Procedural failures, or human factors, were the biggest element at work in business aircraft safety incidents and accidents last year, according to Nimbl's Safety Report for business aviation. Offering what Nimbl called a comprehensive, ground-level view of operational risks, the recently released report analyzed hundreds of safety submissions collected through the company’s safety management system (SMS) platform.

The report lists a total of 112 events among business turboprops and jets in 2024, broken down into 16 incidents and 96 accidents; this compares with 13 incidents and 108 accidents in 2023.

Submissions were drawn from a mix of flight departments, FBOs, and maintenance organizations. More than half (54%) of all reviewed events occurred during ground operations or the approach phase of flight, with the majority linked to procedural breakdowns. Third-party involvement was a frequent contributing factor.

The analysis underscored the compounding nature of safety risks. More than half of all reports cited two or more contributing factors, while 20% cited three or more in alignment—consistent with the Swiss cheese model of system failure.

Recommendations in the report include enhanced checklist discipline, recurring facility audits, more robust document management, and improved preflight planning for fatigue and rerouting. Nimbl emphasized that safety cultures are best sustained through iterative, data-informed adjustments rather than one-time fixes.

Gogo has received an FAA approved model list-supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for the Gogo C1 line replaceable unit (LRU), covering 42 business aircraft models. The AML-STC enables customer aircraft equipped with legacy Gogo air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity systems to access Gogo’s LTE network—but only at 3G speeds—that will be available in May 2026. Gogo’s legacy ATG service will phase out early next year.

Before the C1 development, available alternatives would have been to upgrade to a Gogo Avance system, switch to Gogo’s 5G ATG (available later this year), or move to a satcom such as the low-earth-orbit Gogo Galileo or SpaceX Starlink systems, which might not yet be available for all the Gogo C1-eligible models.

Customers who complete the Gogo C1 installation before year-end are eligible for a $35,000 incentive. According to Gogo, the AML-STC covers 70% of customer aircraft that are still equipped with legacy ATG systems. The Gogo C1 system also offers “a practical bridging capability” for switching to an Avance system, the company said.

According to Duncan Aviation, a Gogo dealer, “The Gogo C1 delivers comparable performance to legacy ATG systems, ensuring no disruption in in-flight connectivity capabilities. However, it does not introduce performance boosts tied to the LTE network upgrade, positioning it as a continuity-focused solution rather than a long-term enhancement.”

MyFlight Advisor has launched an aircraft management program aimed at private jet owners seeking an alternative to chartering, with more operational control and crew consistency. The Miami-based advisory firm has introduced its ManagedShare program, describing it as a shared lease model that offers predictable budgeting without compromising aircraft value.

Now available in select U.S. metropolitan markets with plans to expand nationwide, ManagedShare is limited to four participants per aircraft, including the owner, under a shared lease structure. Unlike fractional or charter programs, owners retain full authority over how the aircraft is used, managed, and flown. The model is designed to appeal to owners who want to offset costs without entering into co-ownership arrangements or opening the aircraft to broad commercial use.

Each aircraft in the program is supported by a dedicated flight crew, with MyFlight Advisor providing logistical support for scheduling, operations, and service. The company said the structure circumvents the “operational chaos” often associated with charter and fractional use while preserving the reliability of a fixed team and tailored service standards.

“Today’s aircraft owners are asking for something different—something that works financially, operationally, and conveniently,” said Jeff Reis, founder and CEO. “ManagedShare delivers that while avoiding the limitations of traditional charter.”

Business aviation services provider Valo Aviation has added a Dassault Falcon 8X to its fleet, marking the first of the type to be registered with the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs agency. The company said the registration highlights both Dassault’s growing presence in the Gulf and Bahrain’s goals of expanding its aviation sector. On the latter, the registration announcement was made in the presence of Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, minister of transportation and telecommunications, demonstrating the support for business aviation growth there.

