XTI Aerospace has all but abandoned its plans to bring the TriFan 600 ducted-fan VTOL aircraft to market. After more than a decade of research and development work on the six-passenger business aircraft, the company has shelved the TriFan program and shifted its focus toward drones.

Speaking with investors during a town hall earlier this month, XTI chairman and CEO Scott Pomeroy confirmed that the TriFan 600—the company’s flagship product—has been defunded and deprioritized amid “a strategic evaluation of the business.” XTI’s decision to pause work on the TriFan 600 came just three months after it acquired Drone Nerds and Anzu Robotics. Launched in 2013, the TriFan program has yet to build or flight-test a full-scale prototype, making little progress in the company's ambitions to offer an alternative to existing business jets and helicopters.

The TriFan program review “is really about ensuring we can find a way to align the development of that business with the appropriate capital structure that it has,” Pomeroy explained. “So, we'll look at a number of different alternatives with the business, and when we're comfortable and confident as to what the direction is, we'll have more to say about that.”

Gulfstream Aerospace has added India to its list of approvals for the G700. The Indian Director General of Civil Aviation’s approval followed certifications of the G500 and G600 in the latter half of last year. The approvals enable Gulfstream to deliver the ultra-long-range twinjets into India, as well as build on its presence in the still-nascent business aviation market there.

“We are seeing strong momentum in India as interest in our next-generation aircraft continues to grow,” said Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns. “The G700 in particular offers a transformative advantage with its globe-spanning range and the most spacious cabin in the industry. We look forward to continued growth of the Gulfstream fleet for customers throughout India and around the world.”

First approved by the U.S. FAA in March 2024, the G700 has received more than a dozen certifications worldwide and also racked up more than 90 city-pair speed records. With a 7,750-nm range at Mach 0.85 or a 6,650-nm range at Mach 0.90, the aircraft can link Delhi to New York or Mumbai to London.

Gulfstream, meanwhile, has delivered more than 370 G500s and G600s since entering service, and these models have amassed more than 150 city-pair speed records.

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) have partnered to initiate a ground handling and ramp safety survey. According to EBAA, this exercise is intended to “help shape practical, data-driven improvements that support advancing safety across our industry.”

Informed by the EBAA Business Aviation Safety and Innovation Conference (BASIC) held in Brussels in October, the 17-question survey looks to “strengthen collaboration on ground handling and ramp safety,” something EBAA said was a “direct outcome of the discussions held during the event.”

EBAA said BASIC is “run by the community, for the community.” As such, it is encouraging “all members to share their perspectives and play an active role in advancing safety across our industry.” These are intended to inform future guidance, standards, and safety enhancements, shaping “practical, data-driven improvements that support safer ground operations across Europe and beyond.”

Transport Canada has approved the Airbus Helicopters super-medium H175 by issuing the helicopter’s Canadian type certificate. The H175 entered service in 2014.

The worldwide H175 fleet has logged more than 300,000 hours, and the helicopter is also certified by EASA and China’s CAAC. FAA approval for the H175 is pending.

“This is a pivotal moment for the Canadian helicopter industry,” said Bart Reijnen, Airbus Helicopters’ head of the North America region. “We are delighted to receive Transport Canada certification for the H175, a testament to the dedication of our teams and the capabilities of this exceptional aircraft. This certification underscores our commitment to providing Canadian customers with advanced rotary-wing solutions that deliver enhanced performance, safety, and efficiency, and opens the door for new opportunities for operators seeking a highly capable, versatile, and dependable helicopter for their critical missions across Canada’s vast and challenging environment.”

Capable of carrying up to 18 passengers, the H175 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E engines, each producing 1,776 shp. Maximum range is 626 nm and the H175 can cruise at up to 144 knots. With an mtow of 17,196 pounds, the H175 can carry an external load of up to 5,952 pounds. Avionics are Airbus’ Helionix suite, which includes a four-axis autopilot.

Daher Aircraft is making its debut as an exhibitor at Verticon 2026, promoting its Kodiak 100 and 900 turboprops as complements to rotorcraft fleets for law enforcement and public safety agencies. At the event, taking place March 10 to 12, the company will showcase the turboprops’ ability to extend mission capabilities while lowering costs for helicopter-focused organizations.

“As agencies increasingly seek greater endurance, along with extended coverage and more adaptable missions, the Kodiak 100 and 900 offer compelling solutions with their persistent surveillance capabilities,” said Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert.

Daher acquired the Kodiak line in 2019 and has since introduced the Kodiak 100 Series III and launched the larger Kodiak 900. The company developed in-house systems integration capabilities to support the multimission market, which now accounts for approximately one-third of annual Kodiak sales.

According to Daher, the Kodiaks can remain aloft for seven to eight hours, or up to 9.5 hours in some configurations, far exceeding typical helicopter mission duration. Performing well at low speeds between 85 and 110 knots, the turboprops turn tightly and provide a steady observation platform suitable for pilots with varying experience levels.

Direct operating expenses average around $400 per hour, including fuel, though some Part 91 maintenance approaches can reduce that figure. Daher said this represents a substantial saving compared with helicopter hourly costs.

Semi-private carrier Magnifica Air revealed its first aircraft at Florida’s Orlando International Airport (KMCO) earlier this month: an Airbus Corporate Jet ACJ321neo that will be configured for the start-up’s planned 2027 service launch. The long-range jet is the first of four aircraft Magnifica Air will operate in what it calls Private Class, a service category that falls somewhere between traditional first class and private aviation. Each aircraft will be configured to carry approximately 54 passengers.

The ACJ321neo, which offers a maximum range of approximately 6,100 nm, will now enter a 10-month interior completion phase. Magnifica Air co-founder and CEO Wade Black said the carrier is delivering “a new cabin category built around how people want to travel today.”

“The arrival of our first ACJ321neo is a defining operational milestone,” said Kevin Ketterer, v-p of technical operations at Magnifica Air. “It enables the launch of our maintenance and reliability programs, integrating predictive technologies and dedicated support services designed to deliver the level of consistency expected from a new cabin category.”

At NBAA-BACE in October, the company disclosed plans for a fleet combining Airbus A220s and A321neos. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2027, with service between South Florida and New York.

Global air charter firm Elevate Jet has launched a booking app designed to eliminate phone calls, membership barriers, and pricing opacity that have long defined private aviation reservations. The platform uses a proprietary AI agent, Ruby, to analyze flight parameters—including range, fuel requirements, crew duty limits, and airport constraints—then generates instant pricing across six aircraft categories spanning light to ultra-long-range jets.

The app draws on operational data from more than 100,000 flights completed during the company’s 30 years in business. That dataset feeds a proprietary flight-grading system that evaluates pilot and crew performance, FBO service quality, cabin condition, and operational details to predict outcomes and avoid known failure points.

“Travelers that regularly fly private know that a private jet is a time machine,” said Elevate Jet CEO Greg Raiff. “But why save time on a private jet just to waste that time talking for hours? The new Elevate Jet app solves that problem and more. It also gives clients full transparency so they know exactly what they are paying for.”

Unlike competing platforms that require memberships or upfront payments before revealing pricing, Elevate Jet’s app provides transparent costs without gated access. Users can complete bookings without contacting a broker, though human support remains available within the platform.

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aircraft, avionics, and engine OEMs. The 2026 AIN Product Support Survey is now open and ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been asked to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their password and link to the online survey by e-mail. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on May 31. Please contact Lisa Valladares if you have not received an access code for the survey.