Bell Textron Canada has delivered its 6,000th helicopter made at its Commercial Delivery and Assembly Centre in Mirabel, Quebec. Today’s celebration included two Subaru Bell 412EPXs handed over to the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable for operation by the Sûreté du Québec.

“For the Sûreté du Québec, the new helicopters are essential to fulfilling our mission,” said Liette Abel Normandin, senior director of strategy and institutional affairs and member of the Sûreté du Québec's senior management. “Our police helicopter services, including search and rescue, are offered throughout Quebec thanks to our valuable partnership with the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable, particularly with the General Directorate of the SAG [Service Aérien Gouvernemental]. In 2024, our helicopters carried out 116 missions.”

With support from the SAG, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable has been operating Bell helicopters since the 1960s. Missions include search and rescue, crew and equipment transport, flood evacuation, aerial surveillance, and tactical operations.

“Our 6,000th helicopter built in Canada demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing aircraft capable of performing the most critical missions, as well as our dedication to contributing to Quebec's economy,” said Danny Maldonado, chief commercial officer at Bell Textron.

Last week, Bell announced that the Subaru Bell 412EPX received Transport Canada validation, enabling buyers to register the helicopter in Canada.

NAL Research and VectorNav Technologies are developing inertial navigation systems (INS) with Iridium satellite time and location-aiding to provide resilient assured position, navigation, and timing (APNT) services when global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are experiencing jamming and spoofing. Plans call for the companies to co-develop solutions using VectorNav’s tactical-grade INS and NAL’s Iridium satellite time and location (STL) receivers for aerospace and military applications.

Iridium’s low-earth-orbit satellite signals are one thousand times stronger than traditional GNSS, meaning the STL signals can penetrate buildings and give better coverage in other GNSS-obstructed areas, according to the companies. VectorNav’s VN-210E GNSS-aided INS integrates with NAL Research’s ALTM Gen2 Mini Iridium STL receiver. “When paired, the system provides a high-rate and continuous position, velocity, and attitude solution, even in dynamic applications and in GNSS-denied environments,” the companies said.

“This complete offering delivered through our high-velocity collaboration with VectorNav will deliver dynamic innovation to the emerging APNT market,” said NAL Research president Robert Bills. “Our partnership streamlines our customers’ implementation of alternative APNT sources. We look forward to helping government and enterprise users achieve operational success by enabling the ability to rapidly implement highly accurate and reliable navigation solutions.”

While continuing a transition with changeover in leadership and new U.S. administration, the FAA is prioritizing activities surrounding advanced air mobility, drones, and rulemaking that may enable future technologies, including eVTOL aircraft, according to acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau. This includes the much-anticipated proposal on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) that was facing a congressional mandate of release late last year.

In an interview with AIN, Rocheleau said the BVLOS rulemaking is “getting close to completion. It's sooner than ‘shortly,’” he said. “I've heard shortly now for a little while, and I think that we're getting really close. We've talked to the administration about the importance of the enabling nature of this rule.”

But, he added, “Where we have a rule that is enabling to industry and where it helps—whether it's airports, advanced air mobility, drones—the administration has come out pretty clearly and said we want to let these rules go. Enabling rules like BVLOS are a priority, 100%.”

This month, Rocheleau is going to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to explore the uncrewed aircraft system traffic management (UTM) technology in place. In July, the FAA announced the first authorizations for commercial drone operations using the UTM technology. “To me, those are game changers when we think about the beyond visual line of sight rule and enabling drones to do deliveries,” he said.

More than 400 customers have purchased Viasat’s JetXP broadband satcom service since commercial launch late last year, the company said today. JetXP operates on Viasat’s geostationary orbit GX satellite network and features uncapped connectivity speeds, expanded capacity, and more network prioritization for business aviation customers.

Aircraft equipped with Honeywell’s JetWave and Gogo’s Plane Simple Ka-band satcom terminals can opt for the JetXP service. All large-cabin business jets are certified for the JetWave system, while the Plane Simple terminal is approved in the Gulfstream G650/ER, G550, GV, and G280. Additional Plane Simple supplemental type certificates are underway for other aircraft models. Collins Aerospace is also a Viasat distribution partner.

Honeywell is now developing JetWave X, which will be suitable for super-midsize to large-cabin jets and taps into Viasat’s Ka-band network and the Global Xpress satellites that Viasat inherited through its 2023 acquisition of Inmarsat.

“While we’re consistently seeing speeds that exceed 100 Mbps over Europe and other regions, we are well aware that speed tests are just one element of what makes a superb connectivity experience,” said Viasat head of business aviation Kai Tang. “Our most sophisticated users recognize that the overall experience matters more than simple speed tests, and that’s where JetXP really excels.”

