Vista America, the U.S. operating partner of charter operator Vista Global Holding, is shifting away from “legacy aircraft models” and will thus sell its Cessna Citation Ultra and X fleets. The U.S. branch comprises charter and aircraft management providers Jet Select, Red Wing Aeroplane, Western Air Charter, and XOJet Aviation, and they will serve customers with the remaining core fleet of Bombardier and Gulfstream jets, as well as midsize Cessna Citation XLSs.

“This decision is aligned with our long-term goal of streamlining the fleet and focusing on the core Vista America-branded Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft,” said Vista chief commercial officer Ian Moore. “By simplifying the overall fleet, we will be able to focus on our clients’ preferences and our business model. We will continue to offer shorter-journey capabilities through the safety-vetted alliance fleet. The new structure will bring improved operational efficiencies, which will ultimately benefit clients' experience.”

Citation Ultra and X pilots affected by the fleet reduction will be reassigned to other aircraft models at the company. “Regarding the team, we value all of the pilots and therefore those impacted will be reassigned to existing roles available across the Vista members’ fleet,” a company spokesman told AIN.

Vista America was launched on Nov. 1, 2023, and its parent company owns non-controlling minority interests in the four U.S. charter company “operating partners.”

A group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are moving to close what they call “critical security loopholes” for DOT Part 380 public charter operations, introducing a bill requiring such carriers to meet the same security standard as scheduled airlines. Introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-New York) alongside Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas), the bill—the Safer Skies Act—has already garnered 11 other co-sponsors.

Safer Skies specifically applies to Part 135 operators that fly under DOT Part 380 economic authority with aircraft with nine or more seats, do not have passengers go through security checkpoints managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), offer individual seats in advance, and publicly provide available schedules, including the departure location, time, and arrival locations.

The bill comes as the TSA has proposed changes to the Twelve-Five program. “TSA recently took steps to review and amend the security protocols for public charter operations carried out under the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program and is in the process of adjudicating comments submitted by affected carriers, who are cooperating with this effort,” noted NATA v-p of government affairs Karen Huggard. “The security record for the Part 135/380 public charter model speaks for itself, with no specific security threats identified within this segment. NATA believes any changes must be transparent, data-driven, and carried out through established regulatory processes.”

National Jets, a service provider at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), is about to embark on a major redevelopment of its FBO after it secured a 39-year lease renewal.

Next month, the family-owned company will break ground on Phase 1 of the $70 million project that will include a three-story, LEED-Gold-certified 42,000-sq-ft terminal with offices for National’s aircraft management and charter operations, as well as office space for tenants. It will feature a third-floor event space overlooking the runway that can accommodate 200 banquet guests. The initial development will also include a trio of 30,000-sq-ft hangars capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets and 135,000 sq ft of ramp.

The existing FBO will remain in operation until the first phase is completed in late 2025. At that point, the company will then demolish the three-decade-old 30,000-sq-ft terminal, which president and CEO Mark Binko said no longer meets its needs, along with 29,000 sq ft of hangar space to make way for an additional three 30,000-sq-ft hangars and 250,000 sq ft of ramp, essentially doubling the aircraft parking space.

“The planned FBO will offer state-of-the-art amenities and allow us to continue to elevate our award-winning customer service and the customer experience to be what should be experienced in the finest private clubs,” Binko told AIN.

Pilots in mainland Europe now have access to the region's first level-D flight simulator for the Bombardier Challenger 350. Axis Flight Simulation announced today that the simulator it installed at Aviation Academy Austria in Vienna has been approved for use by local regulator AustroControl on behalf of EASA.

The full-flight simulator is equipped with a Van Halteren motion system and an RSi XT6 visual system, with a 200x45 field of view. It also features the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with controller-pilot datalink communications, synthetic vision system, and steep approach capability.

According to Axis Flight Simulation board member Christian Theuermann, the company intends to add an autothrottle to the simulator, which would allow pilots to train on the newer Challenger 3500.

For approval, Axis Flight Simulation worked with Aeroset to conduct extensive flight testing with a Challenger 350 aircraft to collect the flight data needed to ensure the accuracy of the level-D simulator. Aviation Academy Austria offers the Challenger 350 simulator as part of the training packages it provides or for use by third parties under dry leases.

“Our instructors all have practical experience on the aircraft type and can create real-life training scenarios, which, thanks to the simulator’s numerous functions and a high degree of realism, will set new standards in Challenger CL350 pilot training,” said Michael Holy, managing director of Aviation Academy Austria.

