Pilatus Aircraft is significantly scaling up its presence in the U.S. under an agreement to develop a “flagship” sales and service facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) in Florida. Long-term plans also include having an aircraft assembly plant at the location.

Under the agreement announced today, Pilatus will develop 17 acres on the north side of the airport, providing it an anchor in the Southeast U.S. and expanded presence in both North and South America.

Slated to open in mid-2026, the initial facility plans include 54,000 sq ft dedicated to maintenance, spare parts distribution, and new aircraft deliveries, plus 17,000 sq ft of workshops, office, and administrative space. The customer service center is anticipated to initially employ more than 50 people to manage aircraft sales, service, design, and delivery of Pilatus aircraft in the Southeast.

However, plans also call for the eventual development of a final assembly facility for aircraft destined for customers in North and South America. This would bring employment at the location to 300, Pilatus added.

Justin Lazzeri, CEO of Pilatus’ sales and service center for the U.S. East Coast, remarked, "Our new facility in Bradenton will be a showcase for ‘Pilatus Class’ sales and service, and will be a flagship store that will serve as a model for our global network of authorized Pilatus sales and service centers."

DirecTV Inflight and Satcom Direct are bringing live television to business aircraft equipped with low-earth or geostationary orbit satellite connectivity. The DirecTV IPTV content includes sports, news, weather, and other entertainment programming.

Available in September, aircraft owners and operators will be able to purchase IPTV as part of Satcom Direct connectivity service plans. “The service…can be seamlessly integrated with Satcom Direct’s plans or purchased and accessed separately through the DirecTV app and compatible Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku devices,” according to DirecTV. Satcom Direct and third-party providers will manage IPTV pricing.

Like its legacy direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service, which is still supported, IPTV is available over the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. DBS provides only standard definition resolution, while IPTV will be available in two high-definition profiles, low (360p and 1 Mbps) and high (720p and 3 Mbps).

No additional hardware is required to add IPTV, and it integrates with installed in-flight entertainment systems. Users can add custom content, such as training videos.

“We are always looking to expand our portfolio of high-quality, flexible services for our customers,” said Michael Skou Christensen, chief commercial officer at Satcom Direct. “This latest addition to our Satcom Direct ecosystem allows passengers subscribing to the DirecTV service to enjoy live TV just as they do at home or in their office.”

ExecuJet Haite has opened a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operation at Beijing’s Daxing International Airport. The 5,000-sq-m (54,000-sq-ft) facility was officially inaugurated today at the airport, where Capital Airport Holding Business Aviation Management (CBM) now operates a purpose-built FBO.

As part of a dedicated 300,000-sq-m business aviation complex at Daxing, the new facilities are intended to provide aircraft operators with an alternative gateway to Beijing’s main gateway Capital Airport, where CBM already provides a full handling service. The new ExecuJet Haite base expands the scope of the MRO service it has provided since 2010 at China’s Tianjin Binhai International Airport, where it has a 2,700-sq-m facility.

According to Paul Desgrosseilliers, general manager of ExecuJet Haite General Aviation Services, China’s business aviation industry is now showing signs of recovery after its Covid-driven downturn. After several years when the domestic fleet shrunk, he told AIN that some new Western-made aircraft are starting to be delivered and international operators are now finding it easier to fly into and within the country.

ExecuJet Haite, a Chinese company that until 2016 was part of a joint venture with Europe-based business aviation group ExecuJet, intends to support 16 different aircraft. Initially, these types will include Embraer’s Phenom, Legacy, and Lineage jets; Gulfstream’s GIV, V, and 600 models; Bombardier Learjet, Challenger, and Global aircraft; and all current production Falcon models, including the new 6X.

Atlantic Aviation has debuted its new FBO at Nashville International Airport (KBNA). The 12,000-sq-ft terminal replaces the former 8,600-sq-ft structure that was demolished earlier this year to make room for additional ramp space.

In addition to the lobby waiting area, the facility features a private VIP passenger lounge with direct ramp access, a business center furnished with the latest technology, two conference rooms, an expanded crew lounge with quiet rooms and shower facilities, a well-stocked refreshment bar, dining/food vending area, and a porte-cochère to protect customers from the elements.

In addition, the now nearly 25-acre complex includes a newly-built 30,000-sq-ft heated hangar that can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets and features a separate ramp with bus access and walk-through security screening to handle sports team charters and other high-capacity flights. This brings the facility to 80,000 sq ft of hangar space.

As part of the FBO’s redevelopment, the company also replaced the fuel farm, which can now handle 60,000 gallons of jet-A and 10,000 gallons of avgas.

On the staff side, the LEED-certified terminal also has an expanded training area and unobstructed views of the ramp to enhance accessibility and safety.

“We’re focused on meaningfully enhancing the value and overall experience we offer our customers in Nashville,” said Kris Mayle, Atlantic’s area director for the southeast region.

I had to know if the speed claims were true, so I hopped aboard a King Air 350 equipped with Blackhawk's Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engines on a scorching day in Florida. We cranked up the power and aimed for the skies. In just 12 minutes...

India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the causes of an August 24 accident in which a Leonardo AW139 helicopter crashed during a ferry flight following maintenance work. Four crew members on board sustained injuries when the aircraft, which was operated by charter operator Global Vectra Helicorp, crashed close to Pune en route from Mumbai to Vijayawada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The AW139’s black box was retrieved from the scene of the accident, and the AAIB is liaising with the manufacturer to compile a report on the data recorded. The AAIB will report its findings to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The twin-engined helicopter had been at the Mumbai-area Juhu Airport, where Global Vectra’s Part 145 maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility had conducted a C check.

Global Vectra is contracted by the state government to fly officials and VIPs. The company also operates charter flights for oil and gas companies, as well as for conducting aerial survey work and private transportation. In addition to three AW139s and three AW169s, its fleet includes a mix of Bell 412 and Airbus AS350 helicopters.

Jackson Jet Center has launched an airplane co-ownership program. Under the program, customers can purchase fractional shares of the Pilatus PC-12 and/or the Cessna Citation CJ3+, with options tailored to suit different levels of travel needs. The initiative provides individuals and businesses a cost-effective and flexible alternative for aircraft ownership, the company said.

“Jackson Jet Center is excited to offer a solution that aligns with the needs of today’s flyers,” said David Smith, v-p of charter and management at Jackson Jet. “Our co-ownership program provides an ideal balance of ownership benefits, operational flexibility, and cost transparency, making private aviation more accessible than ever before.”

According to the company, the program is “designed to provide all the benefits of private aircraft ownership without the full financial burden.”

Jackson Jet said it plans to handle all aspects of aircraft management, including maintenance, hangar storage, insurance, pilot salary and management, and scheduling.

Registration is now open for Embraer’s master of science in aeronautical engineering program, a professional specialization for career acceleration of engineers who desire to deepen their knowledge in the aerospace sector in Brazil. It is the 33rd iteration of the program.

“The investments we make in the training and development of people are hallmark traits of Embraer, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this month. The master of science in aeronautical engineering program is one of the greatest examples of this strategy and a reference in the aeronautical sector,” says Andreza Alberto, v-p of people, ESG, and corporate communications at Embraer.

According to Embraer, the course was created in 2001 and since then more than 1,700 professionals have attended. Embraer's average recruitment rate of participants reaches 96%. The announcement of selected candidates is scheduled for December, with classes set to begin in February 2025.