Business jet deliveries jumped by more than 10% year over year for the first three quarters, while turboprops and helicopters declined, according to the latest delivery totals from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). The third-quarter delivery report released yesterday noted that airplane billings rose by more than $2 billion compared with the first nine months of 2024, while helicopter billings increased by 16% to $3.1 billion over that same span.

Among the business jet makers, Gulfstream saw the largest improvement, with the Savannah, Georgia-based airframer handing over 24 more jets year over year (YOY), including 19 more large-cabin jets, equating to a nearly 27% increase over the first nine months of 2024.

Overall turboprop deliveries declined by 6% YOY, while the business turboprop subset remained static. The rotorcraft market saw a 3.3% drop in deliveries in 2025, with the turbine-powered segment posting a 3.1% decrease.

“Through the first nine months of 2025, general aviation manufacturers continue to meet the demands of the industry,” GAMA president and CEO James Viola told AIN. “As we look towards closing out the year and into 2026, it is important that we continue working to advocate for and preserve the economic opportunities and societal benefits that the global general aviation industry provides, along with the ongoing safety and technological advancements that will propel the industry into the future.”

The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) convened its 2025 China General Aviation and Business Aviation Safety International Symposium during the Aero Asia show last week. The event in the Chinese city of Zhuhai brought together regulators, operators, and industry stakeholders to discuss safety, operational efficiency, and sustainable development in China and the Asia-Pacific business aviation market.

Opening the symposium, Rocky Zhang, vice president of government affairs at Textron China and chair of the Chinese Mainland Chapter and board of directors of AsBAA, stressed that safety underpins the growth of Asia-Pacific general and business aviation. AsBAA chairman Phil Balmer highlighted the region’s potential, noting that Asia-Pacific now hosts more than 1,100 business aircraft, with China representing a major growth market.

Data from China-based AsBAA member Jet Master shows that business aviation activity in China rose 6.2% year over year from January to October 2025, including FBO movements in Hong Kong and Macau. Foreign-registered business jets have expanded for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting deeper integration with global aviation networks. Flight trends show spikes during major international events, with cross-border operations, particularly with Southeast Asia, accounting for the fastest-growing segment.

This week, Asian Sky Group published its Asia-Pacific Region Charter Report 2025, noting that by mid-2025, the regional charter fleet reached 430 aircraft, up 18.8% from 362 in mid-2023, with all subregions recording growth.

Air charter operators flying from Dutch airports are facing a new per-passenger tax under an amendment to the Air Travel Tax Differentiation Bill agreed by the country’s House of Representatives. The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the Dutch Business Aviation Association (DBAA) are jointly opposing the measure, which will now go for a vote in the Senate.

The higher rate of tax would apply to aircraft with 19 passenger seats or fewer, and is almost identical to a similar tax already imposed by the French government. Per-passenger rates will range from €420 ($488) for flights of up to 2,000 km (1,087 nm), rising to €2,100 for sectors over 5,500 km.

These levies would apply over and above the planned air travel tax that is due to take effect for airline flights from Jan. 1, 2027. If approved by the Senate, the private aviation-specific tax would apply from Jan. 1, 2030.

Joint EBAA/DBAA statements said that the additional tax will increase the pressure on the country’s business aviation sector, while raising—according to the Dutch government—€58 million per year. The industry groups criticized the justification for the levy on environmental grounds, arguing that the flights impacted represent less than 1% of all movements in the Netherlands.

OK3 Air, the lone FBO at Utah’s Heber City Municipal Airport (KHCR), is now taking reservations for space in its new hangar, which it expects to be completed by the end of the year. The 31,500-sq-ft structure will be capable of sheltering aircraft up to the latest ultra-long-range business jets, and will bring the facility up to 65,000 sq ft of hangar capacity.

The $10 million project—which was started in March—also includes 20,000 sq ft of ramp, FAA-compliant drainage systems, and new pavement markings, all designed to support the airport’s ability to handle future growth.

The Avfuel-branded FBO offers full line service and a concierge. Its 8,000-sq-ft terminal features a naturally lit lobby, conference room, business center, onsite car rental, pilot lounge/snooze room, flight-planning room, shower facilities, recreation room, and pilot shop. Avionics support and onsite maintenance are available from the company’s FAA Part 145 repair station.

Located in the heart of the Intermountain West region, KHCR provides access to winter sports and leisure destinations, including Deer Valley, Sundance, and Park City.

“This new hangar and its state-of-the-art infrastructure mark an exciting milestone for OK3 Air and for the future of aviation in our region,” said Nadim AbuHaidar, the FBO’s owner and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot. “We’re excited to open the doors and deliver expanded capabilities that meet the rising demand from private aircraft.”

