Cutter Aviation marked a major milestone yesterday with the redelivery of the 100th new Pilatus aircraft as the OEM’s dealer for the Texas, Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado territory. Representatives from both companies gathered for the event at the airframer’s U.S. facility in Broomfield, Colorado, to celebrate their continued partnership as Cutter accepted the milestone PC-24. The light jet will enter Cutter’s shared ownership program and be based at its Phoenix headquarters.

In 2018, Cutter was named an authorized Pilatus sales and service center and has since delivered 73 PC-12 turboprop singles and 27 PC-24s. This latest news highlights Cutter’s rapid growth as it continues to expand its Pilatus sales, service, maintenance, avionics, and support operations across the Southwest.

“This is a really special milestone for our company,” said Cutter president and CEO Will Cutter. “To reach 100 new Pilatus aircraft deliveries in such a relatively short period of time says a lot about the strength of the Pilatus product line, the relationship we’ve built with Pilatus Aircraft, and the trust our customers place in our team every day.”

The announcement comes as Cutter approaches its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1928, it is the oldest continuously family-owned and operated FBO in the U.S. and provides aircraft sales, maintenance, avionics, charter, aircraft management, and FBO services throughout the Southwest.

Global business aircraft activity remained strong in June, ticking up 3.4% year over year (YOY), with operations in North America climbing by 2.2%, according to Argus International’s latest Global Aircraft Monthly Activity Report. Flight activity in Europe was mostly flat, rising just 0.1%. Based on its TraqPak data, Argus further estimated that July North American and European flight activity will increase by 4.3% and 0.7%, respectively.

In North America, fractional operations continue to drive the gains, jumping 10.4% YOY, while Part 135 operations increased by 2%. But Part 91 activity was down by 1.1%, with associated midsize-jet operations dropping 12.1% and large-cabin jets falling 7.1%. However, large-cabin jet fractional operations soared 13.3% YOY.

Overall, by aircraft category in North America, large-cabin operations were down by 3.3%, again largely because of the dip in Part 91 flying. All other aircraft categories saw increases: turboprops (4.6%), light jets (3.9%), and midsize jets (1.1%).

In Europe, activity was mixed as midsize-cabin operations increased by 3.4% and turboprop activity rose by 0.2%. But this was offset by a 2.4% decline in light-jet operations and a 0.4% dip in large-cabin jets.

In the rest of the world, activity continued to surge by 11%, with every jet category enjoying YOY double-digit gains: light jets, +18.8%; midsize jets, +15.4%; and large-cabin jets, +10.2%. Turboprop flying also recorded a 7.5% gain.

EASA released a new flight simulation training device (FSTD) regulatory framework this week, calling it “the most significant evolution of flight simulation qualification in Europe in decades.” Established under Regulation (EU) 2026/781, the framework is designed to modernize how FSTDs are qualified and used in pilot training.

Significantly, it provides for a more flexible capability-based approach rather than qualification based on fixed simulator types and levels. Under the new approach, training devices will be assessed based on technical capabilities. EASA added that the framework was further written so it can evolve alongside simulation technology advances.

The framework establishes an “FSTD Capability Signature,” a standardized method of describing simulation device capabilities through defined FSTD features and fidelity levels. It introduces qualification requirements and guidance for new technologies such as touchscreen flight deck interfaces and extended reality. Additionally, the rules provide a task-to-tool training option, allowing approved training organizations and operators to select the most appropriate simulation device for specific training requirements.

EASA has developed a program to support the new framework, including guidance material and manuals. It is further planning a series of workshops on the new framework later this year, continuing into 2027. The first will be held on December 15 at EASA headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

Duncan Aviation’s newly expanded Turbine Engine Overhaul Facility in Lincoln marks a major investment in advanced technology, technical expertise, and customer service. Discover how the state-of-the-art expansion increases capacity, streamlines engine maintenance, and strengthens the company’s ability to support business aviation customers worldwide.

Preowned sales of single-engine helicopters shrank in the first half as inventory declined, according to global helicopter sales and market intelligence firm Aero Asset. As a result, the absorption rate lengthened to five months.

Aero Asset reported 74 transactions worth $180 million in the first half, with respective year-over-year (YOY) drops of 20% and 24%. VIP models led with $105 million in sales during the first six months, but that was down 9% YOY. This was followed by utility helicopter sales at $69 million (-26%) and EMS at $6 million (-63%).

