Cirrus Aircraft today unveiled the Vision Jet Generation 3 (G3) with more than 30 new features, such as seating for six adults and one child, air traffic control datalink, new interior trims, and other refinements. Deliveries of the G3 are now underway.

AIN flew the G3 on January 26 and experienced many of the new features, including a series of controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) messages during a round-trip flight from Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) near Portland, Oregon, to Jack McNamara Field (KCEC) in Crescent City, California. While the Vision Jet G3 performs the same as the previous model, the G2+, the new features add convenience, safety benefits, and an increase in maximum Mach operating number (MMO) at cooler temperatures.

Cirrus has delivered more than 700 Vision Jets since it entered service in 2016. Many of the new features are exclusive to the G3, although the avionics upgrades will be available on previous models.

The expanded seating area is made possible by a new bench seat for the rearmost row, and it can accommodate two adults on the sides and a child or small person in the center. This expanded seating is an option available with the Premium and Arrivée trims or Xi-designed Vision Jet. To make entering the cabin easier, both pilot and copilot seats have a new handle for moving the seat fully forward or aft with one hand.

Gulfstream confirmed that it has applications pending for Canadian type certification of its G500, G600, G700, and G800. This comes in the wake of President Trump’s declaration late last week that he intends to revoke certification for all Canadian aircraft, including Bombardier Globals, in retaliation for delays in Transport Canada approval for these large-cabin Gulfstream twinjets.

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, January 29, the U.S. president specifically said that revocation of approvals for Canadian aircraft would remain in force until Gulfstream’s jets are “fully certified” by Transport Canada. He also threatened 50% tariffs on any aircraft produced in Canada and sold in the U.S.

A Gulfstream spokeswoman told AIN that the company has four FAA- and EASA-certified aircraft awaiting Transport Canada certification. The G500 and G600 applications have been pending for some six years, and applications for the newer G700 and G800 were made in 2024. The company said these applications have yet to be approved “despite the longstanding U.S.-Canada Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement and its Implementation Procedure for Airworthiness.”

On Friday, Canada’s transport minister responded to the Truth Social statement: “Last night, I spoke with Bombardier’s CEO, and earlier today I had a call with senior leadership at [Gulfstream parent company] General Dynamics. We will remain in close contact...Our government is actively working on this situation. Canada’s aviation industry is safe and reliable.”

The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 217 to 214 in favor of a five-bill appropriations package that would fund most of the federal government—including a $22.2 billion FAA budget—ending a partial shutdown that began on January 31.

Congress had reached an agreement on a comprehensive funding package in advance of the deadline of the January 30 funding lapse, but that fell apart after shootings by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. Lawmakers last week scrambled to assemble a package that includes several agencies without the Department of Homeland Security. It further included a two-week extension of DHS funding to provide time for ICE reform negotiations. The Senate passed the latest version on Friday.

The FAA, meanwhile, was forced to temporarily furlough 10,552 workers, with another 44,625 remaining active, including the nearly 14,000 air traffic controllers, according to the DOT plan. Furloughs primarily affected functions such as aviation rulemaking, routine security background checks, non-safety personnel random drug testing, law enforcement assistance support, and capital and operations planning, among others.

As for the FAA budget, the funding package provides a $1.22 billion increase over fiscal year 2025 levels, including an additional $235 million for the Air Traffic Organization and $824 million for FAA facilities and equipment. The bill sets aside $10.341 billion for air traffic control operations-related functions, including funding for the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers.

Luxaviation One, part of the Luxembourg-headquartered Luxaviation Group, is continuing to expand its presence in North America with the appointment of a U.S. managing director.

The newly-created position will be held by Helen Hollis, building on her experience of more than 15 years in the air charter industry. “A core focus [of the role] will be the development of a highly experienced U.S.-based team, bringing deep industry knowledge,” explained Luxaviation One.

