The budget reconciliation bill that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives late last night contained “multiple initiatives supporting the growth, safety, and sustainability of the nation’s aviation industry and infrastructure,” according to NBAA. The bill will next move to the Senate for consideration.

Included in the bill is $12.5 billion for airport and air traffic control projects that will replace aging radar systems, control towers, and terminal radar approach control facilities and fund controller recruitment and training. The legislation would reinstate 100% immediate expensing on factory-new and preowned aircraft purchases, reversing the phase-down of claimable depreciation to zero in 2027. 

The Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit would be extended another four years under the bill, to continue incentivizing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production to 2031. “This credit is among the initiatives that contributed to the doubling of U.S. SAF production from December 2024 to February 2025,” according to NBAA.

“As the House reconciliation bill moves to the Senate for consideration, we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance these forward-looking provisions that bolster an essential industry, support countless workers, and promote American competitiveness,” Bolen concluded.

French business aviation leaders are pressing their government for a U-turn to reverse high passenger duties imposed on private charter flights in March. According to Charles Aguettant, president of EBAA-France, France's Prime Minister François Bayrou has acknowledged the so-called “solidarity tax” was ill-conceived, sparking hope that the industry group can persuade the administration to accept alternative proposals.

With France’s government needing to close a €40 billion deficit in its 2026 budget, whether the administration will reverse its policy of targeting wealthy travelers remains to be seen. However, during this week’s EBACE show in Geneva, Aguettant told AIN that complexities around requirements for operators flying from French airports to collect the duty have resulted in a fiscal yield of just €5 million to €10 million—well short of the planned €100 million to be raised—but costing operators customers deterred by the bloated costs of charter flights.

France’s 2026 budget is due to be settled in September or October, and EBAA-France aims to hold direct talks with senior government figures by then. The group has already lobbied the departments of economy, budget, and transportation.

The news from France was part of an update provided during an EBACE 2025 conference session on taxation challenges facing business aviation. This included details of luxury taxes being applied in Spain and Italy.

Signature Aviation has officially launched operations at Francis S. Gabreski Airport (KFOK) in Westhampton Beach, New York, marking the latest expansion of its global private aviation terminal network. Beginning May 23, the new location will serve one of the Northeast’s most in-demand coastal destinations, providing enhanced access for business and private travelers.

“Westhampton Beach is one of the premier destinations for travelers in the Northeast U.S.,” said CEO Tony Lefebvre. “With the debut of Signature FOK, we’re proud to offer a new, elevated gateway to the area for our guests…highlighted by our award-winning team members, service, and one-of-a-kind guest experience.”

Signature will initially operate out of a short-term terminal built with premium finishes designed to preview the long-term facility planned for the site. The temporary facility includes nearly 350,000 sq ft of ramp space and is located on the same footprint as the future terminal, ensuring continuity for travelers as development continues.

Scheduled to open in early 2026, the full-scale facility will include a 5,600-sq-ft terminal, more than 60,000 sq ft of hangar space, a fueling station, a café and lounge area, and a second-story office and retail space. The site will also host Signature’s Resident Premier program, providing aircraft storage and network benefits.

The opening follows Signature’s recent expansions in Savannah and Huntsville, with upcoming developments slated for Raleigh-Durham and Palm Beach later this year.

Under new leadership, the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) is taking on a busy agenda to expand its reach throughout Africa and more formally structure the organization.

AfBAA confirmed Krimson Aviation founder, chairman, and CEO Dawit Lemma as the chair of the organization and Craig Middleton as vice chair, effective May 19, with the departure of Bestfly co-founder and executive director Alcinda Pereira on May 1. Also, the association outlined plans to renew the association’s mission, vision, and goals as it seeks to work with 40 different civil aviation authorities across the continent and represent a range of aviation operations and diverse membership.

“We know our members rely on us to lobby on their behalf, identify common issues that need resolving, and act as a single voice with regulators, industry, and international organizations, so identifying the main concerns and creating a strategy to resolve them is at the top of our list,” the association said.

Lemma, who has been involved with the association since its inception in 2012, told AIN that his plans aren’t necessarily to reinvent the wheel—several initiatives had previously been in the works—but to reenergize the association. “I'm grateful that the blueprint was already set previously, and now it's a matter of just refining and optimizing,” he said.

Skilled artisans at Duncan Aviation’s Provo, Utah, facility transformed a G650 into an ultra-customized masterpiece, featuring fully customized seats, rich Kosipo veneer, and a meticulously handcrafted carpet that draws the eye through the cabin. The new interior is show-stopping with intentional design details woven throughout. 

Turbulence Solutions has demonstrated its real-time Turbulence Cancelling System (TCS) aboard a piloted test aircraft, showing more than 80% reduction in turbulence-induced vertical acceleration. Designed for use in both fixed-wing and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft, the technology uses sensors on the leading edge of the aircraft’s wing and active control surface deflections to counteract turbulent air in real time.