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...

Universal Aviation, the aircraft ground-handling arm of Universal Weather and Aviation, reports that multiple fuel suppliers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (RJTT) are now declining to refuel aircraft with passengers onboard, thus lengthening the time for turning around the aircraft.

According to Universal Aviation Japan, this new practice is due to safety concerns outlined in the local suppliers’ agreements that prohibit refueling with passengers onboard. Universal Aviation Japan is working with local fuel suppliers to understand why this decision is being implemented and if any suppliers will continue to refuel with passengers onboard at RJTT. So far, it said, the answer is no.

The company noted that this restriction is only in effect at RJTT, but it believes that it will soon be adopted at other airports across Japan and it is closely monitoring the situation to see where and when it spreads. In the meantime, Universal is advising operators to plan accordingly and verify refueling policies at their destination airport in Japan.

At the Airborne Public Safety Association's conference (APSCON) late last week in Houston, Textron subsidiary Bell signed three purchase agreements for helicopters and delivered two Bell 407GXis.

The Louisiana State Police took delivery of the two 407GXis, adding to the Air Support Unit’s all-Bell fleet that includes a 407GXP, two 430s, a UH-1H and UH-1V, a Huey II, and a 206L4 Long Ranger.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s Fire-Rescue Department said it is buying a Subaru Bell 412EPX to expand emergency-response capabilities. “The aircraft's high-altitude power, increased weight capabilities, and spacious interior will greatly improve our emergency response capabilities, allowing us to better serve the city of San Diego and the surrounding communities,” said Chuck Macfarland, chief of air operations for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The two 505 orders include one for Spokane, Washington's county sheriff’s office, which operates Bell OH-58s and a UH-1H. The Spokane Regional Air Support Unit plans to expand its search-and-rescue capabilities, homeland security activities, and natural disaster damage assessment support.

Making its first helicopter purchase, the city of Peoria, Arizona, signed a purchase agreement for a Bell 505 to launch the Peoria Police and Fire Department’s aviation unit. The unit will use the helicopter for public safety missions covering the city’s 180 square miles, serving 195,000 residents in the Phoenix outskirts and surrounding West Valley cities.

LABACE 2024, which opened today, is being held at the São Paulo–Congonhas Airport (SBSP) for the last time, Flávio Pires—CEO of Brazil business aviation association and LABACE organizer ABAG—said yesterday in a pre-show media briefing. Next year, the annual Latin American business aviation show will make its debut at nearby Campo de Marte Airport (SBMT), which is about 2.5 miles northeast of the city center.

The underused area at Congonhas that has been ceded yearly for LABACE will no longer be available as airport operator Aena reconfigures the field to handle more airline traffic and bring it in line with safety requirements. This will mean adaption for business aviation at SBSP—for example, Lider might have to move its main helicopter maintenance hangar and its FBO to the other side of the airport—but Pires assured that Brazil aviation agency ANAC “has said that general aviation will continue at Congonhas.”

He sees great potential in the move to Campo de Marte, with the vast ramp area offering the possibility of a fly-in, which would be impossible at Congonhas due to traffic and space, and the possibility of demo flights. The venue also has sewer connections and the potential for an electrical substation; at Congonhas, LABACE has relied on pumps and generators.

During the opening session today at LABACE 2024, Leonardo Fiuza—chairman of Brazil's business aviation association and show organizer ABAG—said the business aviation industry's greatest short-term hurdle is the country's broad tax reform, with one proposal floating to tax aircraft at the same rate as automobiles. He explained that ABAG is working with other aviation associations, such as those for agricultural aviation and air taxis, “to be present at all the committees studying the matter.”

ANAC director Ricardo Bisinotto Catanant emphasized the Brazilian aviation agency’s role in both operational safety and security. He made special note of the Transplantar program in which fees are waived and rules are eased to allow business aviation to transport organs for transplant—“a beautiful opportunity for business aviation to take part in this chance to save lives.” The governor of São Paulo is also signing state legislation for this program.

Tomé Franca, Brazil’s secretary of civil aviation and the country's highest aviation official, pointed out that airlines “serve 2% of Brazil's cities, while general aviation serves them all—more than 3,000 cities. General aviation lets Brazil grow for everyone, and the government should be alongside it.” He added that air passengers have grown from 98 million to 118 million in 2024 in Brazil “and we hope to reach 140 million by the end of 2026.” The government recently invested R$4 billion in 36 new and modernized airports.