Indonesia’s ministry of defense placed a firm order for a dozen Pilatus PC-24s to support the Indonesian air force’s air transport, liaison, and transport training requirements, Pilatus Aircraft announced today. The firm order, placed with defense contractor PT E-System Indonesia, includes an option for more of the light twinjets. Additionally, a letter of intent has been signed for the supply of 24 PC-21 turboprop trainers.

According to Pilatus, the PC-24’s operational flexibility, ability to operate from unpaved runways, and single-pilot operation make it “ideal for a variety of government missions.” These include instrument pilot training, transport, and liaison duties.

The contract also includes ground support equipment, tools parts, training, and technical support. “Our priority is to support Indonesia in putting the fleet into service smoothly,” said Pilatus Aircraft CEO Markus Bucher.

Pilatus v-p of government aviation Ioannis Papachristofilou added that the Indonesian selection of the PC-24 “emphasizes the growing interest of government operators” in operating the type. In October, the French navy became the first European military customer for the PC-24, leasing three units from Jet Aviation. The Qatar Emiri air force has also ordered two PC-24s.

U.S. aircraft management and charter group Fly Alliance is preparing to enter the Indian market with an initial $12 million investment. According to CEO Kevin Wargo, the company will start operations in fourth-quarter 2027 with an Embraer Legacy 600 as the first step in a plan to base 10 aircraft in the country over the next 18 months.

Fly Alliance has also opened an office in New Delhi to support aircraft owners. Wargo said the company will provide charter flights and maintenance services under a new local brand to be announced soon.

India’s civil aviation regulator has already cleared Fly Alliance as a foreign approved maintenance organization with authority to work on Bombardier Globals, Cessna Citations, and Hawkers. The company is now finalizing a partnership with a number of Indian maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers.

Wargo commented that current Indian restrictions on imported aircraft limit available inventory and choice for customers. The country only allows pressurized business aircraft aged up to 18 years to be imported, and proposals have been made to raise this limit to 20 years.

“Although fractional ownership has worked well in the U.S., we will not pursue it in India,” Wargo explained. In the U.S., the company offers jet card arrangements for customers wanting better pricing for blocks of flight hours.

UAS International Trip Support has launched a platform to help flight departments plan, manage, and track missions. The UAE-based group launched the GTMx system last week at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Cleveland. Operators will be able to use GTMx on mobile devices, and the platform features a redesigned user interface.

According to UAS executive v-p for the U.S. Abdul Charafeddin, clients will be able to create and submit trips with just three simple steps in a process that will eliminate fragmented workflows involving complex email chains. In addition to real-time trip status, GTMx includes data covering airport access, immigration requirements, weather, and notams, as well as allowing operators to monitor their fleet on a single dashboard. The platform provides users with alerts and notifications and has a live chat function to help staff collaborate on workflows without depending on emails or separate messaging platforms.

UAS said GTMx can be integrated with multiple scheduling systems, including Avianis, PFM, and Leon. The company plans to add further features, such as AI-powered analytics, fleet and schedule optimization, global resource integration, and cost and carbon reduction tools.

“By combining real-time visibility, streamlined workflows, and intuitive mobile-first design, GTMx empowers operations teams to plan, manage, and execute trips with unprecedented speed, clarity, and confidence,” said UAS founder and executive president Mohammed Husary.

Amid growing threats of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) interference, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European air traffic management provider Eurocontrol have outlined a series of measures that they hope will help operators “strengthen the robustness of GNSS-based operations.”

Eurocontrol director general Raúl Medina described GNSS interference as “a significant and evolving challenge for European aviation.” Accordingly, the newly published joint action plan “focuses on maintaining safety in the near term while limiting impacts on airspace capacity and containing the threat of GNSS interference,” explained Eurocontrol.

By pooling their collective monitoring capabilities and operational data, the partners hope to build a “common, validated operational picture of GNSS interference events across Europe, enabling more accurate detection, reporting, and situational awareness,” they explained.

This will help the parties develop what Eurocontrol termed “consistent and harmonized guidance” to air navigation service providers, airlines, and national authorities, which in turn will “ensure rapid and aligned responses to interference events.”

The action plan has been drafted in response to a letter sent in June 2025 by 13 EU member states, highlighting an increasing number of radio frequency interference events—such as jamming and spoofing—affecting GNSS-based systems.

West Star Aviation has launched a digital book series showcasing aircraft paint and interior refurbishments across platforms including the Citation 680, Global 5000, and Falcon 900 series.

