The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted type certification to Piper Aircraft for its M700 Fury turboprop single, including approval for flight-into-known icing (FIKI). The Vero Beach, Florida-based manufacturer expects to make its first M700 delivery to the UK later this month.

“This milestone reinforces Piper’s dedication to meeting the needs of global markets with innovative and capable aircraft like the Fury,” said Ron Gunnarson, Piper Aircraft’s v-p of sales, marketing, and customer support.

CAA approval completes the M700 certifications Piper promised to its committed customers this year, and the company is now focused on securing additional foreign certifications.

Following the FAA’s type certification in March, Transport Canada became the first to validate the M700 in August. Piper has since obtained additional foreign validation from EASA, Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, and Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The company is working to expand its market presence in Mexico, Colombia, and Asia.

“We are excited to bring Piper’s flagship aircraft to operators across the region,” said Alex Brown, commercial director of British European Aviation Group, a Piper Aircraft dealer. “We will soon be announcing dates for a 2025 sales tour across the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Spain, and Portugal.”

Researchers at Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute are demonstrating a low-cost, solar-powered runway status light system that identifies aircraft near or on runways using computer vision and ADS-B signals. Called Simple, Affordable, Flexible, and Expandable Runway Status Lights (SAFE-RWSL), the system detects landing traffic and aircraft on a runway and illuminates lights at the taxiway entrance to the runway to warn pilots and airport personnel not to enter the runway.

Purdue said SAFE-RWSL is ideally suited for smaller airports because its projected cost is far less than the tens of millions of dollars needed for radar-based runway surveillance systems. “Based on the performed study, the use of simplified runway status lights is expected to be effective at reducing runway incursion risk in nontowered, no-traffic environments when a conflicting aircraft is difficult to see,” said Luigi Dy, a doctoral student at Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology.

Professor John Mott and Dy developed SAFE-RWSL, and the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization has applied for a patent.

“Small airports generally rely on simple ‘see-and-avoid’ procedures or, in limited cases, air traffic controllers to prevent these incursions,” Mott said. “Without a comprehensive approach that incorporates technology, however, even the most vigilant pilots and air traffic controllers, if available, can’t prevent all potential accidents resulting from encroachments on an active runway by pedestrians, ground vehicles, or other aircraft.”

The FAA yesterday delayed making stark changes to policies for aviation medical examiners (AMEs) that were set to take effect on January 1 and impact pilots seeking to get or renew an aeromedical certificate. But it will go ahead with rolling out new, computerized color vision test requirements next month.

Previously, the FAA announced it would shift to issuing initial denials instead of deferrals for medical certificate applications that require additional information. Late yesterday, the FAA said it would postpone this process change until March 1 after receiving feedback from aviation stakeholders. This extra time will allow the agency to educate the pilot community and host a listening session in January with various aviation associations, the FAA noted.

According to the agency, the change is intended to expedite the medical certification process. Under existing policy, deferred applicants have 30 to 90 days to submit additional medical records or evaluations in response to an information request letter. But the agency said there is no such timeline for denials and shifts the burden to file paperwork on pilots, ostensibly freeing up time at the FAA to work on other aeromedical applications. Aviation groups issued a letter urging the FAA to reconsider this change.

Meanwhile, color vision screenings will use certain computer-based tests starting January 1, with pilots with color vision restrictions required to take these new tests.

Avflight, the FBO-operating sister of Avfuel, has increased its footprint with the acquisition of Kemp Jet Services, one of three service providers at Utah’s Ogden Regional Airport (KOGD). The chain will be rebranding and redecorating the facility over the coming months to match its network look and feel.

The FBO occupies the 4,000-sq-ft lower level of the two-story terminal, which includes a passenger lounge, 12-seat conference room, pilot lounge with snooze rooms and showers, gym, and concierge. In addition to a modern fuel farm, the Avfuel-branded complex offers 50,000 sq ft of heated hangar space—the four-bay structure features a mega door, allowing it to accommodate aircraft up to a Boeing BBJ.

