The opening of the Summer Olympic Games on Friday in Paris provided a boost to private aviation in the host city. According to industry data tracker Argus International, the overwhelming majority of this traffic went to Le Bourget Airport (LFPB), which saw a more than 34% increase in arrivals last week compared with the same period a year ago. Of the 705 business aircraft arrivals, there were 189 ultra-long-range, 145 large, 83 super-midsize, 64 midsize, and 40 light jets, as well as 14 twin-engine and 50 single-engine turboprops.

Despite that surge, Argus senior v-p for software Travis Kuhn told AIN that for July, this year’s arrivals at LFPB are down by nearly 10% versus 2023.

Space at LFPB is at a premium, with ExecuJet reporting that its hangar and ramp parking are fully booked. Signature added that it received a steady flow of traffic at its facility but was limited to quick turnarounds since its parking was also full. Universal Weather and Aviation noted that it is coordinating spillovers to regional airports where it has made arrangements, adding that all non-Olympic travel is simply avoiding the area.

WingX noted that the Olympics—along with other major July sporting events such as the Euro soccer tournament, Wimbledon, and the British Open Golf Tournament—sparked a 4% month-over-month increase in business jet activity in Europe.

Volato, which operates one of the world’s largest fleets of HondaJets, has now added the super-midsize Gulfstream G280 to its fractional ownership program fleet. Two years ago, the company announced its order for a quartet of the twinjets, and it expects to take delivery of its first G280 next week.

To celebrate the aircraft's arrival and the expansion of the fleet to a higher weight class, the Atlanta-based operator will immediately take the G280—which seats up to 10 and has a range of up to 3,600 nm—on a tour for prospective buyers starting on August 9. It will begin in its hometown, followed by stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York, and Houston on the following days. The company anticipates receiving a second G280 by the end of the year, with the remainder of the order expected to arrive in 2025.

“Our customers’ travel needs are diverse, and while the majority of private aviation missions are efficiently served by the HondaJet, there is significant demand for larger aircraft for longer journeys and bigger groups,” explained Volato CEO Matt Liotta. “The G280 addresses these needs, ensuring we continue to provide the right aircraft for every mission.”

Astrophysicist, visionary, and best-selling author and speaker Neil deGrasse Tyson will share his “thought-provoking perspectives about the dazzling possibilities on distant horizons” as a keynote speaker during the opening session of NBAA-BACE on October 22 in Las Vegas. Tyson’s address at the show takes place amid his cross-country touring schedule, with many engagements already sold out. He routinely serves as an authoritative source on astronomical phenomena for news outlets and has millions of followers on social media.

“Neil deGrasse Tyson is someone who needs no introduction,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “He is not only one of the most famous and recognizable scientists in the world today, but a visionary who fires imaginations with his ability to excite people about what is possible in the world of tomorrow. We are thrilled to have him join us as we gather to shape the industry’s future at NBAA-BACE.”

Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, rose to national prominence in the mid-1990s through his submissions to dozens of scientific publications. He achieved further notoriety as host of a four-part PBS Nova mini-series, “Origins,” based on his book “Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution,” co-authored by Donald Goldsmith. Tyson's latest book, “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization,” links the history of human progress to the importance of scientific exploration and discovery.

Air ambulance provider AirCare1 received recognition for its safety management system (SMS) under the FAA voluntary program. The Phoenix-based organization called safety risk management a cornerstone of its operations and said it chose to implement the voluntary program—ahead of the Part 135 mandate—to demonstrate that commitment to safety risk management.

FAA acceptance followed a 16-month evaluation period of AirCare1’s safety practices. During the process, the company demonstrated the four pillars of its SMS program: AirCare1 defined its safety objectives and employee responsibilities surrounding safety risk management; demonstrated its safety risk management by identifying hazards and analyzing risk factors to make improvements to flight operations; demonstrated the effectiveness of safety risk controls through consistent data collection and analysis; and showed how staff are trained in safety risk management and invited to communicate safety concerns openly.

The company touted the numerous benefits of the program, including fostering its safety culture and supporting a proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential problems before they occur. For the patient, AirCare1 added, it provides an extra level of peace of mind and increased confidence that the company is operating to the highest standards.

Proving the axiom that “Everything is bigger in Texas,” Atlantic Aviation now offers two immense private hangars with attached office facilities at Dallas Love Field (DAL). The sprawling hangars alone would cover nearly seven football fields. But an additional 32,000 square feet of Class A office space is attached to accommodate everyone from executive staff and support for a large flight department to the most discerning VIP visitors. All of this is immediately adjacent to Atlantic Aviation’s terminal, featuring legendary customer service.

