Embraer’s delivery performance in the just-ended quarter marked its strongest second quarter over the past 16 years. The airframer—the only one to manufacture aircraft in both the commercial and business sectors (excluding bizliners)—saw its overall deliveries increase by 48% quarter over quarter and 7% year over year (YOY).

Its executive aviation division delivered 45 business jets during the quarter, up from 29 aircraft (+55%) in the first quarter and up from 38 aircraft (+18%) versus the same period a year ago. The OEM noted that growth was driven by higher deliveries across both the light and midsize-jet segments, reflecting sustained demand and continued operational execution.

In the second quarter, it handed over four Phenom 100 and 20 Phenom 300 light jets, along with nine midsize Praetor 500s and 12 super-midsize Praetor 600s.

For the first half, Embraer logged 74 business jet deliveries. The company’s previously issued guidance calls for between 160 and 170 executive jet deliveries in 2026—a 6% YOY increase for the midpoint of that range.

During the second quarter, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer also announced that its upgraded Praetor 500E and 600E—both scheduled to enter service in 2029—received simultaneous certifications from the FAA, EASA, and Brazil’s ANAC.

The 81 fatalities in the first half of this year stemming from turbine business airplane accidents worldwide remained unchanged from a year ago, according to AIN research. But the distribution of fatalities within segments did change year over year.

Non-U.S.-registered business jets were the only segment to witness a significant decrease in accidents in the first six months, while fatalities from accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets ticked up by one more than in the first half of 2025.

In the first six months, nine people died in three fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets, including one person in the first fatality on record involving a Part 91K fractional ownership operation. Two non-U.S.-registered business jets also suffered fatal accidents in the first half, killing seven.

Twenty-six people lost their lives in five fatal crashes of U.S.-registered business turboprops in the first half, up from 18 fatalities in five accidents in the same timeframe last year. Meanwhile, 39 people perished in five accidents of non-U.S.-registered turboprops in the first six months.

With Florida experiencing a hangar shortage, real estate developer, FBO owner, and pilot Grayson Patterson has opened a new 13,000-sq-ft aircraft hangar complex at Vero Beach Regional Airport (KVRB), one of the Sunshine State’s most active general aviation airports.

The project—designed to accommodate a wide range of aircraft—consists of three individual hangar bays. Each is equipped with a 60-foot-wide by 18-foot-high door, epoxy-coated floors, high-output LED lighting, insulation, private restrooms, and air-conditioned office space.

While Patterson operates an FBO at Pennsylvania’s Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field (KERI), he has business ties to the Vero Beach area. He said the project comes at a time when demand for aircraft storage in the region continues to outpace supply, with a waiting list of more than 150 aircraft owners seeking hangar space.

“Vero Beach continues to be one of the most attractive business aviation markets in Florida,” Patterson told AIN. “The response to this project has reinforced our belief that additional hangar capacity is needed, and we’re excited to begin planning the next phase of investment in the region.”

Patterson has secured an additional five acres at the airport for future aviation development. Plans for the next phase are expected to focus on larger-scale hangar facilities capable of supporting heavy and super-midsize business jets, while also attracting maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers to the airport.

Global satellite services provider Iridium Communications today completed its acquisition of space-based ADS-B provider Aireon. The purchase adds the only space-based ADS-B air traffic surveillance system to Iridium’s satellite communications and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) network.

Aireon will continue operating as a wholly owned Iridium subsidiary. Don Thoma remains Aireon CEO and will report to Iridium CEO Matt Desch.

“What began as a bold vision more than a decade ago has become a foundational capability for global air traffic management, delivering real-time surveillance and operational intelligence on a truly global scale,” Desch said. “Together, we will continue investing in the technologies and innovations that we believe will make aviation safer, more efficient, and more resilient for decades to come.”

The acquisition combines Aireon’s space-based surveillance and aviation intelligence services with Iridium’s satellite communications network and PNT capabilities. Iridium said the combined platform is intended to deliver real-time visibility and operational data to aviation stakeholders globally.

This news comes on the heels of an announcement last month that Rocket Lab has signed an agreement to acquire Iridium Communications, with the deal expected to close by mid-2027.

Weston Aviation on July 1 added Cranfield Airport (EGTC) to its network of FBOs in the UK and Ireland. The aviation services group said the new location is now the closest to London in its chain of facilities called The Collection.

