Textron Aviation experienced a challenging 2024, marked by a labor strike and subsequent production disruptions, but the company concluded the year with positive momentum and strong demand across its portfolio. Reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year results this morning, Textron outlined its financial performance, aircraft deliveries, and strategic developments while projecting a promising outlook for 2025.

Textron Aviation delivered 32 jets and 38 civil turboprops in the fourth quarter, down from 50 jets and 44 turboprops during the same period in 2023. The year-over-year decline highlights the impact of the labor strike, which disrupted production for approximately one-third of the quarter. Deliveries of light jets—including the M2 Gen2, CJ3+, and CJ4 Gen2—were particularly affected, as was the overall production cadence.

In the quarter, the company reported revenues of $1.3 billion, down $242 million year over year. Segment profit for the quarter was $100 million, a $93 million decrease from fourth-quarter 2023, driven by lower volume and manufacturing inefficiencies.

Textron Inc. chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly addressed the challenges and achievements of 2024 during the company’s earnings call. “2024 results were impacted by work stoppage at Aviation and difficult end markets in our industrial segment,” Donnelly said. “While the strike was unfortunate, we did take this opportunity to significantly improve our parts flow to the production line, which we expect will reduce our outstation work and improve efficiency going forward.”

The aviation community already is seeing numerous changes in Washington, D.C., under the newly inaugurated Trump Administration, with most new regulations and federal hiring apparently on pause, heads of agencies turning over, and certain initiatives and/or committee activities left in limbo.

Among the presidential actions issued on January 20 was a regulatory review, prohibiting agencies from proposing or issuing new rules and directing them to withdraw those already sent to the Office of the Federal Register. For the FAA, the only notice on public inspection is now rescinded. That involved “Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Kenansville, North Carolina.”

Meanwhile, the leadership at the FAA and TSA are turning over. FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker stepped down and TSA Administrator David Pekoske was fired. Currently, the administrator and deputy administrator at both agencies are listed as vacant.

In addition, the White House has put a hiring freeze in place, prohibiting the replacement of open government positions or the creation of new ones while the administration evaluates reductions in the workforce. This has drawn criticism from lawmakers as the FAA has been ramping up controller hiring.

Among the other early White House actions has been the dismantling of the long-standing Aviation Security Advisory Committee that was under TSA’s purview. Along the lines of "DEI" was a directive for the FAA to “immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring, as required by law."

The major snowstorm that blanketed the Texas Gulf Coast yesterday swept eastward overnight, leaving Florida and Georgia airports covered under up to eight inches of snow. Across the Gulf Coast, numerous airports were forced to close due to the record snowfall.

Like most communities in the region where 60 degrees F is considered cold, Pensacola was hampered by a lack of snow-removal equipment. The city imported five snowplows from Atlanta, but those were being used solely to clear roadways, leaving Pensacola International Airport (KPNS) under 7.6 inches of snow and expected to remain closed until at least noon tomorrow.

According to the KPNS operations staff, vehicles are being driven on the runways and taxiways to break up the snow and ice, making it easier to melt—especially with temperatures expected to reach 38 degrees this afternoon. Christopher Adamson, general manager of the Pensacola Aviation Center and a lifelong Pensacola resident, told AIN he only recalled three instances of snow on the ground previously, but never more than two inches.

Further east, Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH) received about three inches of snow and is expected to reopen on Thursday by 6 p.m. Million Air is reporting that its FBO there is open and servicing helicopter operations. The company noted that it will have extra staff reporting in at 11 a.m. to be prepared if the airport opens earlier than expected.

Fractional ownership providers PlaneSense and Jetfly have joined forces to expand their reaches—and service offerings—in both the Americas and Europe. Under the partnership, PlaneSense and Jetfly aircraft shareowners will be able to use their flight hours in either program beginning April 1. Together, the companies count about 100 Pilatus PC-12 turboprop singles and PC-24 jets in their fleets.

In operation for 30 years, Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based PlaneSense has a fleet of 46 PC-12s and 16 PC-24s that operate throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. The fractional program provides guaranteed access with no blackout dates.

Luxembourg-based Jetfly, meanwhile, operates 26 PC-12s and 13 PC-24s throughout Europe, also offering year-round guaranteed availability. Employing 500, including 250 pilots, Jetfly has 400 aircraft owners in its fractional program.

While expanding their offerings, flight reservations and billing will remain with the respective programs.

“This collaboration is a tremendous value-add for our clients,” said PlaneSense president and CEO George Antoniadis. “We have come to know Jetfly well over the years and we share the same values on safety, service, and aircraft maintenance.”

Jetfly CEO Cédric Lescop added, “Together, we are not only strengthening our offer but also building on a shared commitment to excellence. This partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter in the exceptional experiences we aim to offer to our owners.”