Worldlink Specialty, an insurance underwriter, and Oneglobal Broking have introduced a liability insurance solution developed for third-party contractors and consultants in the U.S. aviation and aerospace sectors. The new AeroPro product fills a gap in liability cover for clients performing tasks that could include aircraft development work or valuations.

AeroPro, which is backed by the Lloyd’s of London insurance markets, offers professional liability cover for factors such as technical errors and omissions, incorrect advice, and privacy breaches. According to Worldlink Specialty’s president and chief underwriting officer John Songin, the cover could be suitable for contractors including charter flight brokers, aircraft sales brokers, and auditors, as well as for companies working under contract to Tier 1 or 2 aerospace manufacturers.

Songin, who is a pilot, told AIN that the AeroPro cover could protect an insured party from situations arising from a service being subcontracted out to a third party. This might include a charter broker who contracts with an aircraft operator for a flight that subsequently subcontracts the booking to another operator only for something to go wrong.

Another example might involve the sale of an aircraft. “Sometimes in this process, an intermediary might take possession of the aircraft, leading to something [damaging] happening during the inspection or buying process,” Songin explained. “Or an auditor might miss something like corrosion that could result in liability.”

Lufthansa Technik has won two Red Dot Design Awards for its Omni-Fi aircraft sound system and  BBJ 777-9 VIP cabin design, dubbed CelestialStar. The awards are among the world's largest design competitions.

According to Lufthansa Technik, the Omni-Fi speakers bring “a fully invisible sound experience for various installation positions in both VIP and business jet cabins to the market.” Meanwhile, the CelestialStar design “features and furthermore maximizes space, comfort, and incorporates traditional elements of Middle Eastern cultural heritage with a modern twist,” it said.

Omni-Fi is among the winners in the "Best of the Best: Design Concept" while CelestialStar was awarded in the "Product Design" category in this year's design competition. An official award ceremony will be held in Singapore in October.

“The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world's most renowned design competitions and honors the best in design and business. We feel very honored that we were able to convince the jury with two of our outstanding products. Winning these awards not only signifies the highest level of design expertise, but also underscores our company's commitment to excellence, innovation, and quality in product design and sets a benchmark for future innovations,” said Lufthansa Technik v-p of OEM and engineering services Andrew Muirhead.

French electric aircraft developer Aura Aero will open its first U.S. facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. During last week’s Farnborough Airshow, the company announced its plans for a 500,000-sq-ft manufacturing and assembly plant at the school’s research park in Daytona Beach.

Aura Aero is developing a two-seat electric training aircraft called the Integral E, which is based on the existing Integral R and S piston singles. Powered by Safran’s EngineUs electric motor, this model is expected to have a flight endurance of 60 minutes, with batteries that can be recharged in less than 30 minutes. In April, EASA issued a permit to fly, giving the company clearance to start flight testing.

The Toulouse-based group is also developing a 19-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft dubbed ERA. It is aiming to have a prototype ready to start flight testing in 2026, with a view to achieving type certification in 2028. ERA’s all-electric range would be just 90 nm, but this would increase to up to 900 nm when using the as-yet-unspecified hybrid-electric powertrain.

In the first stage of its partnership with Embry-Riddle, Aura Aero will start working from a 10,000-sq-ft hangar where a team will contribute to developing the Integral E model. This facility will also be used as a completion and delivery center for Integral aircraft.

Flight Data Systems and Canada West Avionics have secured a Part 25 approved model list supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for installation of the avionics manufacturer’s Sentry cockpit voice recorder (CVR) with recorder independent power supply (RIPS) in a variety of aircraft models. 

More than 75 airline and business aircraft are covered by the AML-STC, including models from Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, and Gulfstream. According to Flight Data Systems, “The certified Sentry CVR is the smallest, lightest, and lowest-power-consuming ED-112A recorder available today, with various TSO certifications.” The AML-STC also meets the upcoming Canadian CVR mandate for RIPS. 

“The completion of the Part 25 AML-STC for the Sentry CVR with RIPS underscores the strength of our partnership,” said Shane LaPlante, v-p of sales and marketing at Flight Data Systems. “The Sentry’s reliability, functionality, and ease of installation make it the preferred choice for operators seeking compliant solutions for their fleets. Together, we empower Canadian operators to meet regulatory requirements and enhance safety standards.”

Last year, Canada West Avionics received Part 23 AML-STC approval for Sentry installation in aircraft such as the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series, Beech 1900 series, Cessna CitationJet/CJ series, and Mitsubishi MU-2s.