The HondaJet Elite II has become the first twinjet to receive U.S. FAA approval for installation of the Garmin Emergency Autoland (EAL) system, Honda Aircraft announced this morning. Previously certified on a range of single and twin-turboprop aircraft, as well as the Cirrus Vision Jet turbine single, EAL enables the aircraft to land autonomously in an emergency situation when a pilot becomes incapacitated.

Honda Aircraft noted that the system has been “highly anticipated” by its HondaJet Elite II customers and that it was pursuing similar approvals through other regulatory agencies. Approval follows the addition of autothrottles in October 2024, which Honda Aircraft noted is a key technology related to the EAL system. The Greensboro, North Carolina-based airframer completed its certification testing on EAL in October 2025.

“Adding Emergency Autoland to the HondaJet Elite II demonstrates our commitment to delivering new value to our customers,” said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “I’m proud that our team is fulfilling this promise by offering Emergency Autoland and giving our HondaJet Elite II customers greater peace of mind during every flight.”

The HondaJet is the ninth application to receive approval, with a half-dozen more in the wings, including for the Gen3 variants of Cessna Citation CJ3 and CJ4 twins. Many of the in-production turboprops are now equipped with the system, or are also working on installation.

AOPA has named CFO Jill Baker and senior v-p of membership strategy and growth Katie Pribyl as acting co-presidents to run day-to-day operations while the association searches for a permanent successor to fill the role of president and CEO Darren Pleasance, who has stepped down. In an announcement today, AOPA said Pleasance is moving into an advisory capacity supporting the association and its board of trustees. Pleasance joined AOPA in January 2025, succeeding Mark Baker.

“Over time, it’s become increasingly clear that the AOPA CEO role should be based full-time in Frederick, Maryland, at AOPA’s headquarters,” the association said in a statement. “The AOPA Board appreciates the substantial time Darren has spent traveling from his home in Bend, Oregon, to be present in Frederick and with members across the country. Recognizing this, now is the right time to transition leadership in a way that best supports the organization’s long-term needs.”

AOPA board chairman Jim Hauslein praised Pleasance’s energy, perspective, and commitment to serving pilots. “He has been deeply engaged with our members across the country, taking time to listen to their experiences, understand their challenges, and represent their voices in the work we do every day. We are grateful for his leadership and are pleased he will continue to support AOPA during this transition,” Hauslein said.

The AOPA board expects to launch a search shortly for a permanent successor.

Fort Lauderdale-based Banyan Air Service has introduced maintenance support for the Beechcraft King Air 90 and 200 models at its satellite service facility at Northeast Florida Regional Airport (KSGJ) in St. Augustine.

Established two years ago, the location initially concentrated on servicing HondaJets but last year added the PC-12 to its slate, providing line maintenance, scheduled inspections, and heavy maintenance options.

According to the company, the expansion is in direct response to increased demand for turboprop and light-jet maintenance across the state. The KSGJ facility allows it to offer faster response times, increased maintenance capacity, and improved regional coverage for customers.

“We’re excited to continue growing our maintenance capabilities in St. Augustine and to welcome King Air aircraft into the facility while continuing our support of the HondaJet and PC-12 platform,” said Charlie Amento, Banyan’s v-p/director of MRO services. “This location allows us to better support operators in North Florida and beyond, while maintaining the same standards of quality and expertise Banyan is known for.”

The City of Sugar Land, Texas—which operates Sugar Land Regional Airport (KSGR) and GlobalSelect, its lone FBO—is now the newest member of the Avfuel branded dealer network.

KSGR is located less than 25 miles from Houston, offering operators an uncongested gateway to the city, and the partnership, which took effect at the beginning of the month, comes as the city and its airport prepare for increased international traffic due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Sugar Land is an official Houston World Cup Host City supporter, with the tournament estimated to attract more than half a million visitors to the area.

GlobalSelect features a 20,000-sq-ft terminal with an onsite café, private executive lounge, three conference rooms, U.S. Customs and Immigration service, and hotel shuttle. For aircraft crews, it offers a pilot lounge with a kitchen, theater room, and snooze rooms.

It has 85,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of accommodating the latest ultra-long-range business jets. KSGR is also home to a 140,000-sq-ft Sky Harbour private hangar complex.

“Sugar Land Regional Airport represents the future of global travel into Houston, serving as a premier aviation hub for business, event, and leisure travelers to the region,” said Jon Boyle, Avfuel’s v-p of sales. “We’re excited to support the City of Sugar Land, KSGR, and GlobalSelect with the fuel and services that will help make that vision a reality.”

Yingling Aviation continues to build on its large-cabin MRO business, completing its first 192-month inspection on a Gulfstream G550. The project was its largest completed to date, marking a significant milestone for the 80-year-old Wichita MRO that, in recent years, has been expanding beyond its historical business of lighter aircraft maintenance and support.

The heavy maintenance inspection involved extensive work that came in tandem with a comprehensive refurbishment, including full soft goods replacement, veneer refresh, and avionics upgrades. Yingling added that the project involved close collaboration across multiple teams, with all parties expressing “high satisfaction” with the outcome.

“This project demanded an exceptional level of communication, teamwork, and technical expertise,” said Vinnie Venditto, executive v-p and general manager. “Our team truly came together and demonstrated the depth of talent and experience we have at Yingling. Completing a project of this scale represents a major achievement for our organization.”

Stratos Jets has added built-in AOG mechanical recovery coverage, called FlightGuard, to every on-demand charter quote arranged through its network of franchise agencies. The protection applies automatically unless declined at booking and offsets the cost of securing a comparable replacement aircraft if the original jet becomes mechanically unavailable before departure.

The Orlando, Florida-based charter broker said the coverage—previously a hallmark of jet card programs—brings comparable reliability to per-trip charters without requiring prepaid deposits, block hours, or long-term contracts.

“We turned the most fragile point in private charter and made it dependable,” said Joel Thomas, founder and CEO of Stratos Jets. “In the event of an AOG, clients can expect a clear recovery plan and built-in financial protection.

”Reliability shouldn’t be reserved for members of prepaid jet card programs,” he added. “By including FlightGuard in every charter—while still giving clients the choice to opt out—we’re removing one of the last reasons travelers felt forced into jet cards for peace of mind.”

FlightGuard covers the price gap between the contracted charter cost and the market rate for a recovery aircraft, mitigating financial exposure from day-of-flight mechanical disruptions. The coverage is backed by Falcon MGA Services and underwritten through Lloyd’s of London’s JetSure policy.

Gogo has appointed UAE-based Falcon Technic as an authorized dealer for its satellite connectivity systems. Falcon Technic, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul division of Alex Group Investment, is now approved to support the distribution and installation of Gogo’s multi-band, multi-orbit Gogo Galileo and Plane Simple equipment. The company’s Dubai facility holds maintenance organization approval issued by regulators in the UAE and Aruba.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority recently issued a design organization approval to Falcon Technic, clearing it to handle aircraft cabin refurbishments and exterior upgrades. The agency also issued an air operator certificate to sister company Alex Jet Aviation Services, which provides charter flights through the Falcon Luxe brand.

In May, Falcon Technic ordered multiple Gogo Galileo HDX antenna systems for the group’s charter fleet. The terminals, which operate through the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite constellation, will be installed on its Bombardier Global Express and 5000 jets.

“The Middle East region is particularly buoyant right now, and we’re pleased to have appointed a local distributor to support our continued growth,” said Dave Falberg, Gogo’s senior v-p for sales in the EMEA and APAC regions.