For Avflight, this represents its first location in Utah and its 27th worldwide. “This strategic acquisition represents a significant milestone in Avflight’s growth journey,” said Garrett Hain, the company’s v-p of finance. “Our team is proud to support Utah’s aviation community as its new gateway for visitors and is committed to building lasting relationships to continue delivering exceptional services to every guest.”

To that end, Avflight retained Kemp’s staff for seamless continuity of service.

Ensuring your aircraft is ready to fly when you are begins with an adept team of maintenance professionals. How do you know if those servicing your aircraft have the skills necessary to keep your plane airworthy? Learn how FlightSafety International training provides that essential expertise.

NBAA and 29 other stakeholders from the aviation and broader industries are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate claims made by Ligado Networks regarding compliance with a critical device availability requirement to prevent GPS interference. In a letter addressed to FCC Secretary Marlene H. Dortch, the coalition expressed concerns over Ligado's claim that it met the September 30 deadline to make dual-mode Mobile Satellite Service/Ancillary Terrestrial Component (MSS/ATC) capable devices available in the marketplace.

The coalition—which also includes AOPA, the American Meteorological Society, and Lockheed Martin—argues that Ligado's October 2024 status report lacks sufficient detail to confirm compliance. They are asking the FCC to request additional information from Ligado, including specific equipment authorizations and evidence of the devices being offered for sale or lease.

However, in the December 13 letter stakeholders pointed out that Ligado's claims about the availability of such a device were unsubstantiated. A device must receive equipment authorization before being marketed under FCC rules. Despite Ligado’s statement that the device would be ready by October, a review of FCC databases and online searches failed to identify any certified equipment that met the requirements.

The group has called on the FCC to press Ligado for further details, reiterating its request for the FCC to revoke the Ligado Order, citing broad opposition from federal agencies.

FlyExclusive operated the most flights in company history over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and set a new record for its highest one-day revenue total in nine years of operation. Announcing the achievement on December 18, the charter operator said it logged 47% more flight hours than it did over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

“As we’ve grown the business, we’ve been disciplined and strategic every step of the way, and we’re seeing the results of that with strong customer demand combined with efficient fleet utilization,” said FlyExclusive founder and CEO Jim Segrave.

“Being vertically integrated allows us to control every aspect of the customer experience, and that has led to strong, stable demand in our Jet Club and fractional programs that we expect to continue through the holiday season and into 2025,” he added. “As we continue to add new, high-performance aircraft to our fleet and offer customers a consistently superior experience, we’ll continue to take market share and further scale the business.”

The company recently received deliveries of three super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 350s and said it expects fleet additions to accelerate in 2025.

Last year, FlyExclusive became the first member of the customer advisory group that Textron’s eAviation division established for its Nexus eVTOL, indicating the company's interest in adding electric and hybrid-electric aircraft to its fleet.

European FBO operator AviaVIP has launched the AviaVIP Club in an exclusive partnership with Egypt-based Aviary and the UAE’s Falcon Elite.

Falcon Elite, located at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW), offers FBO and other VIP services. Headquartered in Cairo, Aviary offers a range of services for business jet operators, including VIP customer reception and business aviation handling. Its team covers 13 airports across Egypt, including Cairo, Hurghada, Elalamein, Giza, Luxor, and Sharm El Sheikh.

According to the partners, the AviaVIP Club label will reflect a stronger combined service offering and brand recognition, while allowing each company to maintain its independence. The companies said they will deliver harmonized services to clients across nine countries, significantly enhancing their operational reach with a network of 71 airports.

“This is a significant milestone for Falcon Elite as it gives our customers seamless access to 57 locations in Europe,” Can Şaşmaz, Falcon Elite’s CEO, said. “The partnership ensures world-class service at each location, and we look forward to welcoming AviaVIP customers to their new home at Dubai.”

As AIN develops content for our FBO Awards Dinner & Gala, we are requesting photos and videos (b-roll) from FBOs showing their history—past buildings, layouts, staff, etc. The photos and videos will be combined into a collage to be shown at the event's start. Click here to learn more.