Following two years of very strong growth, the business jet market is now in a period of stability, according to Global Jet Capital’s (GJC) newly released market brief.

In the second quarter, OEM backlogs rose by 8.6 percent year-over-year, to $50.8 billion. Though the pace of orders has slowed from the heights seen last year, they still remain in line with historic levels and deliveries. The financier noted that the tempo of transactions decreased in the first half of 2023, a condition it attributed to slower-than-expected deliveries of new aircraft resulting from supply-chain bottlenecks and a decline in the preowned segment as the market adjusts following a superheated 2021 and 2022.

Available aircraft listings rose through the first half, continuing a trend that started in mid-2022. GJC explained that in the post-Covid environment, many aircraft have been sold before they were ever listed, and now owners are once again listing their available airplanes publicly.

As the market continues to stabilize, GJC expects preowned business jet inventory to rise, with available younger jets now standing at 4.4 percent of the fleet, up from 3.6 percent at the end of the first quarter. For those jets 13 years old or older, the inventory is now 7 percent, as many of those older aircraft purchased over the past two years are now being placed back on the market.

Thai maintenance, repair, and overhaul group MJets has become a warranty facility for Gulfstream’s business jets. The U.S. manufacturer has approved the company to provide warranty support for almost all of its aircraft, including the G650/650ER, G600, G500, G550, and G280.

MJets was established in 2007 and is based at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, where it operates an FBO. At this location, it said customers can benefit from tax exemptions on spare parts.

The company is also a charter operator with a fleet including a Gulfstream V, as well as a Cessna Citation X and a Bravo. It has subsidiary operations in Cambodia, Myanmar, and India.

In July, Gulfstream announced the appointment of three new warranty centers in China to replace its own former facility at Beijing Capital Airport: Deer Jet in Beijing; Business Aviation Asia in Shenzhen; and ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services China in Tianjin. The airframer has other warranty service providers including Metrojet in Hong Hong and Shanghai Hawker Pacific, as well as factory-authorized services centers including Jet Aviation’s locations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

“We are excited and honored to be appointed as an official warranty facility by Gulfstream, one of the most reputable private jet manufacturers in the industry,” said MJets CEO Natthapatr Sibunruang. “This achievement underlines our commitment to delivering exceptional maintenance services and reinforces our standing as a reliable aviation partner.”

By the time Hurricane Hilary rolled ashore in Southern California on Sunday, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm, but that didn’t prevent it from unleashing large amounts of rain, causing flooding. Many airports in the region saw delayed flights or other slowdowns.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) experienced some “power drops” throughout the day, all of which were resolved, according to a Los Angeles World Airports spokesperson. Dedicated business aviation hub Van Nuys Airport weathered the storm well, with some ponding in areas.

The Palm Springs area reportedly received more than half a year’s worth of typical precipitation in a period of 24 hours, causing serious flooding. However, the city’s two airports—Palm Springs International (KPSP) and Jacqueline Cochran Regional (KTRM)—reported no major damage and only operational delays.

Atlantic Aviation told AIN that while its facility at KTRM closed for a few hours on Sunday “out of abundance of caution,” its FBO at KPSP remained open to support storm team responses for the Coachella Valley. Despite the numerous closed roads and highways in the area, Desert Jet, the other FBO at KTRM said it received several private flights on Monday as homeowners returned to evaluate damage to their properties.

Ray Richmond, president and general manager of Crownair Aviation, one of the FBOs at the city’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF), told AIN they came through the storm unscathed.

In the latest update to its iFly EFB app, Adventure Pilot has made the electronic flight bag (EFB) software fully compatible with Avidyne’s touchscreen flight displays, the companies announced this week. As of the version 12.2 update, Avidyne’s IFD-series FMS/GPS navcom avionics can now share various data streams directly with the iFly EFB app.

According to Juanita Boyd, Adventure Pilot’s v-p of operations, "iFly EFB 12.2 represents a significant milestone for iFly as we continue to prioritize safety and innovation in the aviation industry." The app is one of the few EFB apps with a full feature set that is available for Apple, Android, and Windows devices.

Pilots using iFly can now share flight plans between Avidyne IFD navigators and their personal electronic devices, “streamlining the flight preparation process for pilots and ensuring data consistency between avionics systems,” Avidyne said in a statement. Avidyne’s systems can also automatically share ADS-B, WAAS GPS, ​​and attitude/heading reference system data with the app, which “seamlessly enhances the situational awareness and capabilities of the iFly EFB app,” according to Avidyne.

