While Embraer’s executive jet division missed its 2022 guidance for deliveries last year, the company still increased its year-over-year deliveries by 13 percent, the company said during its fourth-quarter/year-end 2023 investor call yesterday.

The Brazilian airframer handed over 115 business jets last year—including 41 in the fourth quarter—an increase of 13 units from 2022. It was five aircraft shy of the low end of its predicted output of 120 to 130 executive jets, a shortfall company president and CEO Francisco Neto attributed to lingering supply-chain issues.

“Executive aviation registered a book-to-bill in excess of 1.3:1, with a strong backlog of $4.3 billion,” he said. “On deliveries, the business unit posted the largest volume in seven years.” Neto noted that the company’s Phenom 300 light jet was the best-selling aircraft in its class for 12 straight years and the most-delivered business twinjet for the fourth consecutive year.

The executive jet division ended the year with a $4.3 billion backlog, an increase of $400 million year-over-year. For 2024, the manufacturer predicts deliveries of between 125 and 135 private jets.

“I am proud to say 2023 was a remarkable year for Embraer,” said Neto. “It represented the start of a new cycle for the company—a phase focused on sustainable growth to capture our full potential. In 2024, we will celebrate Embraer’s 55th anniversary in very good shape.”

Nextant Aerospace has received an STC to install SpaceX’s Starlink satcom system in the Gulfstream G450 and G550, the company said today. This approval follows closely behind the certification of Starlink Connectivity STCs and PMA installation kits for the Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global Express, XRS, and 6000.

The SpaceX constellation of more than 5,000 low-earth-orbit Starlink satellites provides business jet access to the highest speed, low-latency global internet coverage available today, according to Nextant. Passengers can access the service with a one-click interface on their devices and have internet connectivity as soon as they board the aircraft, rather than waiting until they reach a certain altitude. Nor will they lose access as the aircraft descends from its cruising altitude, Nextant added.

Nextant, which is the aircraft engineering arm of fractional provider Flexjet, said it specifically designed the Starlink hardware to address reliability issues that have plagued legacy systems. That hardware features a phased array antenna with no moving parts, eliminating its susceptibility to environmental variances that can affect performance on older technology.

“To complement Starlink’s intuitively simple approach, we have thoughtfully engineered and certified aircraft installation kits that provide everything needed for a Starlink installation in one box, enabling a streamlined installation,” added Kurpely.

The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) is marking the fifth anniversary of AircraftExchange.com, the organization’s exclusive business aircraft online search portal, with $60 billion in sales. Launched on Feb. 1, 2019, the site is now accessed 46,000 times monthly by buyers and sellers of aircraft, and has nearly 600 business aircraft listed.

“AircraftExchange is now the go-to marketplace where the best business aircraft are bought and sold by the best, most-respected professionals in the aviation business,” said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “When aircraft sellers list their aircraft with the world's only accredited dealers, they access IADA's global reach and strong network to bring about a well researched and appropriately priced sale much faster with more transparency than any other sales route.”

IADA has said dealer members must meet rigid standards and undergo a formal review process to sell aircraft on the website.

Brazil-based SAB Aviaçâo has obtained field approval to install a dual Avidyne Atlas flight management system (FMS) upgrade in a Dassault Falcon 50. The Atlas FMSs enable fully-autopilot-coupled GPS approaches, a much lower-cost option than upgrading the business jet’s Collins Pro Line units.

“The dual Atlas FMS configuration is a terrific retrofit option for the Falcon 50,” said Ed Paulsen, Avidyne senior v-p of sales and business development. “Atlas gives new life to these highly-capable airframes without the high cost of a full flight deck replacement, adding a whole host of capabilities—most importantly opening up hundreds of airports and runway ends with GPS-based LPV approaches.”

New capabilities available with the Atlas FMSs include LPV, LP, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV-only GPS approaches. The FMSs include integrated navcom radios, Jeppesen georeferenced charts, touchscreen or QWERTY keyboard interfaces, and Avidyne’s GeoFill waypoint entry feature. Atlas’ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity also allow it to work with several tablet applications.

“Avidyne would like to extend our appreciation to Mario Alencar and the team of SAB Aviaçâo for initiating and completing this installation and approval,” said Juan Blaha, Avidyne sales director for Latin America. “The fully integrated dual Atlas…systems replaced several legacy remote boxes in the Falcon 50, clearing avionics bay space and increasing useful load, while extending the utility and capabilities of the aircraft.”

