Gulfstream's ultra-long-range G700 will make its Singapore Airshow debut later this month. The large business jet will be on static display alongside a G600 at the biennial airshow, which runs from February 20 to 25 at Changi Exhibition Centre.

“The long-range advantage of the Gulfstream G700 and G600 is incredibly important to customers in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Gulfstream senior v-p of worldwide sales Scott Neal. “We look forward to showcasing these record-setting aircraft at the Singapore Airshow so customers can experience firsthand their unmatched performance, innovative design, and exceptional comfort.”

According to the company, the G700 is the fastest in the Gulfstream fleet and can link Singapore to London at Mach 0.87. It seats up to 19 passengers and sleeps up to 13.

This news comes after parent company General Dynamics said the FAA’s delay in the certifying of the aircraft cost the company $1 billion in revenues and $250 million in earnings last year at its aerospace division. The company had initially planned for 15 deliveries of the G700 in December 2023. It now expects FAA certification and service entry by the end of next month, with 50 G700 deliveries planned by year-end.

Pilots are often frustrated when their aviation medical examiners tell them that the protocols that we must comply with at the time of the FAA exam are just a bit different than how we handle things between FAA exams. This can be confusing for everyone involved.

At the time of the exam, a pilot must meet all aeromedical standards. These are outlined in FAR Part 67. These standards are then referenced in various FAR sections and in the general information sections throughout the FAA website. All of this information is available to pilots.

The medical standards include hard and fast, measurable parameters for things such as vision and hearing. The FAA is further given the mandate and authority to rule on any medical condition that it deems relevant to aviation safety. Also included in the FARs are protocols to determine how to proceed toward a special issuance authorization of a medical certificate when a formally disqualifying diagnosis is discovered in a pilot.

The ”specifically disqualifying” diagnoses include cardiac disease requiring treatment, diabetes requiring medication, substance abuse and dependence, and several other conditions, including neurological and psychiatric. There are only 15 specifically disqualifying conditions noted in the regulations.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved ExecuJet Haite to perform heavy maintenance checks on Gulfstream G650/650ERs, the MRO provider said today. This allows ExecuJet Haite, which is based at Tianjin Binhai International Airport (ZBTJ), to perform base maintenance checks, up to and including 72-month checks, on G650/650ERs registered in China—Gulfstream’s largest market in Asia.

A Gulfstream-authorized warranty facility, ExecuJet Haite already had gained approval from the CAAC, FAA, Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority to perform line maintenance and AOG support on these ultra-long-range jet models.

The company’s AOG support passed a significant test on January 1 when it imported a spare part on the afternoon of a public holiday and still managed to clear customs within an hour. It meant ExecuJet Haite’s engineering team could install the spare part overnight in time for the foreign-registered aircraft to depart in the morning as scheduled.

“Performing AOGs to the satisfaction of the customer is immensely rewarding and generates enormous goodwill between the aircraft-maker, MRO company, and customer,” said ExecuJet Haite general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers.

Signature Aviation this week signed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” pledge, joining other companies in the transportation sector in educating its employees and raising public awareness of this illegal activity.

With ancillary activities centered around the Super Bowl this weekend in Las Vegas attracting tens of thousands of visitors, they are also drawing increased scrutiny from vigilant authorities working to prevent human trafficking. “There is evidence around certain sporting events and other things that some of this trafficking increases,” Signature CEO Tony Lefebvre told AIN. “We’re very prominent in Las Vegas and we want to make sure that the event is not only a great one for everybody who is coming in but also a safe event.”

While many airports along with municipal and state governments and aviation departments have previously joined the DOT effort, Signature is the first dedicated aviation service provider to do so.

“Private aviation operators are on the frontlines of the fight to end human trafficking,” said Michael Camal, senior engagement manager with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. “We are grateful that Signature is leveraging its vast resources and global workforce to combat this heinous crime.”

“I take this responsibility very seriously as the largest private aviation terminal operator to take the lead on this,” said Lefebvre.

Venice will host the first annual Future Opportunities for Seaplanes & Amphibious Aviation conference on March 20. Joint organizers Quaynote Communications and Arena Group selected the historic trading port on Italy’s Adriatic Sea coast as a focal point for innovators looking to tap the potential for water-based air transportation.

The gathering is expected to attract around 200 participants, including aircraft manufacturers, operators, airports, and other stakeholders. The conference agenda will focus on the case for a new generation of amphibious aircraft and how these can be brought into commercial service, with expert contributors on topics such as integrated air transportation, infrastructure, finance, electric propulsion, and sustainability.

Among the speakers confirmed so far are representatives of electric seaplane developers Jekta, Elfly, Mallard Enterprises, Tidal Flight, and Ocean Aircraft. Other speakers include Cate Brancart, GAMA’s director for European Safety & Sustainability Development, as well as leaders from insurance company Skyrisks, communications technology provider Satcom Direct, and leasing group Monte. Aircraft operators participating include Gayo Aviation, Scandinavian Seaplanes, and Seaplane Asia.

In the 1920s, Venice was one of several venues used for the Schneider Trophy seaplane races.

The Priester family of aviation brands are unifying under a single company name, George J. Priester Aviation. Based out of Wheeling, Illinois, the new brand will include ​​Priester Aviation as its Midwest base, Mayo Aviation as its Rocky Mountain West base, and Hill Private Aviation as its Southeast base.

The name carries historical weight for the now-unified brands. In 1945, George J. Priester Aviation was the original name of the company, providing flight training for military veterans. The company has since expanded to aircraft management, charter flights, and maintenance services.

George J. Priester Aviation chairman and CEO Andy Priester, grandson of the company’s namesake founder, said the move is part of the company’s plan to continue building relationships across the country. “Being part of a larger George J. Priester Aviation organization allows people to immediately see the connection to a group with the nationwide resources and capabilities to serve their aviation needs anywhere,” he said.

George J. Priester Aviation manages more than 80 aircraft among its companies and operates a global charter service.