Gulfstream Aerospace logged its second-highest sales period in the fourth quarter, eclipsed only by second-quarter 2008, Phebe Novakovic—chairman and CEO of parent company General Dynamics (GD)—said this morning during an investor call. The Savannah, Georgia business jet manufacturer also achieved book-to-bill ratios of 1.3:1 in the fourth quarter and 1.2:1 for the year, catapulting GD’s aerospace backlog to $21.83 billion, up $2.2 billion from a year earlier.

While the OEM delivered two fewer aircraft in the quarter year over year (YOY), its 2025 total climbed to 158 jets (22 super-midsize G280s and 136 large cabins), up from 136 (18 G280s and 118 large cabins) in 2024. In the fourth quarter, it handed over 45 aircraft (four G280s and 41 large cabins), compared with 47 (five G280s and 42 large cabins) a year ago.

The aerospace division, which also includes aircraft services company Jet Aviation, saw 2025 revenues soar 17% YOY, to $13.11 billion, while earnings rose to $1.746 billion, a $282 million YOY increase. U.S. tariffs were a $41 million headwind on the division last year, and that is expected to be higher this year, said GD president Danny Deep. According to Novakovic, 2026 projections for the aerospace unit include $13.6 billion in revenues, $1.9 billion in earnings, and about 160 aircraft deliveries.

Textron Aviation delivered 49 business jets in the fourth quarter, up significantly from 32 in the same period last year, capping a record-breaking year revenue-wise (nearly $6 billion) for the Wichita-based manufacturer as it fully recovered from production disruptions caused by a 2024 labor strike. For the full year, it delivered 171 jets, up from 151 in 2024, and 146 commercial turboprops, compared with 127 the previous year, parent company Textron Inc. reported today.

The 49 jet deliveries in the fourth quarter included four Citation M2 Gen2s, nine CJ3+s, nine CJ4 Gen2s, three Ascends, 13 Latitudes, and 11 Longitudes. This compares with five M2 Gen2s, four CJ3+s, five CJ4 Gen2s, four XLS Gen2s, eight Latitudes, five Longitudes, and one Sovereign+ in the same period in 2024.

As for commercial turboprop deliveries, 23 Caravans were delivered in the quarter versus 26 a year ago, and five SkyCouriers, down from eight. Fifteen King Airs were handed over in the fourth quarter of 2025—up significantly from four King Airs delivered in fourth-quarter 2024.

Textron Inc. CEO Lisa Atherton, who took over from Scott Donnelly on January 4, emphasized the strength of the business. “2025 was a very strong year for aviation, and the business is well-positioned for the future,” she said. “The business has nearly an $8 billion backlog, and we continue to experience strong order flow.”

During yesterday’s NTSB hearing on the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision of a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines CRJ700 about a half mile southeast of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), the Board released its probable cause for the accident.

“We determined that the probable cause of this accident was the FAA’s placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to a runway approach path; their failure to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes and available data; and their failure to act on recommendations to mitigate the risk of a midair collision near [KDCA], as well as the air traffic system’s overreliance on visual separation in order to promote efficient traffic flow without consideration for the limitations of the see-and-avoid concept.”

The NTSB issued 50 safety recommendations, calling for “comprehensive reforms to helicopter route design, air traffic control procedures, safety management systems, data sharing, and collision avoidance technology.” These include 33 to the FAA, eight to the U.S. Army, and others for the Department of Transportation, the Department of War Policy Board on Federal Aviation, and the RTCA.

“This complex and comprehensive one-year investigation identified serious and long-standing safety gaps in the airspace over our nation’s capital,” said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy. “Sadly, the conditions for this tragedy were in place long before the night of January 29.”

Bangor International Airport (KBGR) in Maine remains closed today following the crash of a Bombardier Challenger 650 on Sunday evening that claimed all four passengers and two crewmembers onboard.

The Texas-based twinjet had departed Houston William P. Hobby Airport (KHOU) and stopped at KBGR for refueling ahead of a transatlantic leg to Paris-Vatry Airport (LFOK). After receiving deicing, the crew attempted to take off in snowy, freezing conditions, only to crash seconds later, with the aircraft coming to rest on its back.