This growing team will be expanded by what Luxaviation describes as its self-developed AI capabilities, which the company says will allow it to scale its operations rapidly while keeping a focus on service and reliability. Recognizing that the U.S. is “the largest business aviation market in the world and a multi-billion-dollar industry,” Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen added that its “sizeable” investment in the U.S. platform “reflects the scale of that opportunity.”

In October 2025, Luxaviation announced its newly-formed Luxaviation Group would focus exclusively on jet charter and flight brokerage services, sourcing aircraft that are not privately owned. At the time, the Luxembourg-based company said its team was set to double from eight to 16 specialists over the coming year.

The city government of Indianapolis, Indiana, recently achieved its goal of shutting down the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport (8A4) and is trying to sell the property. And, the Portland, Oregon Department of Transportation (DOT) closed the only public heliport in the city’s downtown area, Portland Downtown Helistop (61J), in December. However, local groups and Vertical Aviation International (VAI) are fighting both efforts. In the case of 8A4, a public comment period on the proposal to allow it to close has been reopened until February 12. VAI is urging helicopter proponents to submit comments in support of keeping 8A4 open.

“Public-use aviation infrastructure such as 8A4 is critical to supporting emergency response operations, business aviation, and the continued growth of the vertical flight industry,” according to VAI.

In Portland, a major effort is underway to save 61J. The Portland DOT explained that it had to be closed because the fire mitigation system used an environmentally unfriendly foam chemistry, and that switching to a safer foam would be too costly.

A group of local helicopter operators and VAI are working with the Portland DOT to try to upgrade the mitigation system and reopen the helistop. While the city of Portland had asked the FAA to remove 61J from the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, the city is working to reinstate the helistop.

New FAA guidance, Information for Operators InFO 26003, recommends spatial disorientation training for pilots operating under Part 91, Part 91K, and Part 135. It cites accident data showing that spatial disorientation remains a contributing factor in aviation accidents and encourages operators and training providers to incorporate both theoretical and practical training into their programs.

Training that emphasizes avoiding conditions where spatial disorientation can occur, recognizing its onset, and using effective recovery techniques is recommended by the FAA. Suggested training includes scenario-based exercises that replicate real-world situations, maneuver-based training to isolate specific events, and a combination of ground school, simulator, and in-flight instruction.

Special emphasis areas outlined in the guidance include common locations and environmental conditions associated with spatial disorientation, immediate recognition and acceptance of symptoms, and reliance on flight instruments rather than sensory perception. The FAA also recommended refresher training and appropriate use of autopilot systems when available.

The guidance follows an NTSB safety recommendation that stemmed from a fatal Part 135 helicopter accident in California in 2020. About 80% of aviation accidents, the FAA noted, involve human factors, and spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot’s perception of aircraft orientation conflicts with reality, often due to limited visual references or conflicting sensory cues.

After a run of more than 15 years, the JetNet iQ survey will end with the first-quarter 2026 in its current form but will continue under a new name.

Created by industry veteran Rollie Vincent as a joint product between the Utica, New York-based industry data analyst JetNet and his Rolland Vincent Associates (RVA) consultancy, the survey came to be viewed as one of the top market tools, providing insight into the minds of business aviation operators as well as offering trends.

The JetNet iQ team would provide survey-based updates on market conditions at major industry gatherings such as NBAA-BACE and EBACE and would host the annual JetNet iQ Summit, an information-packed gathering of expert panel discussions.

Vincent told AIN that the partnership with JetNet will end in May after the first-quarter 2026 report is finished. He further noted JetNet’s decision to end the product came somewhat as a surprise, adding that a recently completed survey of JetNet iQ customers indicates strong support for continuing it.

“They appreciate the statistical rigor we embed in our work, which bolsters confidence in our research. Without skipping a beat or missing a quarter, we are moving forward from JetNet iQ’s foundation to create the next generation of business aviation intelligence,” Vincent said, adding that he is building a team to spool up for a rebranded second-quarter survey as the two companies focus on their core strengths.