting higher volumes and product mix, the company noted. The division delivered 45 business jets—24 Phenoms and 21 Praetors. This is up from the 21 Phenoms and 17 Praetors handed over a year earlier.

Backlog is up 16% YOY overall, with the Embraer Executive Jets division’s backlog rising 5%, to $7.8 billion. Even with increased deliveries, the business jet segment has maintained a book-to-bill above 1:1 as demand remains strong, Embraer president and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto told analysts.

Embraer officials speaking with analysts this morning noted that they still have some issues to smooth out on the supply chain, but were encouraged by their efforts to level and ramp up production. In fact, Embraer has delivered 74 business jets in the first half—45% of its full-year guidance of 160 to 170 business aircraft shipments.

Twenty years ago, leaders at Honda Motor Co. stood up a new division, Honda Aircraft, turning the research and development (R&D) program that saw the prototype HondaJet achieve first flight in 2003 into a commercial business jet program. The clean-sheet HondaJet design by Michimasa Fujino, leader of the R&D program, was powered by the HF118 engine, which was designed and built by another team at Honda in Japan, marking a rare occurrence, especially in the business aviation world: one company developing an entirely new airplane and engine.

In 2005, Fujino brought the prototype HondaJet to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and attendees crowded eagerly around the airplane, marveling at the unique design with its over-the-wing-mounted engines. The commercialization decision followed in 2006, and at that year’s NBAA convention the newly formed Honda Aircraft began taking orders for the HA-420 very light jet.

The decision had been made to partner with GE on the more powerful HF120 engine, and the two companies formed GE Honda Aero Engines to develop and certify the new powerplant. Honda Aircraft also helped Garmin develop the G3000 integrated avionics suite that propelled the avionics manufacturer into the business jet market.

Since FAA certification in 2015, Honda Aircraft has delivered more than 275 HondaJets, and the jet’s performance has continued to expand. 

Growing FBO chain Velocity FBO has expanded its footprint in Texas with the acquisition of SkyPlace FBO, one of three service providers at San Antonio International Airport (KSAT). The 4,000-sq-ft terminal there is adjacent to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility and features a recently renovated lounge and lobby, an eight-seat conference room, and a covered entrance for weather protection.

In addition, the AEG Fuels-branded complex includes a pair of 30,000-sq-ft hangars, with 40-foot-high doors and a tail door adding another eight feet of clearance, each capable of housing a Boeing BBJ or Airbus ACJ bizliner.

For Velocity, this acquisition marks its sixth location, with three added since the core trio of Odyssey Aviation North America FBOs was acquired and rebranded last year. It expands the chain’s presence in a key general aviation market and advances the company’s goal of building an FBO network across North America, joining Velocity facilities in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, and Arizona. 

“SkyPlace is a leading FBO in the San Antonio market, with significant hangar and ramp capacity, and a team that has built a strong reputation for exceptional customer service,” said Velocity CEO Chad Farischon. “We are excited to welcome SkyPlace to the Velocity network and build on its strong foundation through continued investment in its people, facilities, and long-term growth.”

Business aircraft sales and refurbishment specialist Altea has released the “Business Jet Pre-Sale Housekeeping Guide” to explain to owners key legal, technical, financial, and design preparations before they bring an aircraft to market.

While market conditions are favorable for selling aircraft—particularly as lengthy OEM backlogs and tax incentives drive buyers to the preowned side—Altea warns that tighter regulations, global trade dynamics, and evolving buyer expectations make preowned transactions more complicated.

“Preparation, timing, and accuracy are now critical to achieving a successful outcome,” said Altea founding partner Robin Dunlop. “Sellers who approach the process without the right guidance risk delays, reduced value, or deals falling apart entirely.”

The guide advises on areas such as the need for complete maintenance logs. According to Altea, missing or incomplete logs are among the most common stumbling blocks in transactions, and they are often discovered late in the sales process. Rebuilding the logs is time-consuming and costly.

Altea also noted that regulatory bodies such as the FAA and EASA place a greater emphasis on certification, traceability, and complete maintenance history.

Meanwhile, tax incentives are influencing buyer behavior, pushing sales activity around certain deadlines. The guide outlines those incentives to help sellers prepare for such deadlines. The guide further highlights the importance of a pre-sale strategy with consistent marketing and a coordinated sales process.

AEG Connect continues to grow its global network with 57 trusted FBO partners and counting. By connecting operators with premier service providers, the network helps FBOs increase visibility, build lasting customer relationships, and unlock new business opportunities while delivering a seamless experience for operators worldwide.

CFS Aero, a charter/management provider with an FBO at South Africa’s Lanseria International Airport (FALA), is relocating its primary base of operations to the Fireblade Aviation facility at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport. Both the corporate offices and managed aircraft fleet are moving to OR Tambo (FAOR).