Private Jet Card Comparisons (PJCC) unveiled a program that offers a range of pricing and benchmark data for corporate flight departments seeking supplemental lift. PJCC for Corporate Flight Departments offers comparisons on jet card, membership, and fractional supplemental lift programs, providing insight into comparisons of ad-hoc charter pricing versus guaranteed-price flight programs.

With a quick compare flight pricing feature, PJCC for Corporate Flight Departments offers access to the company's database of more than 80 jet card, membership, and fractional program providers and some 1,500 unique program offerings.

Users can look at 65 variables, including company size, ownership, and leadership; specific program options; upfront program costs; current rates; membership fees; acquisition size; aircraft sizes and types available; maximum seat guarantees; fuel and service surcharges; sourcing model; aircraft age guarantees; blackout dates; and daily, minimum, taxi time, and other charges.

“Since 2017, Private Jet Card Comparisons has been providing independent third-party data enabling consumers to save time and buy confidently when accessing private aviation,” said company founder Doug Gollan. “The most difficult part about flying privately is comparing the various options. PJCC for Corporate Flight Departments is a resource to help both identify new supplemental lift solutions, benchmark current vendors, and enable fast access to data companies need for audits and more.”

World Fuel has introduced two new members to its sponsored Air Elite Network of upscale FBOs, expanding its footprint in the Southeastern U.S. and Asia with the additions of Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Services at Georgia’s Augusta Regional Airport (KAGS) and Thailand-based MJets’ FBO at Don Mueang International Airport (VTBD) in Thailand.

Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Services offers a well-appointed FBO terminal with conference rooms and lounge areas, a 30-acre ramp, and NATA-qualified line technicians who specialize in providing guaranteed quick turns of 30 minutes or less.

Bangkok-based MJets made its debut as an Air Elite member at NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference last week in Cleveland. It is the first Thai aviation services company to hold both IS-BAO and IS-BAH registration, and it has established itself as a leading provider of business aviation services in the region.

Operators visiting these Air Elite locations will have access to World Fuel products and services, including contract fuel, trip support, and its customer loyalty program.

“The addition of MJets and Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Services strengthens the Air Elite Network in two important markets and expands the global footprint available to operators,” said Malcolm Hawkins, World Fuel’s senior v-p, of global business aviation. “For flight departments and crews, Air Elite locations deliver a consistent standard of service and operational expertise across the network.”

NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC), held last week in Cleveland, was a record-breaker, according to the show organizers. Over the course of three days, it attracted more than 3,500 attendees—10% of them making their first SDC appearance—to the Huntington Convention Center, coming from all 50 U.S. states and 55 countries. On the sold-out show floor, more than 440 exhibiting companies occupied the largest amount of space in the conference’s 37-year history.

During the event, attendees could choose from a slate of 34 educational sessions, with topics ranging from optimizing fuel planning and uplift to mental health in aviation. To support future industry growth, upwards of $40,000 in monetary scholarships was awarded, along with 16 training scholarships.

“This year’s conference was yet another record-breaking event, but it was about much more than a set of numbers,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “This conference uniquely brings together a group of professionals who fundamentally understand that we are all better—as individuals, and as an industry—when we can come together to share our passion, our knowledge, and our sense of possibility about the future.”

Next year’s SDC will be held from February 22 to 24 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The FAA has formally recognized the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) credential as meeting the agency’s requirements for training to show eligibility for issuance of a repairman certificate.

In 2025,  AEA introduced the CAET program. To become a repairman, a person can either accumulate 18 months of related practical experience or complete formal training, for which the CAET now qualifies.

“The CAET certification program has been thoroughly reviewed and found to effectively demonstrate the knowledge base of technicians while assessing the competencies of each qualified individual,” wrote Jackie Black, manager of the FAA’s Aircraft Maintenance Division, in a letter to AEA. “We conclude that the CAET certification program provides current, comprehensive, and rigorous assessments, and is an acceptable [alternate method of compliance]. As such, it meets the intent of the regulatory requirements outlined in 14 CFR § 65.101(a)(5)(ii) for the issuance of a repairman’s certificate.”

“The CAET represents the next generation of aircraft electronics technician certification and signals the start of a technical and professional journey for avionics integrators,” said Mike Adamson, AEA president and CEO.

“This recognition culminates the efforts of an ASTM task group convened in 2024 to modernize the legacy standard to reflect the evolving technical complexity of avionics systems and the operational needs of Part 145 repair stations,” said Ric Peri, AEA v-p of government and industry affairs.

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2026 AIN Product Support Survey is now open, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been picked to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their password and link to the online survey by email. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on May 31. Please contact Lisa Valladares if you have not received your access code.