Global business aviation flights jumped 6.3% year over year (YOY) in February, with North America finishing up by 5.3% and Europe by 2.2%, according to TraqPak data from safety specialist Argus International. Argus is forecasting a 3.9% increase in North American flight activity this month, with Europe forging ahead by 2.8%.

“February couldn’t have looked much better in terms of activity,” said Argus senior v-p of software Travis Kuhn. “When we see activity in a 28-day month exceeding activity in a 31-day month, that is a sign that our industry is operating in very strong territory.”

Business aircraft in North America recorded about 500 more flights per day in February versus a year ago. Fractional activity continued to surge, once again posting the largest increase of all operating categories at 9.5% YOY. Part 91 posted a 5.9% increase, while Part 135 saw 2.4% gains.

All aircraft categories were up last month in the region, with light jets leading the way with a 7.6% gain. Midsize-jet activity climbed 5.1% and turboprops increased by 4.9%. Large-jet operations posted a 2.9% gain.

In Europe, large-cabin activity surged by 8% last month, and midsize and light-jet activity each edged up by 1.6%. However, turboprop activity was down 3.3% YOY. In the rest of world, operations jumped by 11% YOY with demand was up across all four aircraft categories.

Citadel Aviation expanded its operations to Dallas Love Field (KDAL) with the acquisition of former Bravo Aviation facilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Dallas location will serve large-cabin business jet customers with maintenance, modifications, and refurbishment services. Citadel Aviation retained the Bravo Aviation team.

“Establishing a strategic presence at Dallas Love Field is an exciting and proud moment for Citadel Aviation,” said company CEO Greg Colgan. “This expansion enables us to deliver premier maintenance, modifications, and refurbishment services for large-cabin business jets right in the heart of Dallas. We are thrilled to welcome the exceptional team formerly with Bravo Aviation into the Citadel family.”

Citadel Aviation provides maintenance, modification, refurbishment, and completions for VIP and custom aircraft. The company is headquartered at Chennault International Airport (KCWF) in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and offers services for large-cabin business jets and narrow- and widebody VIP bizliners.

The leadership churn at the NTSB continues as another board member was removed by the White House without notice.

J. Todd Inman was nominated by President Biden two years ago as a Republican to fill a vacant seat on the independent agency that is responsible for conducting investigations into aviation, maritime, railway, and roadway accidents. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 2024 for a five-year term slated to end in 2029.

In a statement, Inman said he was notified on Friday that his position on the NTSB "was terminated effective immediately. To date, I have not received any reason for this termination," and added: “My only hope is that the NTSB leadership and those who control it stay true to its roots and culture as the preeminent safety organization unimpeded by political or personal agendas."

While NTSB board members typically serve for fixed terms and are rarely removed before their term expires, this is the second instance of this from the administration, following last year’s unexpected removal of NTSB vice chair Alvin Brown, whose term was set to expire at the end of 2026.

Brown’s lawsuit against the administration to regain his position has yet to be resolved, but that did not prevent the Senate from voting in late February to confirm John DeLeeuw to fill out the remainder of his term.

Business jet deliveries could grow by 6.5% this year, according to new market analysis released by IBA today. The UK-based aviation consultancy predicts 884 deliveries this year, saying that the increase is expected due to a gradual easing of supply chain constraints, albeit with “continued tightness driven by production and completions capacity.”

This year, IBA anticipates demand being spread across multiple segments of the business aircraft market, which it said reflects “sustained utilization in charter and corporate markets, alongside continued appetite for longer-range, premium cabin aircraft.”  The report anticipates a breakdown of deliveries across the following segments: very light jets (108); light and super-light (245); midsize (91); super midsize (156); large cabin (92); and large/ultra-long-range (192).

IBA projects a fairly even split of deliveries between the main aircraft manufacturers, with Textron Aviation and Embraer each expected to account 20% of this year’s deliveries. Bombardier is forecast to have a 19% share, followed by Gulfstream Aerospace (18%), Pilatus Aircraft (16%), Dassault Aviation (5%), and Airbus Corporate Jets and Honda Aircraft with 1% each. In 2025, 830 business jets were delivered, which was 10 more than IBA’s forecast for last year.

“While business jet utilization remains strong and demand from high-net-worth buyers continues to support the larger-cabin segments, IBA expects the 2026 outlook to hinge on how much of the existing orderbook turns into delivered aircraft,” the group’s analysts commented. 

West Star Aviation now has the certified personnel, tooling, and NDT standards in place to perform Task 57-11-00-108 on the Bombardier Challenger 300.

