Shareholders in tech group Inpixon are set to vote on a proposed merger with XTI Aircraft on September 8 after an earlier meeting to address the definitive agreement announced on July 25 was adjourned to consider the proposal. If the merger is approved, the two companies will have a combined listing on the Nasdaq exchange under the new name XTI Aerospace.

XTI Aircraft, which has been developing the TriFan 600 VTOL aircraft since 2017, would operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of XTI Aerospace. The company is targeting the replacement of existing business aircraft and helicopters but says the new model could also compete with eVTOL vehicles.

In a webcast for investors on August 14, Inpixon CEO Nadir Ali said his company’s objective is to unlock what he considers to be underestimated value. XTI’s current CFO, Scott Pomeroy, who has been nominated to be the new entity’s CEO and board chairman, said the merger would “enhance our ability to execute our business plan, form partnerships with suppliers, and accelerate the development of the aircraft.”

XTI now refers to its turbine-powered TriFan model as a “vertical lift crossover airplane.” Featuring a pair of tilting ducted fans on the wing and another fan integrated into the rear fuselage, it has an anticipated range of 700 miles and can fly at up to 345 mph.

Global business jet demand for the first half of August was 4 percent lower than a year ago, according to industry data tracker WingX Advance. The activity is still running 15 percent above the levels seen in pre-pandemic 2019.

In North America, 92 percent of business jet departures thus far this month have been from U.S. airports, although departures trailed 2022 numbers.

“Bizjet demand in the key U.S. market is down by 4 percent compared to August 2022 and August 2021, with both previous years setting high points for flight activity,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “The earlier 2023 declines versus last year appear to be narrowing, with the market holding at least 10 percent gains compared to 2019.”

For the week ending August 13, business jet activity in Europe was 9 percent below the same dates last year. Several top European markets are seeing double-digit growth compared with August 2019, notably Italy, the UK, Spain, and Switzerland.

“Europe is the weakest regional market,” added Koe. “Asia is seeing a strong rebound compared to last year.”

Business jet activity in Asia continues to trend well above last year, with departures up 16 percent over August 2022, and 46 percent compared with 2019. China is seeing triple-digit growth versus last year, 32 percent above 2019.

Fractional operations under FAR Part 91K have an exceptional safety record, according to the newly expanded NTSB final accident report database. To date, there have been no reported fatal accidents and few with serious injuries. Between 2006 and 2021, NTSB data shows that Part 91K fractional turbine operators were involved in 13 accidents and serious incidents. Only two resulted in serious injuries to passengers.

In one of the serious injury occurrences, a passenger suffered a broken rib when the aircraft encountered clear air turbulence. The other serious injury incurred when a passenger slipped and broke an ankle while exiting the aircraft. Both events are classified as accidents because of the extent of injuries.

Aircraft incurred substantial damage in six accidents: loss of control on ground (LOC-G), skid during landing, hydroplaning off the runway while landing, uncommanded gear retraction on landing, midair collision with a glider, and being struck by a deicing truck.

The 13 aircraft models involved were the Cessna Citation 560XL (five), Bombardier Challenger 300 (two), Piaggio P.180 Avanti (two), and one each of the Gulfstream G200, Citation Sovereign, Hawker 800XP, and Pilatus PC-12.

The NTSB’s database does not show any Part 91K accident reports before 2006.

Aspen Avionics and Trio Avionics have developed an integrated display and autopilot package that is FAA certified under an approved-model-list supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for 12 light-aircraft model families. The STC includes a variety of Cessna, Grumman, and Piper models, offering a low-cost solution for owners who want a modern glass display and digital autopilot.

With a starting price of $10,750, the package includes Aspen’s Evolution E5 flight display and Trio’s Pro Pilot two-axis autopilot. The Aspen E5 display fits into existing “six-pack” instrument panels with no panel modification required, replacing mechanical attitude and horizontal situation indicators (AI and HSI).

Owners can remove the vacuum system when installing the E5, which includes the AI and HSI, rechargeable battery, GPS steering, air data computer, and attitude heading reference system. A backup attitude indicator is not required with the installation of the E5 display.

The E5 can be used to control the Trio autopilot, which offers navigation and attitude control.

“Like Aspen, we firmly adopt the concept of offering affordable avionics alternatives,” said Jeff Odum, managing director and sales manager of the STC Group, which developed the AML-STC. “Aspen Avionics systems are by far the most intuitive interface we will develop. We look to add more functionality as the relationship progresses.”

A new report from consultancy Markets and Markets predicts a 6.1 percent annual growth rate for the world helicopter market between 2022 and 2027, forecasting a rise in total value to $41.2 billion from the current $31.9 billion in 2023. The consultancy cites several factors for the growth including increased demand for military helicopters, air ambulances, law enforcement aircraft, and oil and gas operations. It also believes that the “development of unmanned helicopters, hybrid-electric propulsion systems, and advanced avionics” will create “significant market opportunities.”  

Other reasons for the growth include the replacement of aged military stock, expansion of emerging country economies and the enhancement of the national defenses, and the development of next-generation aircraft including tiltrotors and compound helicopters.

The report also notes various impediments to growth such as rising backlogs due to production limitations at major rotorcraft OEMs including Bell and Airbus. “Due to limited production capabilities, the OEMs fail to deliver the required helicopters within the expected timeline,” the authors noted. Other impediments include increasing fuel prices and the eventual potential for eVTOLs to displace helicopters, particularly in urban environments.

Singapore Air Charter is introducing a new option for customers to pay for passenger and cargo flights in installments. The company, which operates a fleet of aircraft ranging from a Cessna Citation Excel to an Airbus A330, has also started accepting payment in cryptocurrency.

Announcing the new offering this week, the company did not specify on what terms customers would be eligible to make staggered payments, which it said were intended to make charter arrangements more flexible. “Our new payment solutions will provide our clients with an easy, flexible way to access our premium services,” said Singapore Air Charter director Cheston Hong.

“We’ve seen an increase in clients who appreciate cryptocurrency’s flexibility and potential anonymity,” Hong explained. “We’re excited to cater to this trend and provide a multitude of payment options to our clients, thereby making our premium services more accessible to a broader audience.”

Singapore Air Charter was established in 2010. It offers flights for individuals and also for larger groups and freight, as well as providing aircraft owners with management services.

Outerlink is collaborating to gain FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for its Air IP connectivity system for the Bell 407 helicopter. Sterling Helicopter—which is providing the engineering for and will hold the STC—plans to seek installation approvals by year-end from international regulators, including EASA, Brazil’s ANAC, and Transport Canada, for use in more Part 27 and Part 29 helicopter models. The Marion County Sheriff’s office in Florida is providing its Bell 407 for all related testing and initial installation to be performed by MRO AeroBrigham.

“We are fully aware of satellite [connectivity] limitations for helicopters, so we decided to build a system that could keep the customers connected and provide them with a triple redundant bonded [ground-based] network that would minimize any loss of service or interruption during flight,” said Jeff Warner, Outerlink v-p. 

Air IP can stream HD video to and from helicopters across multiple devices simultaneously at customer-tested rates of between 7 to 20 Mbps of bandwidth for the entire flight duration and allowed a customer to conduct an uninterrupted Zoom meeting during the flight, according to the company.

The system has already been STC'd for the Leonardo AW139 intermediate-twin helicopter.