Even with the slower sales activity, median transaction pricing only modestly ebbed YOY in the first half, down just 2%. Aero Asset said this reflects the ongoing balance between limited inventory and “disciplined buyer” demand rather than market pricing pressure. Helicopters sold about 12% below asking price on average, an amount that Aero Asset maintains is consistent in a healthy negotiating environment.

North America remained the largest retail market during the first six months, accounting for 59% of the sales transactions (buyer location). However, Asia-Pacific had the most supply for sale at 43%, with Europe following at 36%. While sales declined across all regions, the biggest slide—50% YOY—came in Latin America. Available inventory also decreased across most regions.

NeuroUX has launched its Fatigue Monitoring Platform to provide safety-critical teams in high-risk industries—including aviation, mining, transportation, construction, energy, and healthcare—with an objective fit-for-duty signal.

The platform is built on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), described in peer-reviewed sleep research as a standard measure of fatigue-related impairment in alertness and reaction time. Workers complete a brief alertness check via phone or tablet, and results are scored against personal baselines rather than a generic threshold. Supervisors can access real-time fit-for-duty results through a dashboard, SMS, Slack, or email, and receive notifications when a worker’s results fall below their baseline. The platform analyzes team, shift, and location trends and can run standalone or integrate with existing risk-management systems and scheduling tools. NeuroUX said the platform does not rely on wearables, cameras, or self-reporting.

According to OSHA, fatigue has been cited as a factor in disasters such as the 2009 Colgan Air crash, the 2005 Texas City BP refinery explosion, and the Challenger space shuttle explosion. Citing safety research, NeuroUX said fatigue is linked to an estimated 13% of workplace injuries and roughly $136 billion per year in lost productivity for U.S. employers, with the risk of night-shift accidents about 30% higher than on day shifts.

“Our goal is to minimize fatigue-related incidents by giving companies a data-driven way to assess whether workers are alert, ready, and able to perform safety-sensitive tasks,” said Anunay Raj, co-founder of NeuroUX. “Fatigue affects even the most experienced workers. When companies can measure it, they can manage it.”

All civil aircraft operating in the UK below 10,000 feet currently exempt from ADS-B equipage will be mandated to have equipment that can detect and identify each other, under proposed rulemaking from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The UK believes that voluntary efforts by operators installing electronic conspicuity equipment under a rebate program “will not achieve the [needed] level of consistency and interoperability.”

The primary objective of an electronic conspicuity mandate would be to reduce midair collision risk in the UK’s lower airspace. “While electronic conspicuity equipment alone cannot eliminate the risk of midair collisions, it can improve a pilot's awareness of nearby aircraft by allowing equipped aircraft to share and receive position information,” said the CAA. “As the number of aircraft carrying compatible electronic conspicuity equipment increases, and system interoperability improves, the potential safety benefit grows.”

The new requirement would apply to foreign-registered aircraft operating within UK airspace, as well as UK-registered aircraft, including eVTOL and UAS operations. Exempted are military aircraft. “The position regarding non-military state aircraft, including some police and emergency service operations, remains under consideration,” according to the proposal.

The UK said a single start date, following a transition period, would better support the mandate’s safety objectives versus a phased approach. Comments on the proposal are due by September 22.

PPG Aerospace has rolled out a new tool designed to help customers of business and general aircraft customize and preview aircraft paint schemes. Designed to increase the visibility and accessibility of the company’s aerospace coatings, PPG Aeroview is an interactive platform where users can select from a variety of aircraft models and digitally apply colors from the company’s aerospace color library to view custom paint schemes in real time.

The tool provides an alternative to traditional physical color brochures and enables immediate, realistic 3D renderings—using hundreds of color and finish combinations—that can be saved and shared. Fully integrated with the company’s PPG Livery Lab studio, a service that assists customers with paint scheme design projects, it is currently available for U.S. aerospace coatings products only.

“The PPG Aeroview virtual aircraft painter is a sophisticated, easy-to-use solution for designers, fleet managers, maintenance planners, and aviation enthusiasts to visualize and select aircraft coatings with confidence,” said Lirong Bao, PPG’s global platform director for aerospace coatings. “By allowing users to digitally customize paint schemes on specific aircraft models, this tool helps reduce design uncertainty, minimize costly repaint errors, and accelerate project approvals.”

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. It's earlier this year 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.