Fractional provider PlaneSense has introduced a Pilatus PC-12 NGX level-D flight simulator at Aeronautical Systems Engineering's (ASE) training center in Tampa, Florida. The simulator, co-developed by the two companies as the first of its kind for the NGX model, received FAA approval earlier this month.

This addition is designed to enhance the quality of pilot instruction for its fleet, which includes 46 of the Pilatus turboprop singles. PlaneSense has established classroom space at the ASE facility to support its pilot training program, but will still conduct ground school at its Portsmouth, New Hampshire headquarters. The simulator will be offered for third-party training as demand allows, according to PlaneSense.

“This simulator allows us to fully control the entire pilot training process and further enhance our curriculum to continue to meet the high standards of excellence expected by our program,” said PlaneSense president and CEO George Antoniadis.

With half of the PlaneSense fleet now made up of the NGX model, the simulator will ensure that pilots have the knowledge and skills to safely operate these advanced aircraft in diverse conditions. Founded in 1995, PlaneSense provides flight services across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

Berkshire Hathaway’s services division, which includes NetJets and FlightSafety International, reported that revenues increased by half a percentage point in the fourth quarter to $20.7 billion. The services group also includes electronic components distributor TTI, Dairy Queen, and logistics company XTRA.

Aviation services revenue shined in the group, increasing 9.1% year over year (YOY) in 2024, according to the company's just-released financial report. This gain was attributed to a higher number of aircraft in NetJets' shared ownership programs versus 2023, as well as climb in flight hours.

However, margins in the services businesses continued a downward trend, at 11.1% in 2024, shrinking 3.4 percentage points from 2023 after a decrease from 16% in 2022. Pre-tax profits slumped 23% YOY, which Berkshire Hathaway attributed in part to a 51% fall in TTI earnings due to lower sales and increased expenses.

While revenues were up, “earnings from aviation services declined 10.9% in 2024 versus 2023, primarily attributable to increased costs of services and leasing, driven by higher flight crew [costs], maintenance, fuel costs, and depreciation expense, as well as increased impairment charges,” the report notes.

Gogo Business Aviation has folded the recently acquired Satcom Direct business into a new Gogo branding that provides a unified single identity reflecting both companies. This comes after Gogo completed its $375 million acquisition of the connectivity specialist in December, extending its reach and creating what the Broomfield, Colorado company called “the only multi-orbit, multi-band, in-flight connectivity provider serving the needs of every segment of the global business aviation and military/government mobility markets.”

While retaining the Gogo name without the “Business Aviation” tag, the unified branding adopts the familiar Satcom Direct blue in a move the company said capitalizes on the heritage of both companies but reflects the expanding business.

“The new brand represents how we can provide a seamless connectivity offering to our customers wherever they fly,” said Gogo CEO Chris Moore. “In an increasingly complex connectivity landscape, the brand reflects our contemporary approach to delivering a diverse portfolio of connectivity solutions to all sizes of aircraft from a single resource.”

While unifying the commercial business, Gogo opted to retain the SD Government brand for the military/government sector as well as the SD Data Center in Melbourne, Florida, where the former headquarters of Satcom Direct was located. “These are both Gogo group companies but have very specific markets that are familiar with these names, which is why we are choosing to maximize this familiarity,” he said.

Global business jet departures were up 5% year over year (YOY) in January, with North American and European activity increasing 7% and 3%, respectively, according to analyst Jefferies. Citing WingX data, Jefferies also found that departures in the Asia-Pacific region were flat YOY for the month. Flight hours, meanwhile, were up 4% YOY, but the average trip duration was down 1% to about 1.7 hours.

Corporate flight department departures lagged behind other operator types, dipping 9% YOY in January and also down 16% from the same month in 2019. It was the only operator category to fall behind the pre-Covid 2019 benchmark.

Aircraft management departures declined by 1% YOY but were up 48% over the same period in 2019. On the positive side were private flight departments, up 11% YOY and 65% versus 2019, and fractional/charter combined, up 12% YOY and 52% from 2019.

FlyExclusive led the gains among the top fractional and charter operators, up 29%, followed by Flexjet with an 18% gain, and then NetJets and Wheels Up, each seeing 13% YOY increases last month.

Looking at the fleets of the top business jet manufacturers, Embraer aircraft saw the biggest gains, up 12% YOY in January, followed by Bombardier at +6%. Activity involving Textron Aviation and Gulfstream fleets was up 4% for each.

JetWind Power is urging airports to harness energy generated by engine thrust as airplanes start taxiing to the runway. According to the Texas-based start-up, a three-year trial operation at Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL) established that each of its Energy Capturing Pods, which consist of five small airfoil wind turbines enclosed by a protective mesh, can generate between 50 and 80 kilowatts of electricity each day.

The company acknowledged that the effectiveness of the technology depends on how close the patented pods can be installed to where aircraft start running their engines. According to JetWind founder and president T.O. Souryal, the units are more productive at relatively enclosed airports. One undisclosed European airport is in talks to install the equipment at the back of its ground runup enclosure.

JetWind’s engineering team is now working on its own compact generators that can more effectively store and distribute the produced energy. Harnessed energy can feed into the airport’s grid or can be collected in batteries stored in a trailer that, for example, could be used to recharge electric ramp vehicles.

According to Souryal, who is an orthopedic surgeon and physician for the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, the pods could be used by airport service businesses such as FBOs. JetWind has held discussions with airline maintenance departments and is also considering a proposal to install the pods at heliports.

French regional airline Amelia is extending its use of an approach to reducing contrails developed jointly with Thales and Breakthrough Energy Contrails. Trial operations with its fleet of Embraer ERJ-145s conducted on flights out of Paris and Valladolid in Spain have resulted in reductions in non-carbon-dioxide emissions assessed as being equivalent to four tonnes of CO2.

Since the trial started in June, Thales has integrated its Flights Footprint software with Amelia’s Operational Control Center platform to help the airline determine alternative trajectories for flight plans that will reduce contrails. When significant contrail impact is detected, the technology proposes changes to the aircraft altitude without changing the route, while keeping any additional fuel consumption below a 3% increase.

Contrails generated by aircraft engines trap heat from the sun and contribute to global warming in a similar way to greenhouse gases. Last week, the companies reported that their trial operations established the new approach can cut the climate impact of flights by at least 40%.

Breakthrough Energy Contrails produces climate models to support the Thales software in work that has been partly funded by the French government through its Decor project. After each flight, climate models combined with meteorological data are assessed to establish the effectiveness of operations. A camera is used to observe the formation of contrails.

Air charter services provider Hera Flight of Clearwater, Florida, has received FAA approval to conduct worldwide Class II operations. This certification enables private jet operators to conduct international flights over remote and oceanic airspace, which requires advanced navigation and communication technologies for safe operation beyond traditional radar coverage.

With this approval, Hera Flight can offer its clients expanded access to global destinations, providing seamless international travel options. “We are thrilled to achieve this certification, which underscores our unwavering commitment to safety,” said Hera Flight owner and COO Jonathan Hollar. “This approval enables us to meet the growing demand for international private jet travel, providing our passengers and jet card members with expanded access to more global destinations.”

Hera Flight said its continued investment in technology, crew training, and regulatory compliance strengthens the company's position as a leader in private aviation. The company provides a range of services, including aircraft charter, management, maintenance, jet card memberships, and aircraft sales.