Pilatus Aircraft executives, along with airport and local officials, broke ground today on its 70,000-sq-ft sales and service facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ), with opening set for fourth-quarter 2027. The $50 million project is the first of two, and possibly three, construction phases for the OEM at KSRQ, which will see a 110,000-sq-ft adjacent PC-12 production plant added by the end of this decade. Its total investment at KSRQ will be about $200 million.

Pilatus holds an 18-acre leasehold on the north side of the airfield for the first two construction phases, and has an option for an adjacent lot that could be used to add an aircraft paint facility and training center under a proposed phase 3 project. The MRO and sales facility—Pilatus’ fifth factory-owned service center in the U.S.—will have 40,000 sq ft of shop floor space, with the remainder holding shops, back office space, aircraft design room, and delivery center.

Bryan Bell, Pilatus Business Aircraft director of MRO for the Southeast U.S., told AIN that the company is leasing two existing hangars at KSRQ to immediately begin line maintenance and minor aircraft checks until the permanent MRO facility opens later next year.

According to Thomas Bosshard, president and CEO of U.S. arm Pilatus Business Aircraft, the KSRQ production facility will manufacture all PC-12 turboprop singles for the North American market—a planned production rate of more than 70 aircraft per year.

Preflight fuel planning and proper en-route fuel management are critical to flight safety. For pilots, calculating the correct amount of fuel for their aircraft requires a balance between comfort, operational requirements, and economic sense. It’s the proverbial Catch-22—too much or too little fuel has consequences.

Too much fuel may result in an aircraft exceedance such as maximum takeoff or landing weight, and it reduces the available payload. Likewise, excess fuel increases the weight of the aircraft, which creates a higher fuel burn and increases the direct operating cost of a flight.

Too little fuel has many negative outcomes, such as returning to the ramp for additional fuel due to taxi delays, an aircraft turnback, or an en-route diversion due to insufficient fuel. Other negative consequences of too little fuel may result in insufficient reserve fuel that can result in a minimum fuel (pan pan) or mayday fuel declaration or regulatory enforcement action against the pilot or operator. Worst-case scenarios may result in an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

The NTSB found that personnel issues, such as planning and aircraft familiarity, contributed to 95% of fuel management accidents. A 2017 report found fuel system failures or malfunctions in less than 5% of investigations.

A trial scheduled for this year is no longer needed as Honeywell and Flexjet have settled the latter company’s lawsuit over costs and delays associated with Honeywell’s maintenance services agreement for Honeywell engines powering Flexjet airplanes. The settlement is worth more than a billion dollars, according to Flexjet.

“Honeywell and Flexjet are pleased to have reached a comprehensive agreement to resolve their pending litigation and look forward to rebuilding the parties' commercial partnership,” according to a Honeywell statement. “The agreement will resolve in full all pending claims among and between the parties, as well as related litigation involving StandardAero and Duncan Aviation. Simultaneously, and as partial consideration for the resolution of the litigation, Honeywell and Flexjet have agreed to extend their aircraft engine maintenance agreement through 2035. Honeywell and Flexjet look forward to working collaboratively going forward.”

“This agreement places supplier accountability at center stage,” Flexjet said in a statement provided to AIN, “and we hope it further unites the industry around a matter essential to private aviation operators both large and small. With a value surpassing a billion dollars in cash considerations and service credits, it sets a powerful precedent for businesses seeking to correct similar supplier transgressions. Our hope is that the litigation, and now agreement, serve as a case study reinforcing the importance of supplier relationships built on authentic commitment, principled conduct, and consistent delivery.”

Bombardier is beginning to accrue validations for its flagship Global 8000, receiving European Union approval for the twinjet yesterday. The EU nod follows Transport Canada type certification in November and FAA approval in December. Also in December, Bombardier handed over the first copy of the Global 8000 to longtime customer Patrick Dovigi during a celebration at its facilities in Toronto.

The successor of the four-zone ultra-long-range Global 7500, the Global 8000 was certified as the fastest civilian aircraft since the supersonic Concorde with a top speed of Mach 0.95. In addition, the newest Global became the longest-range of the Globals, capable of flying 8,000 nm, and features a new low cabin altitude of 2,691 feet while cruising at 41,000 feet.

“Attaining EASA certification illustrates the hard work and dedication of Bombardier’s highly skilled employees and suppliers in collaboration with Transport Canada and EASA teams,” said Stephen McCullough, executive v-p of engineering, product development, and Bombardier Defense. “This accomplishment further strengthens the momentum behind this groundbreaking business jet.”

Leonardo has made the first flight of what it described as the UK’s “first autonomous full-size helicopter,” the “Proteus” technology demonstrator. The milestone was reported last week by the Royal Navy, which is working with the Italy-based aerospace and defense group on the project.

The RWUAS Phase 3A Technology Demonstrator Programme (referred to as Proteus) began in 2022 when Leonardo was awarded a four-year, £60 million ($80.5 million) contract to develop an uncrewed aerial system. The project’s objective, said Leonardo, is to “enhance payload modularity, autonomy, and rotorcraft technology.”

During the sortie, which was conducted from Predannack airfield in Cornwall, the Royal Navy said Proteus “was tasked with a short test routine which saw the aircraft operate its own flying controls independently of any human operator.”

Predannack serves as the satellite airfield for helicopters based at nearby Culdrose Royal Naval Air Service base. The site is also used for developing uncrewed and autonomous systems as part of the UK's National Drone Hub.

Leonardo said the demonstrator “paves the way for future uncrewed aerial systems, taking on demanding and hazardous missions without putting human operators at risk.”

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