Duncan Aviation is spooling up on a program to support legacy Honeywell thrust reverser actuator system (TRAS) parts on GE CF6 and CF34 engines under a licensing agreement with Ontic. That agreement, awarded in September, calls for Duncan to service, support, exchange, and sell certain of the TRAS products. Ontic acquired the product line from Honeywell in 2023.

That agreement helps Duncan expand its support for legacy aircraft. The TRAS part numbers under the agreement are on more than 3,000 aircraft. Meanwhile, it further helps Ontic expand in the business jet arena.

“Duncan Aviation is a specialist in the business jet MRO market, an area where Ontic is looking to grow,” said Adam Payne, Ontic’s senior sales manager for Staverton. “They will help offer repair options and solutions for Ontic’s TRAS product lines in North America, extending capabilities and coverage to their customer base from their Lincoln, Nebraska facility.”

Tim Fidler, Duncan Aviation Components business development manager, noted that the MRO has years of experience repairing these components. Applicable components can be purchased through Duncan Aviation’s parts portal.

These include for CF34 business jet and regional airline engines: P/N 3272570-X (thrust reverser ballscrew actuator),126758-X (pneumatic drive unit), and 121754-X (flex shaft assembly). For CF6 engines: P/Ns 3272602-X (ballscrew gearbox assembly), 3269264-X (subsystem actuator), 3269086-X (subsystem feedback actuator), 3202278-X (check valve), and 320522-X (directional pilot valve).

Business jet activity in Saudi Arabia jumped a record 24% last year, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced today at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Movements rose from around 19,000 in 2023 to more than 23,600 in 2024, with domestic flights up 26%, to 9,200, and international trips rising 15%, to 14,400. Business jet traffic at major airport hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam climbed 30%, 22%, and 7%, respectively.

GACA said tourism destinations Sindalah, Red Sea, and Al Ula were popular new locations for business, while events such as the Future Investment Initiative conference and Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah also supported the record growth.

“A thriving business jet sector is essential to support Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism and business sectors,” said Mohammed Alkhuraisi, GACA’s executive v-p of strategy and business. “To build on the record business jet growth achieved in 2024, an unprecedented investment program is underway to ensure the Kingdom offers unparalleled business jet aviation infrastructure and services.”

Last year, GACA announced plans worth $2 billion for six dedicated private airports and a further nine private terminals at other facilities, with FBOs and MROs also set to increase in number. Last month, Jetex reached an agreement to develop and operate the sole FBO at Red Sea International Airport (OERS) on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.

Western Aircraft, a subsidiary of Greenwich AeroGroup, has been appointed as an authorized Goodrich deicing service center by Collins Aerospace. This designation enables Western Aircraft to install, maintain, and support Goodrich aircraft wing deice boot systems, expanding its offerings.

Goodrich deicing systems are designed to improve safety and functionality in adverse weather by removing accumulated ice on wing and tail leading edges. These pneumatic systems are widely used in aviation due to their effectiveness and technical reliability, which help operators maintain performance and reduce potential risks associated with icing conditions.

“We are honored to be named an authorized Goodrich deicing service center by Collins Aerospace,” said John Kochel, director of parts and logistics at Western Aircraft. “This designation reflects our dedication to providing unparalleled service and support to our customers. By joining Collins Aerospace’s expanding network of service providers, we can offer enhanced ice protection solutions that ensure safety and performance during challenging weather conditions.”

Western Aircraft serves customers across the U.S. and Canada, and its team has experience working with various types of aircraft. The company supports Cessna Citation, Embraer, Falcon, Gulfstream, King Air, Pilatus, Piper, and Daher Kodiak models, providing maintenance and service solutions.

Sharp Technics K is now the first authorized customer service center in the Republic of Korea for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. S-92s are flown by the Korea Coast Guard, which has been operating them since 2014, in addition to S-92As at National 119 Rescue for lifesaving and firefighting missions. The Republic of Korea Air Force also uses three S-92As for presidential transport. According to Sikorsky, more than 30 S-92s are operating in Asia-Pacific.

“We are honored to be authorized as a customer support center for the S-92 helicopter,” said Paik Soon-suk, president and CEO of Sharp Technics K. "We share Sikorsky’s passion for aviation safety and reliability, and we are committed to delivering exceptional service to our customers.” Sharp Technics K is a subsidiary of Sharp Aviation K and is based at Incheon International Airport in Seoul.

The addition of Sharp Technics K for S-92 support “will facilitate faster maintenance turnaround times and local parts supply for S-92 operators in the Republic of Korea and beyond who are dedicated to search-and-rescue, firefighting, and head-of-state transport missions," said Leon Silva, v-p of global commercial and military systems at Sikorsky. “This initiative demonstrates Sikorsky’s ongoing commitment to Korea and the S-92 helicopter, and we are confident that Sharp Technics K will deliver exceptional service.”