French start-up Beyond Aero has laid out plans for the factory in which it intends to manufacture its in-development hybrid-electric business jet. Yesterday, the Toulouse-based company released a feasibility study developed with architectural specialists at Porsche Consulting and Kardham Group.

According to the partners, the proposed facility will have initial capacity to produce 60 of the eight-seat BYA-1 aircraft each year, rising to 120 units as manufacturing ramps up. Beyond Aero said it expects to create 225 production jobs in a 183,000-sq-ft final assembly line, with an adjoining paint shop, research and development space, showroom, and delivery center.

In October, Beyond Aero reported that it had achieved technology readiness level 6 for the BYA-1’s hydrogen propulsion system. Its engineering team is now working on the preliminary design review for the aircraft, which it aims to bring to market in 2030 with a projected range of 800 nm.

According to the company, it holds letters of intent from prospective customers valued at more than $1 billion and employs 80 people. It is now evaluating possible locations for the proposed factories, with several sites in France and other parts of Europe being considered.

A Pilatus PC-12 made a successful gear-up landing on sea ice near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, on May 7, 2024, after suffering an in-flight engine failure. Investigators later found midspan power turbine blade fractures, according to a Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) report, but “the cause of the power turbine blades fracture could not be established.” All three occupants were uninjured.

The airplane landed upright and intact, but several fairings were cracked or broken and the lower fuselage and trailing-edge of the flaps sustained abrasion damage. TSB investigators found the most significant structural damage at the bottom aft fuselage, where a navcom antenna had broken loose and “tore open approximately 0.5 sq ft of the fuselage.” Two of the four propeller blades were bent from contact with snow and ice.

Initial inspection revealed that both power turbine stages had suffered catastrophic midspan blade fractures. According to the TSB, “all the blades had experienced midspan fractures,” with most fragments exiting through the exhaust ducts. While the exhaust ducts and turbine vane ring were “heavily dented,” the fragments did not damage the fuselage or windscreen.

The PC-12 was en route on one of a series of northern flights for Kudlik Aviation when the engine failure occurred. During a flight from Gjoa Haven to Taloyoak the previous day, the crew heard “an unusual bang.”

London Biggin Hill Airport (EGKB) has completed a runway resurfacing project to provide a grooved landing surface and LED centerline lighting to improve visual cues and situational awareness for pilots. Announcing the milestone today, the privately owned airport said the improvements will make it more readily accessible for business aircraft operators.

In addition to the resurfacing, Biggin Hill has also introduced a 24/7 auto-metar service to provide continuous live weather data and an enhanced instrument runway visual range system to provide more precise visibility readings. The airport said these features will give operators clearer information for flight planning, giving them more confidence in being able to land there, especially after transatlantic trips. The investment was backed by an eight-figure funding package from HSBC bank.

“This resurfacing project is a significant step in our ongoing investment in the airport’s core infrastructure,” said Biggin Hill commercial director Robert Walters. “By enhancing the runway’s durability and performance, we’re giving operators clearer guidance and a more predictable arrival experience. Business aviation customers value confidence in their planning, and this work reflects our commitment to evolving the airport around the needs of pilots flying into the [UK] capital.”

Flexjet has sold 20 of its Bombardier Challenger 300s to charter operator Baker Aviation. According to Flexjet, the deal for the super-midsize jets closed in late November. Baker Aviation is a wholesale charter provider with a fleet of Cessna Citation Xs.

“Flexjet is committed to the ongoing modernization of our fleet, ensuring our aircraft owners have access to the most modern and technologically advanced aircraft available,” said Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro. “This partnership with Baker Aviation allows these Challenger 300s to remain a productive part of the private aviation ecosystem, as we continue to take on delivery of new super-midsize aircraft in the form of the Embraer Praetor 600 and Bombardier Challenger 3500.”

While Flexjet didn’t say how many Challenger 300s remain in its fleet, it will retain enough “to service some jet card and on-demand charter storefront lift,” the company told AIN.

In a LinkedIn post, Baker Aviation president Timothy Livingston said, “We are looking forward to building the Challenger 300 side of our business just like we did with the Citation Xs. We still plan to operate (and possibly grow) the Citation X business for many years to come.

“We will make announcements as we get more 300s on our certificate. Tentatively, we will have two more (five total) on certificate by December 15 to help with some holiday travel.”

Business and general aviation customs clearances at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) in British Columbia, Canada, are now available from any of the airport’s three FBOs: Signature Flight Support, Million Air, and Skyservice. The formal general aviation customs facility, operated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), has not been readily available since maintenance and upgrades have been underway at the airport.

“In collaboration with CBSA, the airport adjusted the customs clearance process for international passenger arrivals at Airport South to enable a streamlined customs process for general aviation and business aviation, as well as charter operations,” an airport spokesperson told AIN. “Obtaining clearances at the CBSA facility was more rigid, time-consuming, and lacked the amenities and privacy of FBOs.”

The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) reported that this change is “permanent,” and the airport spokeswoman confirmed that the procedures are in place “indefinitely.” She said the new process is “flexible, allowing us to accommodate maintenance projects, but is also in line with Canadian industry standards, and will save operators time, decrease traffic, and reduce pilot confusion.”

Clearance procedure remains the same, said CBAA, “where FBO personnel are not allowed to come into contact with the aircraft until it is cleared.” Additionally, “crews need to have their clearance numbers before off-boarding passengers.”

Robinson Helicopter and Lake Fusion Technologies are collaborating on a laser-based obstacle warning system that could be offered to helicopter buyers. The companies are working on a joint engineering and development program during the next 12 to 24 months.

Lake Fusion’s situational awareness system (SitAwS) uses light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensors for 3D detection of obstacles, which would be particularly helpful in visibility-challenged environments and especially near power lines. An EASA certification program for SitAwS is underway.

SitAwS is another potential addition to Robinson Helicopter’s effort to focus on safety as a core value, which includes the installation of 4K cockpit cameras in every helicopter and Garmin autopilots as standard equipment in the R66 turbine helicopter. “The SitAwS integration is a strategic continuation of this effort to proactively increase features and functions improving safety during flight,” according to Robinson.

“This teaming agreement with Lake Fusion Technologies represents a continued focus on our commitment to safety,” said Robinson Helicopter president and CEO David Smith. “Integrating advanced Lidar-based detection like SitAwS offers a tangible increase in pilot situational awareness, directly addressing the detection of hazards such as power lines that pose a threat in dynamic flight environments. This is a critical investment in the future operational safety of the entire Robinson fleet.”

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has published an addendum clarifying reporting procedures for suspected GNSS spoofing put in place last month following a week of disruptions consistent with GPS interference around Delhi.

According to OpsGroup contributor Chris Shieff, the disruptions produced false EGPWS alerts, position errors, and incorrect altitude indications that crews described as consistent with spoofing. The interference affected hundreds of flights and briefly drove ADS-B integrity in the Delhi terminal area to zero, leaving controllers unable to rely on GPS-based surveillance. The timing also coincided with the temporary withdrawal of ILS procedures for Runway 10/28 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (VIDP), increasing reliance on RNAV guidance.

DGCA first published guidance on GNSS-interference reporting in a 2023 advisory circular. Its November 10 document created a new standard operating procedure requiring crews to report spoofing events within 10 minutes. After pilots flagged ambiguities, DGCA released an addendum to clarify required actions for both pilots and operators.

If interference is detected before top of descent, pilots must advise ATC as soon as possible and notify the operator’s responsible manager by any means available. The post holder must then alert DGCA immediately using the required reporting form.