Inventory of preowned business jets for sale this month is up 18% year over year (YOY) and 1% higher month over month, according to an analysis from Jefferies Equity Research and using data from Amstat. Year to date, inventory rose just 2%.

For jets less than seven years out of production, there was a 17% increase, with inventory sitting at 3.9% of the fleet. The increase was across midsize (+28%), large-cabin (+13%), and light business jets (+15%). Pricing contracted 7% YOY and 2% from May.

Used business jet inventory among the top five business jet OEMs—Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Textron Aviation—stood at 3.8% in 2024 versus 3.6% last month and 3.3% last June.

Bombardier fared the best, with inventory of its jets rising by just 2% year-over-year, to 59 aircraft. The rest of the top OEMs saw units for sale climb by double digits YOY: Embraer and Gulfstream, both up 27%, to 32 and 90 aircraft respectively; Textron (Cessna Citation), up 28%, to 137 jets; and Dassault Falcon, up 47%, to 25 aircraft. Meanwhile, prices for preowned Cessna Citation, Gulfstream, Embraer, and Bombardier jets fell, but increased for Dassault Falcons.

The phrase “sharpen the axe” reminds us of Abraham Lincoln’s famous words: “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first six hours sharpening my axe.” This bit of wisdom highlights the importance of preparation and taking time to ensure that we’re at our best.

The maxim applies to nearly everyone in business aviation, where the necessities of planning and preparation are critical and ever-present. Under normal circumstances, it’s easy to fall into the trap of working nonstop. But just like the lumberjack who takes time to sharpen his axe, we need to schedule in enough time to take breaks to rejuvenate ourselves. Doing so isn’t just a nice idea; it’s essential for our mental and physical well-being.

In fact, I’m writing this having just returned from two full weeks off, traveling out of the country. Thankfully, I’m able to take a much-needed break because our company culture and values are set up to allow each of us to fully disconnect. While I was away from the office, I didn’t deal with a single work issue. It can be done, and I want to encourage each of you to take time to sharpen your axe.

The Summer Olympic Games, which start July 26 in Paris, will provide complications for private aviation operators heading to the City of Lights. Traffic usually sparked by the games will further compound what would normally be a busy summer tourism season for the French capital.

Speaking last week at the NBAA White Plains Regional Forum in New York, Matt Burdette—director of global security with United Health—noted that the heightened publicity and crowds around the Olympics will result in a heavy security posture (both police and military) in an attempt to avert acts of terrorism and violent protests. Despite these potential dangers, however, the most common threat remains street crime.

Once on the ground, visitors coming by business aircraft should plan for everything to take much longer than anticipated due to security concerns, starting at the FBO. Public transport will be a preferred option for travel in and around Paris, with some areas blocked to private vehicles entirely. Due to the above-average crowds, maintaining communication between passengers and crew will be crucial.

According to Universal Weather and Aviation, Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) represents the best business aviation airport option, with slots required from July 12 through September 16. Because aircraft parking there is already booked to capacity, operators who have not already secured space must plan to reposition to a more distant airport.

Summit Aviation, working with the nonprofit organization Eagle Mount, is bringing back its annual Big Sky Kids Cancer Survivor Flight Camp in which four young people from across the country receive the opportunity to realize the dream of taking flight. Now in its 10th year, the Cancer Survivor Flight Camp runs from June 24 to 28 in Bozeman, Montana. The event that launched in 2014 is completely donor-funded.

Each year, Eagle Mount’s Big Sky Kids selects four young people—who are between the ages of 18 to 26 and in remission—to participate. Eagle Mount is an organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for those with disabilities or cancer.

The program involves one-on-one instruction with certified flight instructors, more than 10 hours of flight in Summit’s Diamond aircraft, and ground school. Mornings begin with participants and flight instructors conducting a preflight inspection on Summit aircraft, then they receive a briefing on the flight path and take to the skies over various parts of the region, including routes over Spanish Peaks, Big Sky, Bear Trap Canyon, the Bridger Mountains, and Paradise Valley. During each flight, the campers learn about basic aircraft control and maneuvering.

Lunches are donated by local businesses, and the afternoons comprise tours of Bozeman International Airport facilities and ground instruction. The graduation flight brings them to Driggs, Idaho, providing views of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton.

Environmental protestors from the Just Stop Oil group broke into London Stansted Airport early Thursday morning and damaged a pair of business aircraft parked in an area managed by the Harrods Aviation FBO. Police arrested Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald soon after the attack, which happened 24 hours after the same group sprayed the UK’s Stonehenge World Heritage Site with orange powder.

According to Harrods Aviation’s director of operations Dan Holian, the protestors cut through Stansted’s security fence and then crossed a pair of live taxiways and apron areas to reach the parked aircraft. “Two aircraft were sprayed with an orange substance, which has since been cleaned off,” Holian told AIN. “In line with our policy of confidentiality, we will not be disclosing whose aircraft they were or further information regarding the incident."

The police commander at Stansted Airport has since mobilized additional resources to protect both airside and landside areas. According to Harrods, additional airport security protocols have also been implemented.

In Just Stop Oil’s social media feed on X (formerly Twitter), Kowalski and Macdonald posted a video showing themselves sitting in front of the damaged aircraft with a fire extinguisher believed to have been used for the attack.