The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) noted strong fourth-quarter sales activity in its year-end 2024 report released this week.

In the final quarter of 2024, the 562 completed transactions by its dealer members equated to 36% of the year’s total, an increase of nearly 50% over the third quarter, and nine more than the same period in 2023. The total of 1,559 closed deals in 2024 represented a 10% increase from the previous year.

The report’s member survey showed a rising trend among IADA constituents in terms of sales volume expectations for the next six months, jumping from 3.1 to 3.5 for the fourth quarter in a five-point scale topped by “best ever” sales climate.

“Our fourth quarter 2024 perception survey indicates that members are entering 2025 with a collective sense of optimism,” said IADA chairman Phil Winters, who also serves as v-p of aircraft sales and charter management at Greenwich AeroGroup and its Western Aircraft subsidiary. “This optimism is reflected in the anticipated strong demand for preowned aircraft across all size categories, supported by relatively stable prices, values, and additional inventory.”

While transactions rose in the fourth quarter, there were indications that supply-side issues continue to constrain preowned aircraft transaction volumes, according to IADA. It added that production supply chains and the labor market have yet to fully rebound from the lingering effects of the pandemic.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Sean Duffy to become secretary of transportation. Today’s vote by 77 to 22 followed a 97-to-0 cloture vote on Monday to cut off debate, ensuring a filibuster would not stall consideration. The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved Duffy’s nomination last week, clearing a path for one of the smoother confirmations in the White House administration.

Duffy’s appointment comes as some of the pieces in the department appear clearer. The White House last week also nominated Steven Bradbury to become deputy secretary of transportation, succeeding Polly Ellen Trottenberg, who resigned. Bradbury had served as DOT general counsel under the first Trump administration from November 2017 to January 2021 and briefly served as acting deputy secretary and acting secretary of transportation.

Assistant principal deputy and acting assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice in the Bush (43) administration, Bradbury is a long-time attorney who once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Meanwhile, former NBAA COO Chris Rocheleau is said to have returned to the FAA, where he had previously spent 22 years, as deputy administrator—although the White House has not yet announced the appointment nor has the FAA confirmed it. Unclear is whether Rocheleau is serving as acting administrator until a successor is in place for Michael Whitaker, who also resigned.

Honda Aircraft has achieved a key step in the development of the Echelon light jet: inauguration of the advanced systems integration test facility (ASITF) at its Greensboro, North Carolina headquarters. The ASITF is a development simulator, replicating many aspects of the aircraft with actual hardware components and computer hardware and software.

According to the company, “There is a lot that goes into it, but it is important to stress that this is a development simulator. That means that, while it uses some real aircraft hardware and flight computing systems, it is built to a unique set of specifications for a unique purpose...to facilitate the maturation of the HondaJet Echelon systems.”

To build the flight model for the ASITF, Honda Aircraft engineers used wind tunnel data derived from the initial Echelon design. “These models are continually refined and updated as the maturity of the Echelon design increases,” the company explained.

As the Echelon program progresses, Honda Aircraft engineers will conduct “system development testing, system integration verification, and certification testing of flight controls, mechanical systems, and electrical components. The primary mission of the ASITF is to increase the maturity of aircraft systems and to find any issues as early in the development program as possible. This helps HondaJet to reduce development costs and accelerate the development cycle for the Echelon aircraft before the official flight test campaign.”

The UK government will extend the current night noise limits for aircraft movements at London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports using its quota count system. Following a consultation conducted last year, the Department for Transport has ruled that a so-called “bridging” arrangement will apply for three years from October 2025 to allow more time for the Aviation Night Noise Effects study to be completed as the basis for longer-term arrangements.