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As the 2024 U.S. Presidential election campaign begins to ramp up, aircraft operators can expect to see more temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) imposed as candidates tour the country on the path to the November polls.

A planned visit to Texas by President Joe Biden has prompted the FAA to post a TFR effective from Wednesday for the Dallas area. General aviation operations will be restricted in a 12-nm TFR ring centered on the CVE117006.0 prohibiting general aviation operations at Addison Airport (KADS), Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL), and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) from 2:45 p.m. local time tomorrow until 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.

When such TFRs are posted, operators should be aware that the times they are in force can often change at short notice, depending on the situation. The FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check notams frequently for possible changes to TFRs before planning flight operations within those areas.

Cabin audio and control equipment manufacturer Alto Aviation has developed the Alto Soundbar to enhance the in-flight entertainment experience for passengers aboard midsize, large-cabin, and VVIP business aircraft.

Engineered by the Alto team, the Soundbar integrates with the company's existing cabin audio solution. Available in two sizes (31 and 40 inches), the Soundbar's versatility allows it to be installed beneath monitor screens or in other locations within the cabin.

Three TSO-approved Alto ASP-250 loudspeakers are included in the system, in addition to an Alto amplifier capable of operating on both AC and DC electrical power and a variable number of Alto subwoofers tailored to the aircraft's requirements. According to the company, this configuration creates “a fully immersive listening experience, maximizing sound quality while minimizing distortion.” The Soundbar's enclosures can also be customized in various colors and textures to match the cabin's interior design.

Soundbar is compatible with all configurations of Alto Aviation's cabin audio systems, making it a suitable addition for both OEM and aftermarket installations. It has already seen successful implementation in business aircraft, including models from Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Boeing Business Jets.

William "Bill" Reavis, who left an indelible mark as an aerospace communications stalwart, died on Thursday at his home in Mesa, Arizona, after a battle with cancer. He was 77.

A former combat veteran who served in Vietnam with a broadcast journalism background, Reavis spent most of his career with Bendix/King, AlliedSignal, and, ultimately, Honeywell Aerospace, where he became known for his almost dogmatic representation of his company’s safety and other technologies. In fact, he is credited for “putting the auxiliary power unit on the map,” convincing most aviation news outlets to write about the technology that otherwise would have received little attention.

“Bill established himself as one of the most credible PR men in aviation history and was also known for his sharp wit and storytelling,” said his former colleague and now senior v-p of marketing and communications for StandardAero Kyle Hultquist. “Bill was a one-of-a-kind individual in every way.”

Reavis retired from Honeywell in 2013 but kept his hand in communications, helping other companies, such as Astronautics, with media outreach.

Born on May 31, 1947, Reavis grew up in Missouri. After graduating high school in 1965 and attending community college for two years, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He ended up in Saigon in 1968, spending more than 400 days on his so-called “walking tour” of Vietnam as a mortar man with the 199th Infantry Brigade.

True Blue Power unveiled two main ship lithium-ion batteries designed for smaller general aviation aircraft today at the Aircraft Electronics Association Convention. This fills in the company's line of lithium batteries for all segments of aviation, from experimental aircraft to business jets and commercial and military aircraft. The batteries are available for 14- and 28-volt electrical systems.

Both new batteries retail for $2,499 and have on-condition maintenance, “intelligent cockpit communication via discrete output and RS-232," and come with integral charge current limiting. Weight savings compared to lead-acid batteries is about 20 pounds; each battery weighs 10 pounds. The TB14 for 28-volt aircraft is a 13-amp-hour battery, while the 14-volt TB28-12V is a 26-amp-hour battery. True Blue Power plans to obtain supplemental type certification for the TB14 and TB28-12V in a variety of aircraft models.

Astronics has unveiled the Typhon T-400 satcom system, which is engineered to operate on any geostationary-earth-orbit-based Ku-band satellite network. With the T-400, Astronics aims to mitigate the traditionally high costs associated with equipping aircraft with satcom connectivity.

The design of the Typhon T-400 includes a reduction in the number of line replaceable units (LRUs) required from four to two. This simplification not only eases the installation process but also substantially lowers the cost of satellite connectivity. “Customizable variants of the system, including a modem-less configuration, offer special mission and military end-users heightened flexibility," according to Astronics CSC president Mike Kuehn.