AEG Fuels is updating its AEG Rewards program with a new tiered structure—Ready, Jet, and Fuel—designed to give customers more ways to earn and redeem. With added benefits at every level, the revamped program offers greater value for your fueling and flight support activity.

Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC) is now providing continuous supplies of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to business aviation customers, making it only the second company in Asia—following Jet Aviation Singapore—to do so.

All commercially sold SAF is currently blended with conventional jet fuel because pure SAF is not yet approved for use due to its lack of aromatic compounds, which help gaskets in the aircraft fuel system swell and maintain tight seals. HKBAC CEO Vivien Lau told AIN that the company is receiving a 5% SAF blend provided by a local fuel supplier and that it has been “very well received” by customers.

“We are thrilled to bring [SAF] to HKBAC, marking a pivotal moment in our journey toward greener aviation,” said Lau. “This launch reflects our leadership in driving innovation and sustainability, while supporting our clients in achieving their environmental goals. Together, we are shaping a more responsible and forward-thinking business aviation sector.”

The IS-BAH Stage 3-registered company is in the process of a major expansion of its terminal at Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) with upgraded customs, immigration, and quarantine service, and an arrivals canopy. Expected to finish this year, it will double HKBAC’s handling capability for business jet movements.

Leonardo experienced a dip in first-quarter helicopter deliveries from a year ago but still saw increased revenues and earnings with more activity surrounding its dual-use AW families and from customer support, according to the Italian manufacturer.

Releasing its first-quarter results late last week, Leonardo reported 28 helicopter deliveries in the first three months, compared with 31 in the same period last year. In the quarter, the company handed over 13 AW109/AW119 models, two AW169s, 11 AW139s, and one apiece of the AW189 and NH90.

Revenues from Leonardo’s helicopters division increased 16% to $1.259 billion, compared with $1.085 billion in first-quarter 2024. EBITA, meanwhile, was up 29.6% at the division to $70 million, compared with $54 million in first three months of 2024.

Backlog climbed 7% from a year earlier to $16.212 billion as of March 31. Boosting backlog was a 15.6% increase in net orders, with a strengthening in the defense and government arenas. These orders totaled $2.36 billion in the quarter and included a contract from Weststar for AW149s, AW139s, and AW109 Trekkers for use by the Malaysian government and a GD Helicopter Finance deal for 10 AW189s for the offshore sector.

Piper Aircraft will avoid layoffs at its Vero Beach, Florida facility following the resolution of a U.S. trade policy issue that threatened manufacturing jobs. Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-Florida) helped secure targeted trade exemptions that allow Piper to continue operations without disruption.

The intervention followed concerns earlier this year about U.S. tariffs affecting materials critical to Piper’s production lines. Employing more than 1,100 people in Vero Beach, the company manufactures training, personal, and light business aircraft and anchors a regional supply chain supporting hundreds more jobs.

Piper CEO John Calcagno praised Haridopolos for ensuring the aircraft manufacturer’s concerns were heard by federal officials. “This kind of problem-solving matters,” Calcagno said in a statement to TC Palm. “It keeps American manufacturers competitive. It protects skilled labor. And in this case, it made a direct difference for our community here on the Treasure Coast.”

Calcagno added that the outcome reflected “government at its best: responsive, informed, and focused on solving a real-world problem.” He emphasized that the relief enables Piper’s workforce to continue building aircraft “that reflect the skill, dedication, and ingenuity of American manufacturing.”

Haridopolos also praised the Trump Administration for working with his office on the resolution. “This was about standing up for Florida workers and sending a clear message: Manufacturing jobs matter,” he said.

The pilot’s decision to continue a night VFR charter into IMC led to spatial disorientation and a fatal crash of an Airbus EC130 near Halloran Springs, California, on Feb. 9, 2024, according to the NTSB final report. All six occupants—two pilots and four passengers—were killed.

Operated by Orbic Air under Part 135, the helicopter departed Palm Springs International Airport (KPSP) at 8:45 p.m. About 80 minutes later, it struck mountainous desert terrain in dark conditions with low visibility, rain, and snow.

A required radar altimeter was known to be inoperative before the accident. The company president, who was also the flight follower, indicated that he “told the pilot that the flight could not depart if the radar altimeter was not functioning,” the report stated. “A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained nonfunctional. The mechanic reported that the pilots and the [director of maintenance] were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, but still departed on a positioning flight.”

After a 40-minute positioning leg, the pilot picked up charter passengers at KPSP and the subsequent charter flight was delayed. During that time, “there was no record that the pilot or safety pilot obtained a formal preflight weather briefing for the accident flight,” the report stated.

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