Florida is aiming to be the pioneer for advanced air mobility (AAM) operations using eVTOL aircraft, panelists said this morning during the “Future of Flight in Florida” session at the NBAA Miami regional forum. NBAA president Ed Bolen noted that eVTOLs will be additive to business aviation, providing another “arrow in the quiver to get people where they need to be and when they need to be there.”

Vertiports by Atlantic Aviation senior v-p Roly Tapanes told attendees that Florida has been very forward-looking on AAM, notably Miami-Dade County, which includes the Miami–Opa Locka Executive Airport (KOPF), where the NBAA forum was held. “These quiet and safe aircraft are the front door for the next stage of business aviation, providing more access to new places,” he said. “Airlines have 500 airports, while there are 5,000 for general aviation, all of which can be used for AAM. Vertiports would be additive to that.”

Tapanes told AIN that Atlantic Aviation is using cellphone data to identify where vertiports should be located near its 10 FBO locations in Florida. He said the company is studying this data to show hotspots, causes for travel, time of day, and the degree to which people would be willing to pay a price delta to fly an eVTOL to save time. According to Tapanes, standalone vertiports could be as small as 2 acres.

The U.S. House of Representatives is turning its attention to the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (Alert) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613) after a Senate aviation safety bill, the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (Rotor) Act, failed to garner enough votes on Tuesday.

Both the Rotor Act, which passed the Senate in December, and the Alert Act are designed to address safety issues surrounding the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. While they both have received support from many industry groups, there are some key differences between the two, notably the Rotor Act’s mandate for ADS-B In for all aircraft.

Ahead of yesterday’s vote, Washington groups engaged in an intense lobbying campaign, but the U.S. military reportedly voiced objections, as did House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Missouri), who said the Rotor Act focuses on a mandate “that can prove burdensome to some operators.”

After the unsuccessful vote, both Graves and his Democrat counterpart on T&I, Rick Larsen (D-Washington), released a joint statement: “We remain committed to...comprehensively address all 50 NTSB recommendations in response to the tragic midair collision at DCA, and expeditiously consider the bill in our committee.”

However, in a post on X, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy stated, “The Rotor Act would’ve saved lives...How many more people need to die before we act?”

Brazil-based aircraft sales and maintenance provider Synerjet has inaugurated its fourth service center in Latin America. The new facility, located at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (SGAS) in Asunción, Paraguay, has been certified by local authorities for the maintenance of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, and as part of the opening ceremonies yesterday, a PC-12 Pro was on display for the first time in Latin America.

The new service center occupies a 9,150-sq-ft (850-sq-m) hangar with capacity for up to four PC-12s at the same time. It also has a maintenance team, parts inventory, tools, and ground handling personnel.

In addition to SGAS, Synerjet has its own service centers at its São Paulo Catarina International Executive Airport (SBJH) headquarters, in Goianápolis at the Condomínio Liberty Airport (SNLL), and in Medellín, Colombia, at Olaya Herrera Airport (SKMD).

Synerjet also has three other accredited service centers in Guatemala, Argentina, and Chile, for a total of seven facilities in Latin America to serve Pilatus customers.

“Our primary commitment is to support Pilatus aircraft in Latin America, wherever they may be, and we spare no effort in doing so,” said Synerjet CEO Fabio Rebello. “The hangar in Asunción is a natural evolution to serve the growing fleet of the country and neighboring countries.”

India’s aviation sector sustained two serious accidents within a 24-hour period this week. On Monday, a Redbird Airways Beechcraft King Air C90 air ambulance (VT‑AJV) crashed in Jharkhand, killing all seven on board. The next day, a state‑owned Pawan Hans Dauphin ditched about 900 feet short of the Mayabunder helipad in the Andamans; all seven inter‑island passengers survived.

The back‑to‑back events have sharpened scrutiny on operational standards, weather decisions, and technical reliability across India’s smaller commercial and medevac fleets. In an online meeting, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, director general (civil aviation) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) warned nonscheduled operator permit charter and air‑taxi operators that run on-demand flights to tighten compliance or risk losing permits.