NTSB investigators arrived at the airport yesterday and requested that the accident scene be preserved. Local police, in collaboration with the state medical examiner’s office, are anticipating approval to access the wreckage and begin the process of identifying the victims.

“When an accident such as this occurs, there are numerous local, state, and federal agencies and assets that must coordinate their respective portions of the investigation,” the airport authority said in a statement. “With the large number of stakeholders involved, it is important that information be confirmed and that all parties have completed their work before information is released.”

Dozens of flights into and out of KBGR have been cancelled since its closure due to the accident. Latest estimates call for the airport to reopen tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

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Honda Aircraft has appointed Straight Flight as an authorized service center (ASC) for HondaJet aircraft based in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Located at Denver Centennial Airport (KAPA), Straight Flight has more than 30 years of aircraft maintenance experience, operating from facilities that span 55,000 sq ft of hangar space and 20,000 sq ft of back-shop and support areas. The MRO has a staff of 50 to maintain a high volume of aircraft work, Honda Aircraft noted.

Joining a network of 21 HondaJet ASCs throughout North and South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, Straight Flight is taking over the territory previously handled by Elevate Aviation. Honda Aircraft’s service center agreement with Elevate ended this month.

In the U.S., other HondaJet ASCs include the Honda Aircraft Service Center, Des Moines Flying Service, Hillsboro Aviation, Banyan Air Service, Cutter Aviation, and Mather Aviation.

“We are confident that this move will serve to strengthen our global service network and enhance the HondaJet customer experience. We look forward to working with Straight Flight for many years to come,” said Honda Aircraft senior v-p and chief commercial officer Amod Kelkar.

Global private investment firm Bain Capital has entered the FBO ownership arena with the purchase of the APP Jet Center chain from Ridgewood Infrastructure, which held the company for the past four years.

APP has FBOs in Florida at Treasure Coast International Airport (KFPR) in Fort Pierce and Stuart  Witham Field Airport (KSUA); San Francisco-area Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD); and Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF) in Northern Virginia. The company also owns and operates 65,000 sq ft of aircraft hangars at Denver Centennial Airport (KAPA). The new ownership said it will look to actively increase APP’s footprint.

While the ground-handling sector may be new territory for Bain, it has considerable exposure to the commercial aviation industry. This includes holdings in companies specializing in aircraft refurbishment, maintenance, financing and leasing, and special-mission modification and operation, as well as private lift providers Solairus Aviation and Wheels Up.

“APP Jet Center is a strong starting point for our FBO strategy, as the business operates at attractive, capacity-constrained airports and has built long-standing relationships with airport authorities and customers,” explained Chris Leddy, managing director with Bain Capital Real Estate. “We see an opportunity to support the growth of the platform through continued investment in facilities, operations, and leadership, applying the same disciplined, active ownership approach that has guided our work across other operationally intensive real estate sectors.”

The Blackhawk Group and Seair Seaplanes are nearing completion of the latter’s first Cessna Caravan upgraded with the Blackhawk XP140 Engine+ and a Yukon four-blade propeller, a combination intended to deliver the fastest harbor-to-harbor service in the region. The upgraded Caravan is scheduled to enter service on Seair’s newly expanded Victoria-to-Vancouver Harbour route, with the companies citing gains in speed, climb performance, and overall capability for coastal operations. 

According to Blackhawk, the XP140 engine delivers 28% more shaft horsepower, a 35% improvement in climb rate, and a 13% increase in cruise speed, equating to about 21 knots. Combined with the Yukon propeller, the upgrade reduces takeoff distances and improves performance over water and short-runway environments, cutting harbor-to-harbor travel time by about five minutes to 25 minutes.

The aircraft is the first of at least three Seair Caravans planned for upgrade as part of a broader fleet modernization program, the companies said. Seair, founded in 1982, operates seven Caravan floatplanes and describes itself as the world’s largest operator of the type, serving destinations including Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Vancouver Harbour, Vancouver Airport’s South Terminal, Nanaimo, and the Southern Gulf Islands.