The iFly app requires a subscription and costs $79.99 per year, but pilots interested in trying it out can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Avidyne IFDs are also compatible with several other third-party apps, including Foreflight, AvPlan, CloudAhoy, SkyDemon, and Oz Runways.

Solon, Ohio-based Jet East has obtained Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) authorization to expand its capacity to support Canadian-registered aircraft, the MRO provider said Tuesday. Jet East worked with the FAA Flight Standard Districts Office and FAA Oversight Team to meet the requirements for the TCCA authorization as it seeks to offer comprehensive aircraft maintenance services for customers based north of the U.S. border.  

Jet East said the integration and timing of the authorization align with its plans to satisfy an increase in maintenance requests for Canadian-registered aircraft. With the approval, Jet East can now provide foreign certifications for a broader range of equipment.

“As our operations expand and reach new heights, we are really excited to announce the securing of TCCA Canadian authorization, said Jet East COO of retail operations Dan Podojil. “We are enthusiastic about discovering avenues to benefit a wider range of operators, and we eagerly anticipate extending this opportunity to clients with aircraft registered in Canada.”

Jet East specializes in scheduled maintenance, on-demand mobile maintenance for AOG, paint, and interior completions. It provides related services in the areas of structural repairs, composite work, and non-destructive testing. The 24/7 mobile team complements the company’s maintenance hangars in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, California, Illinois, and Nevada.

According to a preliminary NTSB report, the Bell 407 that crashed August 1 in Charleston, South Carolina, was missing one of two bolts that secure the lever assemblies in the tail rotor control system. The other bolt was in place but loose with the cotter pin for its attachment nut missing. The NTSB found that the bolts had been removed and reinstalled during maintenance performed on June 28, with the helicopter subsequently accumulating 15 flight hours.  

N31PB was being operated by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office when it crashed at 3:30 p.m. local time while attempting to land at Charleston AFB International Airport (KCHS) after a repositioning flight from Sumter Airport (KSMS) in South Carolina. The pilot reported that 35 minutes into the flight the helicopter started to slowly yaw right and that applying pressure on the left pedal produced no response. He stated, “It felt as if the pedals were not attached.”

The pilot then declared an emergency and set up a straight-in approach to Runway 15. At approximately 20 feet agl over the runway threshold, the helicopter continued to yaw right and the pilot’s attempt to arrest it and maintain level altitude by lowering the collective and reducing the throttle were unsuccessful. The helicopter hit the ground next to the runway after descending at a rapid rate, the tailboom severed, and the pilot sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Charter booking technology provider Airacer has partnered with aviation management software specialist FL3XX to strategically integrate capabilities. Airacer provides flight planning, scheduling, and empty leg booking services for charter companies, while FL3XX offers a suite of tools to manage aviation operations. 

Airacer said the partnership boosts access to increased trip request volume for charter operators, improve efficiency, and enhance communication. The integration provides for real-time data exchange so users can synchronize flight plans, crew assignments, passenger manifests, and maintenance schedules between the Airacer and FL3XX platforms. The process reduces manual data entry, increasing overall efficiency, Airacer added.

"This partnership with FL3XX will bring our respective strengths together and deliver a truly comprehensive solution for aircraft operators," said Airacer CEO Wen Yang. "We are proud to empower operators with advanced capabilities and seamless data exchange, ultimately enabling them to optimize their operations, increase productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction."

Airacer noted that the integration comes as the industry is rapidly evolving, requiring more sophisticated approaches to meet operational demands. FL3XX noted that “Integrating Airacer means that you can access a wealth of new business and expanded routes, paving the way for increased revenue and broader global visibility.”

Dart Aerospace is offering a new external cargo Heli-Utility-Basket specifically designed for the Bell 505 light turbine helicopter. The basket joins Dart’s similar products for helicopters, including the Airbus H125, Bell 407, Robinson R66, and Leonardo AW119. The company is collaborating with G2 Aviation in the testing of the new basket, which will be FAA certified for new-production Bell 505s and for retrofit.

“Dart is excited to further support the popular Bell 505 by launching a Heli-Utility-Basket that allows operators to expand their mission profile,” said Michaël Desjardins-Séguin, Dart business unit manager for parts and accessories.

The Bell 505 basket can be quickly installed and allows operators to externally carry skis, cargo hooks, tools, and equipment safely. It is constructed of corrosion-resistant stainless steel; coated with a high-gloss, scratch-resistant white finish; and has a self-locking handle that secures cargo during flight and a gas spring to ease lid opening and closing.