Gulfstream’s flagship G700 obtained EASA approval today, following FAA certification by about a month and a half. This allows the $75 million twinjet to be delivered to European customers in any of the 31 EASA member states.

“The Gulfstream team is proud to add EASA to our growing G700 certification accomplishments,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “During the flight-test program, we took the G700 across the globe, and the response to the aircraft’s cabin size, flexibility and performance has been outstanding. This EASA certification unlocks G700 deliveries for many more of our international customers, and we are excited to see our next-generation fleet grow around the world.”

Last month, Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, said the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer will hand over 50 to 52 of the 7,700-nm jets by year-end. It delivered two of them to customers last month, and Qatar Executive is holding a reveal ceremony for its first G700 next Wednesday at Doha Hamad International Airport.

The first 20 G700s needed unspecified post-certification modifications but are now ready for delivery to customers, with another seven to eight of the twinjets ready by next month, according to Novakovic. G700 shipments are expected to be evenly paced throughout the year, meaning around 13 per quarter.

Owners and operators of Hawker 800 twinjets equipped with Honeywell SPZ 8000 autopilots now have an upgrade path to a Universal Avionics InSight integrated flight deck. Southeast Aerospace has amended its original supplemental type certificate (STC) for Hawker 800s with Collins autopilots by adding the SPZ 8000-equipped variants.

InSight adds three large displays and touchscreen controllers, as well as dual Universal UNS 1FW flight management systems with WAAS LPV approaches, georeferenced radio tuning, and a Mid-Continent Instrument Standby Attitude Module backup display. It also eliminates more than 30 panel annunciators.

Several options are available with the upgrade, including a Bendix King RDR-2100 radar; PS Engineering PAC 45L audio system; Universal UL801 communications management unit for CPDLC capability; Latitude Technologies/Satcom Direct DL-150 Iridium datalink and FANS 1/A and ATN B1; Universal Kapture cockpit voice recorder; dual Garmin GTX 3000 transponders; and Honeywell Mk-VII EGPWS software.

“Our goal is to offer a modern, efficient, and highly reliable upgrade path for these aircraft,” said SEA Aircraft Modifications sales representative Luke Gomoll. “The Insight integrated flight deck upgrade, in conjunction with other modernizations like the Kapture CVR with RIPS and the PS Engineering PAC 45L audio system, empowers operators with the latest in avionics technology, significantly enhancing safety and operational efficiency.”

The National Air Transportation Association has teamed up with Keller Giles Group to help guide members through specific tactical and strategic regulatory issues such as safety management systems (SMS).

Led by president and CEO Stefan Keller and COO Carol Giles, KGG brings expertise in a range of issues involving the FAA, flight operations, certification, SMS, and repair stations. Beyond SMS, KGG can assist in areas such as certificate approvals and consolidation, engineering, operations, inspections, and uncrewed aircraft.

“Through this arrangement, NATA is connecting our members with trusted, strategic partners like KGG who will provide services to help both NATA members and the association more effectively and efficiently achieve their missions—a winning combination,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna.

NATA COO Keith DeBerry noted that the group has extensive knowledge in designing, implementing, and improving safety systems. “They understand industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and can apply this expertise to a business’ specific needs.”

Giles previously worked with the association as a liaison to its maintenance committee and is a contributor to NATA's Aviation Business Journal. Under her leadership, the maintenance committee developed the Part 135 conformity inspection checklist for the FAA, which led to an advisory circular providing guidance on placing aircraft into Part 135 commuter and on-demand service.

The U.S. Senate last night confirmed a three-year extension of Jennifer Homendy’s term as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This approval, by voice vote, comes two months after President Joe Biden nominated Homendy for the extended term.

Homendy joined the NTSB in August 2018 and took over as chair in 2021, succeeding Robert Sumwalt, who stepped down after serving on the Board for 15 years.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) praised the Senate action, noting, “Jennifer Homendy has guided the NTSB through some of the most high-profile transportation accidents this nation has seen in recent memory—from the East Palestine train derailment to the Alaska Airlines door plug accident and now the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. We’re fortunate that Chair Homendy will continue leading the agency’s critical investigative work with independence and integrity, and will continue advocating for ways to make the nation’s transportation system safer for Americans.”

Homendy brought more than 25 years of transportation safety experience to the Safety Board, including spending 14 years as the Democratic staff director for the House of Representatives' railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials subcommittee and holding positions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, and American Iron and Steel Institute.

Safran Helicopter Engines has signed support-by-the-hour contracts with Chinese group GDAT to support the Makila engines powering its fleet of Airbus H225 helicopters and the Arrano engines powering GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF) H160 helicopters. The two contracts cover in-service support and MRO for 140 Arrano 1A and Makila 2A1 engines. Safran Helicopter Engines China will manage the contracts.

“We are particularly proud that a leading helicopter company like GDAT Group has placed its trust in us for the operational follow-up and MRO of its engines,” said Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Cédric Goubet. “GDAT Group has an ambitious fleet development strategy, and we're going to support them with the best possible services for their success.”

GDAT lays claim as China's leading “low-altitude economy” company, operating the largest H225 fleet in the country. It provides helicopter rescue, transport, offshore transport, and aerial work missions. Founded in 2012 and based in Shanghai, GDAT controls subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Suzhou, and Ningbo.

GDHF is a start-up helicopter leasing and finance company based in Dublin, Ireland. It plans to build a large portfolio of new-technology, efficient, cost-effective, multi-mission helicopters—including the Arrano-powered H160—and lease them to customers globally.

Dassault Aviation Business Services has announced a passenger seating redesign concept for the Dassault Falcon 7X using 3D printing technology. The company refers to the design as a plug-and-play concept that slides into position over the existing seat frame.

It also said the redesign will be “operations friendly” and generate significant time savings for removal and installation. According to Dassault, the seat can be removed in less than a minute, reducing cost by negating the need for labor to be hired to remove the backrest. The new kit complies with all certification requirements (weight, retentions, absence of sharp edges, and burn testing) to be qualified as a minor modification.

In addition, the company has developed a range of smart cabinetry repair for high-gloss varnish finishes that can be done in situ at any location in just a few hours.

“When it comes to wood cabin appearance, the objective is to bridge the gap between the day a visual defect is reported and the next opportunity for a full cabin refurbishment,” said Cyrille Pillet, v-p of customer support and technical services at Dassault Aviation Business Services' Geneva Airport facility. "These set of repairs will be seen as a value for money temporary solution that does the job, especially for charter or intensive operations without negatively impacting aircraft operations.”

Piper Aircraft and authorized dealer Flying Smart Aero appointed Troyes Aviation as an approved Piper service center in France. The companies sealed the deal last month at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany.

“Flying Smart is proud to add Troyes Aviation to our established network of approved service centers covering France,” said Flying Smart principal David Fabry. “With its convenient location and expertise, this will facilitate maintenance for the French Piper fleet from the Archer and up to the new M700 Fury.”

“Our goal is to provide customers and owners with an exceptional ownership experience, ensuring they have the technical support and expertise needed to maintain their aircraft,” noted Piper Aircraft v-p of sales, marketing, and customer support Ron Gunnarson. “We are always looking for ways to innovate and support customers around the globe and are grateful to Flying Smart and David Fabry for forming this new service center partnership.”

Founded in 1973 by Françoise Horiot and transferred to new ownership last year, Troyes Aviation operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of JHG SAS and sister company JG Aviation, the authorized Pilatus service center for France.