Gogo is revolutionizing business aviation connectivity with the launch of Gogo Galileo LEO global satellite and the upcoming Gogo 5G and LTE air-to-ground networks. Operators must upgrade legacy hardware by May 2026 for uninterrupted service, unlocking faster broadband and seamless global coverage for every aircraft size.

FAA Part 145 repair station DAS Aviation—with facilities in Cedar Hill, Texas; Solon, Ohio; and Collinsville, Illinois—has acquired Addison, Texas-based Aerospace Quality Research and Development (AQRD). The deal creates a single, integrated off-wing services platform that includes engineering, component repair, composites, and parts supply.

Earlier this year, DAS merged with Jet Parts in a transaction that connected the former’s overhaul and repair capabilities with the latter’s parts inventory service.

The purchase of AQRD—which is located at Addison Airport (KADS)—gives the company’s customers a faster path to aircraft return-to-service through technician-focused engineering, immediate execution, parts availability, and a stronger AOG response.

“I’m excited because this partnership allows us to do more of what we do best: innovate,” said AQRD founder and CEO Raj Narayanan. “With DAS Aviation’s reach and resources, we can scale our engineering coverage, broaden repair capabilities, and accelerate response, while also advancing our engineering composite repair development capabilities.”

DAS noted that there will be no change to existing points of contact with the two companies now under the same banner.

“AQRD’s engineering depth, paired with our repair capacity and parts inventory, eliminates the delays of juggling multiple vendors,” said DAS v-p Dan Podojil. “One partner now owns the engineering, the repair, and the parts, delivered with speed and accountability, setting a new bar for turnaround time, quality, and AOG support.”

Alpha Aircraft Services, an aircraft maintenance provider specializing in 24/7 AOG support in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut areas, has been sold and rebranded as Alpha MX.

The company, which will continue to be led by founder Manny Malandrenias, was purchased by charter brokerage Principal Aviation and former Ventura Air Services CEO Sam Wolf. Founded in 2010, Alpha MX provides scheduled and unscheduled work on engines, airframes, and avionics.

Under its new ownership, Alpha has already tripled its rapid response team and doubled its ground fleet, enhancing its response capability throughout the region.

“Since the acquisition, Alpha has expanded its Teterboro-based team of seasoned AOG technicians, with even more hires on the way in time for the holiday rush,” said Malandrenias. “We understand that every minute an aircraft is on the ground means lost revenue and delayed missions for our customers. That’s why we’re investing heavily in our people, technology, and tooling to provide the fastest, most reliable AOG support across Teterboro and the greater New York and New Jersey area airports.”

Business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul group ExecuJet Haite is spotlighting another year of strategic expansion, foreign approvals, and new service offerings. Speaking to AIN at the Aero Asia show in Zhuhai, general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers highlighted the China-based company’s continued growth, including at its 54,000-sq-ft hangar at Daxing Airport near Beijing.

“We opened our new facility at Daxing earlier this year after receiving the necessary approvals. Now we’re focused on building out all our capabilities there,” Desgrosseilliers explained. “We’re also doing the same at Beijing Capital Airport, expanding our line maintenance offerings. We’ve got a number of foreign approvals this year, including Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and recently Guernsey, and now we’re talking to Indonesia and Thailand for next year.”

ExecuJet Haite has been growing its FAA-approved capabilities to work on U.S.-registered jets, and is already cleared for those carrying tail numbers from the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. The company is expanding the level of support it can provide for operators of Falcon, Bombardier, and Dassault models. It recently added the Gulfstream G700 to the certificate for the authorized warranty facility it operates for the U.S. manufacturer.

While acknowledging that China’s business aviation fleet has contracted in recent years, Desgrosseilliers sees encouraging signs of renewed activity. Discussions with manufacturers indicate that new sales opportunities are emerging, with contracts now being negotiated rather than just fielding expressions of interest. 

Axis Flight Simulation is using artificial intelligence to support flight training with its AI Debriefing Station that lets pilots and their instructors objectively review simulator sessions. The Austrian company, which makes full-flight simulators for several business aircraft types, unveiled the new system on Monday.

According to Axis, the AI Debriefing Station automatically monitors and evaluates pilot performance during training and checks, recognizing flight maneuvers, identifying which pilot is flying, and analyzing aircraft parameters in real time. The company said that this level of automation allows instructors to focus fully on crew behavior and decision-making in the cockpit while the AI handles the detailed technical assessment.

Axis is able to adapt the system to the specific needs of each approved training organization. The company said its use will support the adoption of competency-based training and assessment processes for type ratings, standard operating procedures training, and operator-specific evaluation.

According to Axis, by standardizing assessments for all instructors, aircraft types, and fleets, the AI Debriefing Station ensures that every student is evaluated against the same objective benchmark, thereby improving the reliability and fairness of training. After each session, pilots and their instructors receive a detailed data-driven evaluation accessible online on any device.