“This milestone reflects the dedication of our team and our ambition to build a world-class AOC fleet operated from Bahrain,” said Valo Aviation CEO Hanna Hakamo. Headquartered in Manama, Valo Aviation provides a range of services, including aircraft management, charter sales, CAMO, and flight support services. Valo Aviation is offering the aircraft for charter.

The 6,450-nm, 14-passenger Falcon trijet enables the company to offer nonstop flights from Bahrain to locations such as London City, Tokyo, and Cape Town, Valo Aviation noted. The addition comes after Dassault Aviation’s ExecuJet MRO Services facility in Dubai recently received authorization from Bahrain to support the 8X.

Frederick Smith—founder and former CEO of FedEx and a champion of business aviation throughout his career—passed away on June 21. Smith established FedEx in the early 1970s, initially operating with Dassault Falcon 20 business jets before building a pioneering dedicated cargo airline and eventually what became the world’s largest fleet of Cessna Caravan turboprop singles. The company joined NBAA as a member organization in 1983, maintaining that relationship throughout Smith’s tenure.

NBAA acknowledged his contributions to both commercial aviation and the business aviation sector. “Fred Smith changed the world with his creation of the cargo airline industry, but he always credited business aviation with helping make FedEx the company it is today,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

Smith received NBAA’s Al Ueltschi Humanitarian Award in 2012 for his work with Orbis, an international nonprofit operating a “flying eye hospital” that has restored sight to more than 23 million people.

The aviation pioneer served as a prominent advocate for NBAA’s “No Plane No Gain” campaign, emphasizing business aviation’s operational value. Smith’s statement supporting the initiative remains displayed at FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee: “Business aviation has been an integral part of FedEx’s success since the day we were founded. The military calls it a ‘force multiplier,’ and that’s what business aircraft have been for FedEx.”

Global emergency medical and firefighting provider Avincis has added two new five-blade Airbus H145 helicopters to its emergency medical services (EMS) fleet in Stockholm. The aircraft were accepted on June 5 at Airbus Helicopters’ production facility in Donauwörth, Germany. These latest additions follow two H145s in August 2024, including one already operating in Sweden.

Widely used for EMS missions across Europe due to its cabin volume, reliability, and performance in demanding operating environments, the H145 is the latest evolution of Airbus’ twin-engine light utility helicopter line. The two H145s were acquired in partnership with aircraft lessor LCI and join an existing global portfolio of critical-care rotorcraft operated jointly by the two companies.

The aircraft expand a global Avincis fleet that includes 60 Airbus helicopters supporting emergency missions in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Daniela Dudek, Airbus Helicopters’ head of the H145 program, noted that the five-blade rotorcraft is “perfectly suited for operating in the confined and urban areas often encountered in the Stockholm region,” citing its compact footprint, low CO2 emissions, and low acoustic profile.

Last month, Avincis deployed two of its CL-415 amphibious aircraft from Italy to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Israel, responding to a government request in under 24 hours. The mission followed prior international deployments of the same aircraft type to Greece, Albania, and Portugal under the RescEU program.

NBAA is gearing up for business aviation’s biggest showcase, its annual convention and exhibition, which will take place from October 14 to 16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and at Henderson Airport (KHND).

The event will launch with a keynote address from country music star and private pilot Dierks Bentley, who will describe how his recording career has been intertwined with his passion for aviation.

NBAA expects hundreds of companies to appear in the exhibit hall and to share their latest announcements.In the Aircraft Connection static display at KHND, showgoers can view a wide range of the latest business aircraft from leading manufacturers, including Gulfstream, Bombardier, Textron Aviation, Honda Aircraft, Cirrus, Pilatus, and others.

The show’s opening day will conclude at KHND at 5:30 p.m. with a networking reception highlighted by a toast led by NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, honoring the Golden Age of Aviation and the dawn of a new era in flight.

“Get ready for a thrilling opening day at this year’s NBAA-BACE, from the moment the lights go up on the keynote stage, to the singular experiences in the exhibit hall and at the airport, to the capstone event that will gather the industry’s leaders and legends for an inspiring sunset celebration of all that is unique and special about business aviation,” said Bolen.