Gulfstream Aerospace’s large-cabin deliveries jumped by 32.6% to 118 in 2024 as the company spooled up deliveries of its new G700 flagship, the company’s parent company, General Dynamics (GD), reported Wednesday morning.

However, despite “stunning” results, GD chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic noted that revenues and earnings were lower than anticipated for its Aerospace group, including both Gulfstream and business aviation services provider Jet Aviation. This was a result of fewer G700 deliveries; Gulfstream had planned to hand over 50 last year but instead delivered 30, including just 15 of the 27 anticipated in the fourth quarter, she told analysts.

In all, the Savannah, Georgia manufacturer handed over 136 aircraft in 2024, a 22.5% increase over the 111 in 2023. That also reflected a four-unit decline in G280 deliveries to 18 in 2024.

Even so, the ramp-up in G700 deliveries, along with strong activity of its other large-cabin models, helped push up revenues at GD’s Aerospace unit by 30.5% to $11.249 billion in 2024. At the same time, operating earnings for the group were up 23.9% to $1.464 billion.

While chipping away at the multi-year backlog for its new ultra-long-range model that obtained certification last year, the Aerospace group maintained a book-to-bill ratio of close to 1:1, bringing in $11.278 billion in orders (not including cancelations and other adjustments), compared with $10.283 billion in 2023.

Multiple government policies aimed at restricting business aviation activity could cost Europe up to €120 billion ($125 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) and 104,000 jobs, according to a new study commissioned by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

Published on Wednesday, the report by Oxford Economics concluded that the industry contributes around €100 billion to the European Union’s GDP each year but is threatened by efforts to cut aviation carbon emissions that the industry groups have said are misguided and will undermine competitiveness.

EBAA and GAMA said they do not refute the need to address business aviation’s environmental impact, but they argued that the primary focus should be on collaborative industry-led efforts based largely on innovation, rather than restrictions. The report, entitled “The Socio-economic Benefits of Business Aviation in Europe,” highlighted potential harmful proposals from EU regulators including caps on short-haul flights (also including scheduled air services) and slot restrictions on business aircraft at some airports.

“Targeting business aviation with restrictions and unfair regulatory burdens, like the exclusion from the EU Taxonomy framework, risks €120 billion in FDI and thousands of jobs by 2030,” said EBAA’s secretary-general, Holger Krahmer. “We should move away from the ban mentality and focus on policies that support innovation, decarbonization, and competitiveness.”

Two months after moving into its new heavy aircraft maintenance facility at Texas’ Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), Jets MRO has received approval from the FAA as a Part 145 repair station. The approval covers maintenance on Textron Aviation Beechjets, Cessna Citations, and Hawkers, in addition to Bombardier Challenger 300 and 600 series and Learjets, as well as authority to serve customers with mobile AOG and line maintenance in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

According to Jets MRO, “This comprehensive approval is exceptionally rare for a newly certified repair station, reflecting Jets MRO’s high standards of quality, process focus, professionalism, and the expertise of their team. Special thank you goes to Textron Aviation and Bombardier for their continued support as we support their platforms of aircraft. Although Jets MRO does have authority to work on other aircraft models, [it has] a special focus on certain jet platforms due to [its] team’s experience and expertise.”

Former JSX COO Suresh Narayanan launched Jets MRO in January 2024 with a team of experienced technicians providing scheduled maintenance services, focusing on professional maintenance and putting employees first. “This milestone proves if you have the positive reputation, experience, regulatory and certification expertise, and the best team around you that FAA certification can be accomplished in a timely manner,” Narayanan said. The process took 12 months from application to FAA approval.

The U.S. Treasury Department has issued its long-awaited guidance on the Clean Fuels Production Credit. Section 45Z took effect this year and provides a per-gallon tax credit for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as well as other transportation fuels with greenhouse gas emissions below certain thresholds.

This guidance consolidates and replaces the pre-Inflation Reduction Act credits for renewable fuels, while adding an inflation adjustment factor, and clarifies that only the producer of fuel is eligible to receive the 45Z credit. Yet the measure—slated to expire in 2027—has attracted criticism from those who claim that it needs more certainty to support the industry.

“American companies and innovators are rapidly increasing domestic production of [SAF], yet the guidance recently issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury falls short of what’s required to jump-start a strong domestic SAF industry in the U.S.,” said Alison Graab, director of the SAF Coalition.

Given the enormous capital demands required to establish commercial-grade production facilities, Graab noted that long-term investments are required but argued that the incentive window needs to be guaranteed for a longer span to assure those investors. “Current policy on SAF and large investments by our foreign competitors risk putting our country, our energy producers, and our farmers at a competitive disadvantage with respect to domestic SAF production.”

Pompano Beach, Florida-based Atlantic Jet Partners has added more MRO capability to its offerings with the acquisition of Great Lakes Turbines. Based in Holland, Ohio, Great Lakes Turbines specializes in OEM-approved turbine engine component repair, fabrication and machining, and aircraft interior refurbishing.

The acquisition strengthens the services provided by Atlantic Jet Partners family companies, including Sky Aviation Holdings, Sky Aircraft Maintenance, SkyVue Avionics, Aerospace Design & Compliance, Aerodyne Engine Repair & Maintenance, Sky Aviation Insurance Services, Sky Flight Air, and TBO Extension. Adding Great Lakes Turbines also supports Atlantic Jet Partners’ efforts to become more vertically integrated.

Great Lakes is a Part 145 repair station and specializes in welding and fabrication, painting and coatings, cold and thermo-spray processes, tool and equipment design and fabrication, non-destructive testing, conventional and CNC programmable machining and manufacturing, and finishing and cleaning. Atlantic Jet Partners said it will invest in building improvements, office equipment, and tooling “required to run a high-quality manufacturing and FAA repair center.”

“This acquisition represents a pivotal step in our strategic growth planning, allowing us to offer a broader range of services and innovative solutions to our clients,” said Joe Rizzo, COO of Atlantic Jet Partners. “Great Lakes Turbines’ maintenance and repair capabilities with the enhanced ability for CNC machining will complement our existing capabilities, ensuring we continue to lead in the aviation industry.”

Aviation Partners, a pioneer in the development of blended winglets for business jets, has expanded the geographic footprint of its winglet installation network with the addition of three authorized maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers: Western Aircraft, Yingling Aviation, and SEAL Aviation.

Western Aircraft is an FAA repair station and Dassault-authorized Falcon Jet heavy service center in Boise, Idaho. Yingling Aviation, based in Wichita, Kansas, has specialized in Textron Aviation airframes for 78 years and is expanding its services to include other types of aircraft such as the Falcon. SEAL Aviation, an FAA/EASA repair station based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is introducing a new mobile installation option for Falcon winglets.

“Adding these installers answers aircraft owners’ demand for more MRO capacity and geographic convenience,” said Aviation Partners president Gary Dunn. “Each of them were selected for a track record of maintenance excellence, skilled technicians, and modification expertise. It is now easier than ever for Falcon owners to enjoy the performance advantages and greater resale value of API winglets.”

The Seattle-based company’s performance-enhancing winglets are seen on business jet models, including Falcons, Hawkers, and BBJs, as well as some Boeing commercial airliners.