Cranfield Airport is located 50 miles north of the UK capital, with convenient access to cities such as Oxford and Cambridge and other locations in central England. It has a 5,900-foot runway and is owned by Cranfield University, which specializes in aerospace and aviation programs.

Weston Aviation operates FBOs at the following airports: Manchester (EGCC), Gloucestershire (EGBJ), Humberside (EGNJ), and Newquay (EGHQ) in the UK, and Cork (EICK) in Ireland. Through its partnership with Cranfield University, the company is marketing the site as London Cranfield Airport even though this name is not registered with the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Cranfield’s location makes the private airport an alternative to London Luton Airport (EGGW) and London Stansted Airport (EGSS), where increased commercial airline traffic has restricted business aviation access to slots. Weston Aviation is the exclusive provider of ground-handling services at Cranfield.

It is not yet a designated customs airport, with arrivals being monitored remotely by the UK Border Force. Standard opening hours for the airport are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time throughout the week.

Payment platform specialists Nuvion and JetPay have teamed up to streamline the payment process for complex international charter and private aviation transactions. Noting that many payment systems take days to move money across borders, the companies are joining efforts on a global financial infrastructure targeting private aviation.

Nuvion is an AI-powered global banking and cross-border payments service, while JetPay (formerly Jet Link) has a purpose-built platform for air charter brokers and private aviation operations. Under the collaboration, JetPay’s customers will be able to access the global financial infrastructure, which includes multi-currency global accounts for aviation operators and brokers; faster international payouts; stablecoin-enabled settlement capabilities for global transactions; financial services integrated directly into aviation workflows; and streamlined payment management across multiple jurisdictions.

The companies noted that as private aviation has become increasingly more global, the complexity around payments, supplier settlements, aircraft operations, and cross-border treasury management has also grown. “A charter flight can be booked in London, operated from Dubai, fueled in Nice, and paid for by a client in New York,” they noted.

“This partnership represents the future of financial infrastructure for modern aviation businesses,” said Nuvion managing director Keisha Clark. “Private aviation is inherently global, yet the financial systems supporting it remain outdated. Together with [JetPay], we’re enabling operators and brokers to move money across borders as seamlessly as they fly.”

The FAA has issued a supplemental type certificate (STC) to Gulfstream Aerospace for installation of Gogo Galileo HDX satcom systems on the G650/G650ER. Instead of mounting the HDX antenna on the top of the fuselage, this STC features an under-the-radome installation on top of the airplane’s vertical stabilizer.

The tail-mounted installation “maximizes performance and complements the design of the aircraft,” according to Gogo. “It is backwards compatible with existing network equipment, fully integrated with the cabin, and approved for multiple radomes to maximize flexibility and value.”

Gogo Galileo uses Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-earth-orbit satellite network and offers speeds up to 60 Mbps down and 11 Mbps up. The half-duplex antenna measures 24 by 11.8 by 2.1 inches and weighs 21.6 pounds.

“The addition of Gogo Galileo HDX as an aftermarket option for the G650 and G650ER reflects the growing demand for high-speed connectivity and provides operators with the latest technology in business aviation,” said Gogo CEO Chris Moore. “Operators using this system will experience consistent, high-speed in-flight internet performance, backed by Gogo’s cybersecurity protections and 24/7/365 customer support.”

The Formula 1 motor racing group has appointed Flexjet as its official private aviation supplier. Announced late last week, the partnership will be launched at the British Grand Prix race this coming weekend at the Silverstone track.

Under the agreement, Flexjet will market private flights to racing teams, VIPs, and industry executives for Formula 1’s global race locations across multiple continents. The company said flights will be operated using sustainable aviation fuel where available, with book-and-claim arrangements also offered to clients.

According to Flexjet, its fractional aircraft owners will receive special hospitality and behind-the-scenes experiences at various Formula 1 races as part of the company’s Red Label offering. The partners will share digital content with their customers and stakeholders.

“This is a natural alignment of two worlds in which both luxury aircraft and fast cars require absolute precision and flawless coordination to achieve success,” said Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci. “As we look to the future alongside our partners at LVMH, cementing our longstanding ties with the world of motor racing allows us to deliver unparalleled, ultra-luxury experiences, both on the ground and in the air.”

AIN’s 2027 FBO survey is open! The deadline to vote in the 2027 survey (results to be announced at our 3rd annual FBO Awards Dinner & Gala and published in March) is December 6, which is earlier than usual. The survey takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel, or at any other time that is convenient for you. Participants will be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift card (winner must reside in the U.S.). Log in to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.