At Stansted Airport (EGSS), which attracts significant numbers of business aircraft to a well-established enclave of FBOs, existing government limits will apply between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., with varying levels of quota count limits between the winter and summer seasons. Business aviation service providers and the British Business and General Aviation Association have previously complained that these limits impede the slot flexibility needed for ad hoc operations to be conducted alongside scheduled airline traffic.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Labour government is poised to make long-deferred, highly contentious decisions over plans for significant capacity expansion at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton (EGGW) airports. Since taking office in July 2024, the current administration is under intense pressure to stimulate economic growth while at the same time meeting its commitments to achieve the country’s net-zero carbon objectives.

Ambassador Jet Center, the senior tenured of the two FBOs at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), has completed a major interior renovation on its 5,500-sq-ft two-story terminal. Included in the project were new flooring, paint, and furnishings in its airy double-height passenger lobby, along with a new customer service desk and refreshment bar. The FBO’s pilot lounge also received an upgrade.

Among its amenities, the family-owned company—which has been in operation at KRBD since 2001—lists shower facilities, concierge service, conference room, flight planning area, onsite car rental, and crew courtesy cars.

Located 10 minutes from downtown Dallas, the Avfuel-branded FBO has nearly 40,000 sq ft of hangar space, which can accommodate aircraft up to a Bombardier Global 7500.

“We are delighted to unveil our beautifully renovated facility and extend a warm welcome to travelers visiting the Dallas area,” said Brian Myler, the CAA-preferred facility’s general manager. “These enhanced amenities allow our attentive team to deliver an elevated level of personalized service, ensuring every guest’s experience is seamless and exceptional.”

Aero Asset's newly released Heli Market Trends 2024 Annual Report: Single-Engine detailed stable retail sales of turbine single-engine helicopters last year but rising supply. Compared with 2023, year-over-year (YOY) 2024 average transaction prices rose 4% and average days on market climbed 2%.

The Airbus Helicopters AS350B3/B3e/H125 was the most liquid preowned market in 2024, Aero Asset said, followed by the Bell 407/GX/P/I. The least liquid was the Airbus EC130B4/H130T2, which has an absorption rate of 1.5 years. Average absorption rate for single-engine helicopters climbed to 12 months “at current trade levels.”

Single-engine helicopter supply for sale reached a four-year peak in the fourth quarter of 2024, 30% higher YOY. North America and Asia-Pacific had the strongest transaction volumes, although North America was the leader with two-thirds of all transactions in 2024. Asia-Pacific was second and Europe fourth.

According to Aero Asset, “Europe saw a 26% increase in single-engine helicopter supply for sale, culminating at the end of Q4 2024 to 35% of the global stock. Supply for sale in remaining regions: APAC (25%, +90%), North America (23%, +36%), Latin America (10%, -25%), and rest of the world (7%, +22%).”

Aviation design company JPA Design has unveiled its “Afterglow” private jet biodynamic lighting retrofit concept that focuses on prioritizing passenger wellness according to the company. The concept, which was shortlisted for the 2025 International Yacht & Aviation Awards, combines high-end design with health-focused features.

Afterglow’s biodynamic lighting system, housed in a wall-mounted orb, appears to be a pretty but unobtrusive lighting option of the usual sophistication. However, it adjusts to the natural circadian rhythms of passengers, mimicking sunrise and sunset based on flight time and destination time zone. This thoughtful design helps mitigate the effects of jet lag by synchronizing with passengers’ physiological needs during flight.

In addition to the lighting system, the Afterglow cabin concept includes a range of features aimed at comfort and privacy such as a roomy combination bathroom and changing room, and a convertible sofa-to-double bed. Luxury amenities include a custom minibar, full-length wardrobe, and side furnishings. JPA Design emphasizes that this retrofit is a step toward sustainability, extending the life of aging aircraft interiors.

The Women in Aviation International’s Great Lakes chapter has been approached by a Novi High School senior seeking assistance with her AP research project on the aviation industry. She is looking for female airline transport pilots to complete a brief 26-question survey on how STEM aspects of aviation affect self-efficacy in crew resource management. Participation is anonymous.