India Business Aircraft Operators Association managing director R.K. Bali told members, “As business aviation operators connecting many uncontrolled airfields with limited weather and advisory support, we must ensure safety is never compromised…As the pre-monsoon season approaches, I urge you to conduct internal safety audits and reinforce strict crew briefings.”

The Redbird air ambulance twin turboprop had been airborne barely 20 minutes on the Ranchi–Delhi leg when the crew requested a weather deviation from Kolkata ATC, then lost radar and radio contact before crashing into terrain. The aircraft was not required to have cockpit voice and flight data recorders.

There were few details about the Pawan Hans helicopter crash at press time. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and DGCA have opened a full probe into both accidents.

After expanding its service center in Augusta, Georgia, last year to 210,000 sq ft, StandardAero has inducted the first two Gulfstream aircraft for maintenance events there. The added 80,500-sq-ft facility includes a new maintenance hangar and expanded engine shop.

Both of the Gulfstreams inducted into the facility at Augusta Regional Airport (KAGS) are GIV-SPs. One is in for regular inspection due list items and the other for airframe inspection and installation of a Starlink satcom system.

StandardAero offers its CompleteCare services for Gulfstreams at its Augusta; Springfield, Illinois; and Van Nuys, California MRO facilities. The CompleteCare program provides onsite engine repair and overhaul as well as APU, airframe, avionics, parts, interior refurbishment, and paint services. Mobile service teams are also available for AOG situations.

“We are extremely fortunate to have formed a Gulfstream specialty maintenance crew to add to the existing expertise of our site here in Augusta,” said Chris Bodine, v-p and general manager of StandardAero AGS. “We are actively scheduling GIV, G450, GV, and G550 service events through 2026 and beyond, with additional model support coming soon.”

North Carolina’s Duplin County Airport (KDPL) has completed the paving of its connector Taxiway A3, which features upgraded lighting and new signage. Largely funded by the state’s Department of Transportation, the project is part of a multimillion-dollar slate of developments at the airport, which is located in Kenansville, in the eastern part of the state.

The dedicated general aviation gateway—which features a 6,000-foot runway—has also embarked on construction of a seventh corporate hangar to meet capacity needs. The 12,000-sq-ft structure, capable of sheltering aircraft up to a Gulfstream G550, along with 3,000 sq ft of office/shop space, is expected to be available for lease by the end of May.

As well, a $2.2 million fuel farm project will replace the existing one, with increased capacity of 20,000 gallons of jet-A and 12,000 gallons of avgas. It is scheduled for completion by mid-year.

“These improvements represent a significant investment in the future of Duplin County Airport, strengthening safety, expanding operational capacity, and driving economic opportunity throughout the region,” said KDPL director Josh Raynor. “By increasing hangar availability, modernizing airfield surfaces, and upgrading critical infrastructure, the airport is well positioned to support continued general aviation growth, attract new business activity, and remain a dependable asset for both the community, county, and our aviation partners.”

Twenty-five years ago, Bryan Comstock and George Marburger founded Jeteffect, an aircraft brokerage and advisory firm specializing in the sale, acquisition, and consultation of business aircraft. Since then, the partners and their team have completed more than 900 sales transactions, from turboprops to ultra-long-range business jets.

Both Marburger and Comstock are pilots and brought their passion for aviation to growing their new company. Before launching Jeteffect, Comstock, who runs the company’s Long Beach, California office, was a staff editor at Flying magazine and AIN. Although he enjoyed some aspects of aviation writing, especially meeting a lot of talented aviators, Comstock knew it wasn’t the right job for him long-term. “I really wanted to do something else in aviation,” he said.

Living in Connecticut then, he decided to try selling light airplanes in the mid-1980s, but this proved challenging. “It was a learning process, especially in the winter trying to sell piston airplanes with snow all over the place. I loved what I was doing, but I wasn’t making any money.”

An opportunity arose for Comstock to move into larger airplane sales in Maryland, and he took it, quickly learning that selling jets was far more profitable than piston singles.