The company’s demonstrator aircraft—a Shark 600 dubbed Steady Eddy—has flown public demo missions and made appearances at Aero Friedrichshafen and Avalon 2025. 

Using real-time differential pressure sensors positioned on the leading edge of the aircraft’s wings, the TCS system anticipates incoming turbulence and responds with control surface movements that dampen vertical motion. Flight data from a test campaign with a Colomban MC-30 Luciole showed a drop in measured vertical g-loads from 0.4 g to 0.1 g, and root mean square acceleration reduced from 1.31 m/s² to below 0.39 m/s². The company has patented TCS, which it says is scalable across multiple aircraft types.

The push to mitigate turbulence comes as studies project worsening in-flight conditions linked to climate change. A 2023 report from the University of Reading noted a 55% increase in severe clear-air turbulence over the North Atlantic in the past four decades. NASA has projected that such events could double by 2050.

Used business jet inventory for sale in May 2025 totaled 1,159 aircraft, representing a 3% decline year over year (YOY) but a 1% increase month over month, according to financial analyst Jefferies. At 1,195 units in May 2024 and 1,145 units in April 2025, the overall inventory accounted for 4.6% of the total fleet, compared to a one-year average of 4.9%. The decrease was primarily driven by midsize jets, down 5% YOY, and light jets, down 3%, while heavy jet numbers remained flat.

For aircraft models fewer than seven years old, inventory increased by 13% YOY and 4% sequentially, representing 3.5% of the active fleet. Month-over-month increases were seen at specific manufacturers, with Dassault inventory up 10% and Gulfstream up 11%. Notably, the G650 models led with an increase of four units from April to May, contributing to a market shift driven by the end of the G650 era.

Other manufacturers showed varied trends; Dassault units were down 12% YOY, while Bombardier and Cessna listings increased by 3% and 6%, respectively. Gulfstream listings reached 61 units, up 30% YOY, driven by additional G650 and extended-range models. Embraer units rose 43% YOY to 40 units, with its active fleet percentage at 4.0%.

Analysts expect these trends to continue as supply dynamics further adjust in the coming months.

Innovative Advantage introduced a new signal converter box (SCB) designed to bridge the gap between modern and legacy aircraft cabin systems. The compact, modular line replaceable unit (LRU) offers seamless integration of various audio and video signals across different aircraft platforms.

Engineered for both retrofit and new installations, the SCB provides high-quality signal conversion, charging capabilities, and routing through a single device. A dual-functionality USB-C port simultaneously charges passengers’ personal electronic devices while accepting video input. This allows travelers to view uncompressed content or play video games while maintaining battery power.

The system supports multiple input and output formats, including SDI and HDMI connections, analog audio output, and both fiber and copper Ethernet connectivity. It can process 4K video sources and convert high-definition signals for compatibility with legacy displays.

“This product is the result of years of in-house engineering R&D actively listening to our customers, and it’s a true game-changer in the cabin for all business aircraft,” said Katie Morris, customer solutions lead. “The built-in high-power USB-C charging, combined with the ability to route 4K video into the AVDS system simultaneously, is a feature that customers love and helps streamline the cabin experience without adding extra hardware.”

The SCB complements Innovative Advantage’s recently introduced four-slot AVDS cabin backbone, which expands the company’s existing eight-slot AVDS offering.

Dassault Systèmes and the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) have collaborated on a new Manufacturing Innovation Center at the Wichita State University Innovation Campus. The facility, which held an opening event May 21, offers companies in the aviation sector expanded access to virtual prototyping, advanced automation, and reverse engineering tools.

NIAR's mission is to support the aircraft industry with design, certification, and sustainment, and it partnered with Dassault Systèmes to create a hands-on research and development space where firms can evaluate new manufacturing methods and equipment before making capital investments. The new lab complements NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems, a makerspace where engineers troubleshoot manufacturing and tooling issues.

The center includes a full-scale extended reality (XR) cave, a robotics and intelligent automation lab, an additive manufacturing suite, and a reverse engineering lab. These facilities allow project teams to simulate factory layouts, experiment with 3D printing, and test re-creation workflows using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform.

The opening builds on NIAR and Dassault Systèmes’ longstanding collaboration, including virtual twin programs such as the U.S. Air Force’s B-1 Lancer sustainment effort. In that program, more than 250 NIAR engineers and students are disassembling and scanning a retired B-1 airframe to create a full 3D digital model to support maintenance, upgrades, and supply chain resilience.

AIN’s senior-level Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) East, set for July 14 to 16 in Boston, Massachusetts, will address the latest topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation. The summit is attendee-centric and serves as an educational and professional networking platform, connecting corporate aviation leaders with peers, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed, informal environment. We invite U.S.-based flight department leaders to apply to attend this all-expenses-paid event as our guests.