Preowned business jet inventory jumped 23% year over year (YOY) this month and ticked up by 3% from April, according to analyst Jefferies. Pricing, meanwhile, has ebbed by 2% YOY and 1% from last month.

Using its own estimates and Amstat data, Jefferies further noted that even for younger jets—those less than seven years since production—inventory is up 21% from a year ago. But for those models, the available inventory is still below historic levels at 3.7% of the in-service fleet.

Jefferies reported that 1,195 jets are available for sale so far this month, compared with 1,161 in April and 969 last May. Available inventory sits at 4.9% of the total business jet fleet, up from the one-year average of 4.3%.

Inventory increases crossed all major categories, with midsize jets up the most at 32%, followed by light jets, +21%; and large-cabin jets, +16%. However, the rise was not uniform across the major airframers.

Embraer units for sale dipped by 14%, to 32 units, and Bombardier aircraft for sale edged up 3% YOY, to 63 units. Gulfstream preowned inventory increased by 30% YOY, to 74 units, Cessna Citation inventory climbed by 28% YOY, and Dassault Falcons for sale surged by 108%, though that number is skewed by a low base of 25 aircraft for sale.

Hickory, North Carolina-based Appalachian Aero Group (AAG) has become an FAA Part 145 repair station following two years of working with the agency to obtain the certification. The milestone makes AAG one of 45 FAA-certified repair stations with an airframe-limited rating in North Carolina. Now concentrating on servicing Beechcraft King Airs and Cessna Citations, AAG plans to add more capabilities to further address customers’ needs.

Appalachian Aero Group’s services include scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, line maintenance, aircraft-on-ground (AOG) support, parts sales, and aircraft maintenance management. Its Part 145 repair station approval marks the first time since 2012 that such capability is available at Hickory Regional Airport (KHKY).

The company expects the designation to attract operators to base their aircraft at KHKY, increasing the tax base for the city of Hickory and both Burke and Catawba Counties, thereby helping fuel AAG’s growth and providing new jobs to the area. Established in 2018, AAG has grown from one employee supporting a private aircraft management company of three aircraft to more than 10 employees serving a wide range of customers and airframes.

To combat global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jamming and spoofing, a UK government program has conducted flight testing of a quantum-based navigation system. A series of flights took place using QinetiQ’s RJ100 airborne technology demonstrator equipped with a Tiqker optical atomic clock and an ultra-cold-atom-based quantum system.

The tests are designed to prove technology that will lead to the development of a quantum inertial navigation system (Q-INS), according to the UK government, which is funding this effort with nearly £8 million ($10.2 million). This is part of the UK’s £2.5 billion National Quantum Strategy and National Quantum Technologies Program.

“Quantum-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems could, over time, offer one part of a larger solution to providing highly accurate and resilient navigation that complements current satellite systems, which could help ensure that the thousands of flights that take place around the world daily proceed without disruption.”

Research into quantum PNT technology and the Q-INS is led by Infleqtion, with collaboration from BAE Systems and QinetiQ. The tests were done at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. Science minister Andrew Griffith was on the final test flight on May 9. “From passenger flights to shipping,” he said, "we all depend on navigation systems that are accurate, safe, and secure. The scientific research we are supporting here on quantum technology could well provide the resilience to protect our interests.”

Million Air Dallas has introduced two aircraft maintenance management service programs to help ensure the safety, efficiency, and reliability of customers' aircraft.

Operators can choose to enroll in one of two levels of services. Its Maintenance Event Oversight program will use the facility’s maintenance specialists to manage an aircraft inspection or other maintenance event from securing vendor quotes to return-to-service, monitoring progress throughout the project, and providing onsite representation to validate findings and verify the quality of workmanship.

Under the higher-level Full Maintenance Management program, the aircraft is entirely onboarded into the location’s maintenance programs, which will handle all aspects—from maintenance planning and budgeting to record-keeping and warranty management. Monthly billing statements are provided for full transparency, and a maintenance control team is available 24/7 to respond to unexpected situations.

“We understand the importance of jets as business tools, and the challenges and inconvenience of downtime combined with the need for constant oversight of maintenance of the aircraft is more than most want to deal with,” explained Million Air Dallas v-p of technical operations Jay Helland. “With the addition of our two new maintenance services, we will be your boots-on-the-ground representation to ensure your maintenance stays on track, and with preferred pricing from the major repair stations, you will stay on budget as well.”

Chauffeured transportation provider network GGT Worldwise is introducing electric vehicle options to its global network and will be highlighting them next week at EBACE 2024. “We are seeing more and more requests from our global customer base, especially in Europe, for airport transfers in electric vehicles. The launch of a ‘greener’ GGT is in direct response to these requests," said Will Holroyd, GGT Worldwise president.

"At present, we have a very strong service partner network of EVs in Europe and in key U.S. locations, and we are diligently working to expand our EV footprint each day,” he added. “This will be my first EBACE representing GGT, and it is exciting that we have something new to the market and relevant to today’s conversation to present.”

The company plans to feature electric vehicles such as the Mercedes EQS and BMW i7 in its inventory, attributing the additions to “significant increases in the mileage range available” from EVs.

Panterra Heli Support is offering a recently acquired Sikorsky Blackhawk for sale or lease, following the helicopter’s extensive upgrades by Ace Aeronautics. The modifications include new avionics supplied by Dallas Avionics; an RMCI health and usage monitoring system; Flightcell's DZMX satcom, SmartHub video, audio, and data recorder, and cockpit camera; and an AEM LSS440 loudspeaker system.

Avionics include dual Technisonic TDFM 136B VHF/FM transceivers and from Jupiter Avionics, three JA95 audio controllers, a JA40 ICS tie line isolation transformer, JA31 intercom bus selector, JA34 universal Bluetooth radio adapter, JA72 glove box with dual charging ports, and multiple JA74 USB-C ports. Also installed are dual Garmin GTN 750h Xi navigators, a GTX 345 transponder, and a GAE 12 encoder.

Ace Aeronautics completed the upgrade with Aerometals exhaust assemblies, as well as LED lighting, Max Pulse flasher system, fuel reclamation kit, vertical reference kit, locking fuel cap, Bambi bucket fill connection, cargo hook with weigh system, and provisions for Helitak firefighting equipment.

“Working with Rich Enderle and the team at Ace Aeronautics, we were able to equip this aircraft to give our customers the most versatile, advanced aircraft possible,” said Panterra v-p of sales and business development Adrienne Robinson. “It is great to see such an amazing helicopter gain new life for civilian operations.”

Bombardier-authorized service facility and FAA Part 145 repair station ACI Jet has become an authorized dealer of SpaceX's Starlink satellite connectivity systems. With the authorization, ACI Jet has committed to purchase several Starlink shipsets.

San Luis Obispo, California-based MRO provider ACI Jet urges aircraft owners wanting to upgrade to Starlink to act quickly before scheduling slots fill up. But the company said it stands ready to perform installations quickly, thereby minimizing disruptions to aircraft operations. The facility’s capabilities include line and heavy maintenance inspections; in-flight entertainment and cabin management system installations; and interior refurbishment.

“We’ve already experienced a spike in demand for Starlink inflight connectivity from numerous repair station customers,” said Dave Jensen, senior v-p of maintenance for ACI Jet. “We made the decision to meet this demand by committing to invest in Starlink inventory and pursuing dealer/installer authorization while continuing to provide options as a dealer for all major avionics, electronics, and communications OEMs.”

Along with MRO functions, ACI Jet operates charter flights with a fleet of Bombardier Global Express XRSs and Challenger 604s; Gulfstream IV-SPs; and Cessna Citation XLSs.