George J. Priester Aviation acquired Maxair and Elite Jets, adding 17 aircraft and operations in Wisconsin and Florida to the U.S. company’s charter network, Priester announced on Friday.

The acquisitions add Maxair’s Appleton, Wisconsin, base and Elite Jets’ Naples, Florida, location to an Illinois-based group that includes Priester Aviation, Mayo Aviation, Hill Private Aviation, and Omni Private Aviation. Both acquired companies will retain their names and regional operational focus.

The 17 aircraft joining the fleet, nearly all of which are available for charter, include Embraer Phenom 300s, a Legacy 500, Gulfstream G200s, and a Gulfstream GV.

“This partnership brings together organizations that share a passion in delivering high-touch ownerships and charter experience built on safety, service, and long-term relationships,” said chairman Andy Priester. “Maxair and Elite Jets are experts in owned aircraft charter; Priester, Mayo, Hill, and Omni specialize in aircraft management and ad-hoc charter.”

The combined companies will share operational expertise and regional relationships while retaining individual market connections. George J. Priester Aviation partnered with Invision Capital on the transaction.

George J. Priester Aviation holds Argus Platinum rating, Wyvern approval, and Air Charter Safety Foundation certifications.

A Cessna Citation Excel overran the runway, struck a snow berm, and collapsed its landing gear on February 6 after it failed to rotate when the pilot applied back pressure during the takeoff roll at Stuart Powell Field (KDVK) in Danville, Kentucky, according to the NTSB preliminary report. The two pilots and two passengers onboard were not injured. 

The crew planned to depart KDVK for Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport (KBWG) in Kentucky to pick up a passenger, then continue to Indiana’s Fort Wayne International Airport (KFWA). 

According to the NTSB report, the pilots completed a preflight inspection using the checklist, and the weather was checked for both airports. During taxi to the 5,000-foot runway, the crew completed the before-takeoff checklist, which included verifying flight control position and movement. No aircraft anomalies were noted by the pilots.

At 103 knots during the takeoff roll, the pilot pulled back on the yoke; however, the airplane did not rotate, and all three landing gear remained on the runway. After confirming the airspeed was above 103 knots with no rotation, the pilot aborted the takeoff.

“The pilot applied maximum braking and deployed the thrust reversers,” the report noted. The airplane struck a snow berm before coming to rest in a field with the main gear protruding through the wings.

Honeywell has released the latest of its FMS guided visual (FGV) approaches to one of the most challenging airports in the U.S.: Runway 33 at Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (KASE). Most pilots land on Aspen’s Runway 15, but if the winds favor Runway 33 it is difficult to safely fly a stabilized visual approach due to mountainous terrain near the runway end.

FGV approaches are loaded from the flight management system and designed to guide the flight crew safely to the runway end with comfortable angles of bank and descent, on a stabilized approach, while avoiding problem areas such as terrain, airspace, obstacles, or other encroachments.

The Aspen Runway 33 FGV approach begins at 10,500 feet north of the Runway 15 end and continues south along the valley, then curves left toward Red Mountain and descends to 9,700 feet. While continuing to descend, the approach takes the airplane in a wide circle over the city to line it up with Runway 33. Banks and descents are mild, designed to provide a stabilized, comfortable flight path to the runway end.

This FGV approach, as are all of Honeywell’s FGVs, is a visual approach only, which Honeywell reminds users in another note: “This is not an instrument approach; it is advisory lateral and vertical guidance and shall only be used when cleared for a visual approach. Flight crew is responsible for obstacle and terrain clearance.”

Certain rotorcraft equipped with the Airbus Helicopters Helionix avionics suite can be upgraded with Astronautics Corporation of America’s AeroSync Max V2.1 wireless airborne communications system (wACS).

Astronautics and Airbus are collaborating on the upgrade, which is available for EASA-certified H145 and H145M helicopters. Plans call for wACS to be approved for the H160 by the end of this year and the H225 in 2027.

The V2.1 upgrade adds 4G in-flight connectivity for passengers and Ethernet/Wi-Fi gateway capability to support camera streaming to tablet devices for medical and mission-cabin device management and secure patient-data transmission. It also enables continuous cybersecurity updates and uploads of current Helionix databases.

“The AeroSync Max 2.1 upgrade builds on our proven architecture to deliver expanded data capabilities, in-flight connectivity functionality, and ongoing cybersecurity support, helping ensure these platforms are prepared for the next generation of connected operations,” said Matthew Frei, director of connected aircraft solutions at Astronautics.

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.