CFS Aero operates a fleet that includes four Bombardier Learjets; a Pilatus PC-24 and six PC-12s; a Nextant 400XT; a Cessna Citation M2; and two Beechcraft King Airs. In addition to providing aircraft charter management services, it also offers maintenance support and aircraft sales and acquisitions.

“The establishment of OR Tambo International Airport as our primary base of operation represents an important milestone in the evolution of CFS Aero,” said managing director Kerry Searle. “The move provides access to world-class aviation infrastructure and the premium facilities of Fireblade Aviation, including onsite customs and immigration services, private passenger lounges, executive meeting rooms, and extensive hangar capacity that will support the continued growth of our managed aircraft fleet.”

He added, “These enhanced capabilities allow us to deliver an even more seamless and integrated experience for both our clients and flight operations. Importantly, this is not a departure from Lanseria. We will continue to operate from Lanseria International Airport, giving our clients the flexibility of accessing our services from both airports while benefiting from the enhanced capabilities that OR Tambo offers.”

Airports where the FAA has mitigated problematic taxiway geometry are showing 77% fewer runway incursions per year after mitigation, according to the agency’s fiscal year 2025 Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) Program Annual Summary, released last week.

U.S. runway incursions numbered close to 1,700 annually between 2019 and 2025, with a brief pandemic-era dip before reaching 1,758 in 2024. This is a persistent problem that regulators, manufacturers, and industry groups have been mobilizing to address.

The RIM program traces to a 2012 FAA study that identified 140 specific airport locations with disproportionately high incursion rates linked to nonstandard taxiway geometry—configurations research showed created pilot confusion and elevated collision risk. RIM was launched in 2015 to systematically mitigate those locations and track new hotspots as they emerge.

The 77% reduction is based on 98 locations that completed safety enhancements or full mitigation, falling from 1,471 incursions before treatment to 146 after. The report describes the RIM program as “one of the most successful safety programs in the FAA…there has been a 45% reduction in the RIM inventory since program inception, due to mitigation activity.” Of the 248 locations prioritized for mitigation since the program’s launch, the report indicates that 112 have been mitigated.

The 2025 report prioritized 11 sites for mitigation, identified 10 as mitigated, and added 100 new problematic taxiway geometries.

Air Charter Service (ACS) has experienced an “excellent” first six months financially, reporting a 38% rise in revenue. Supported by “significant growth” in charter flights, revenue exceeded $845 million for the February to July reporting period.

Although the global charter specialist reported growth across all three of its main divisions—including private jet, group charter, and cargo—the latter saw the strongest growth, with some 49% more flights year over year. ACS attributes demand for these missions to supply-chain disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, Moroccan port closures, and Venezuelan disaster relief efforts.

ACS noted that it is being called upon to help meet spikes in demand—from sporting events to geopolitical unrest—with “increasing regularity.” These included a “heavy involvement” in Middle East movements in March. ACS suggested that its services are becoming increasingly attractive “for large organizations and governments…as [it is] often one of the only companies able to deliver such complex projects.”

ACS’ private jet and group charter divisions also reported revenue rises of 26% and 34%, respectively. The World Cup sporting fixture accounted for “hundreds” of additional flights, with ACS flying almost 40% of teams home from the tournament. Within the private jet division, ACS believes a rise in turnover was propelled by larger aircraft, along with longer sectors flown. However, it cautioned that margins were squeezed by the rising cost of fuel.

Western Aircraft named Blackhawk Performance Center (BPC)-Alaska as an authorized satellite service center supporting Pilatus aircraft throughout Alaska. The designation enables BPC-Alaska to provide factory-authorized PC-12 inspections, scheduled maintenance, and warranty support through the Western Aircraft Pilatus service network.

“Selecting qualified service partners is an important part of our responsibility to the Pilatus community,” noted Phil Winters, v-p of aircraft sales, aircraft management, and charter at Western Aircraft. “BPC-Alaska has demonstrated the experience, technical expertise, and commitment to quality that led to this designation.”

Western Aircraft said the addition to the satellite network strengthens its factory-authorized maintenance throughout its territory. Based in Wasilla, BPC-Alaska has provided support for Pilatus aircraft for more than five years.

Formerly Silver Sky Aviation, BPC-Alaska joined the Blackhawk Group in January. In addition to its Wasilla location, Blackhawk’s BPC network includes facilities in Columbia, Missouri; Broomfield, Colorado; Glendale, Arizona; and Bournemouth International Airport (EGHH) in the United Kingdom. BPCs provide specialized support for turbine and high-end piston aircraft.

Along with Pilatus, Western Aircraft—a Greenwich AeroGroup company—is an authorized center for Dassault Falcon, Embraer Executive Jets, and Piper Aircraft, among others.

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