Business jet deliveries rose by nearly 15% year over year in the first quarter, while airplane billings were up by $1 billion to $6.1 billion—a 19% increase—according to the newly-released first-quarter 2026 delivery report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Nearly all of the major business jet manufacturers saw improvement from the first quarter of 2025.

While the overall turboprop segment saw a more than 3% dip from a year ago, deliveries of higher-end business aviation models increased by more than 10%. Piston-engined aircraft improved by 6.4%.

On the rotorcraft side, however, there was erosion, with turbine helicopter deliveries down 9% in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2025. Piston helicopters fared even worse, off by 13% from first-quarter 2025.

“The demand for new general aviation aircraft remains steady, and manufacturers are navigating challenges to bring them to market,” GAMA president and CEO James Viola told AIN. “As general aviation manufacturers continue to advance safety and innovative technologies, it is imperative that regulators and authorities have the resources and policies needed to further the certification and validation process of these exciting developments.”

Defining professionalism in aviation is hard. The exact definition of professionalism depends on who you ask—a chief pilot, flight standards and training manager, or line pilot may each define the attributes of a professional pilot in a different way. It is much easier to define an unprofessional act or unprofessional behavior than to pinpoint exactly what makes an aviator a “pro.” As a safety practitioner, though, I am certain that being a professional has little to do with collecting a paycheck or wearing a necktie.

Professionalism in aviation, according to the NBAA Safety Committee, “is the pursuit of excellence through discipline, ethical behavior, and continuous improvement.” The committee further identifies professionalism as “the cornerstone focus of active safety management where professional behaviors rule and safe actions become a byproduct.” As one of its foundations for safety, the NBAA said, “Professionalism is about who we are and how we approach everything that we do.”

Outwardly acting the part by being respectful, communicating clearly and positively, and showing maturity (which sometimes requires discretion) will be much more impactful to a professional image than wearing a necktie. (Communicating effectively and professionally, and showing maturity, does not include meowing on “guard” frequency.) These attributes relate more directly to good CRM skills, managing a flight deck, or working with other employees.

VIP Completions recently delivered a refurbished Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy from its Fort Lauderdale, Florida shop. Interior work on the project included custom Garrett leather seating with contrasting piping, two-tone lower side walls with Garrett suede detailing, ARCA Statuaria polished marble countertops, Scott Group Modern Deco carpeting, and iron ore curly maple wood veneer.

Cabin system upgrades included a Crestron cabin management system with MagSafe iPad mounts and integrated touch panels, a custom Alto audio system with eight speakers and two subwoofers, high-definition monitors, Apple TV compatibility, and dynamic RGB lighting.

“We had the pleasure of working with a client with a very clear vision,” said Ben Shirazi, president of VIP Completions.

VIP Completions entered 2026 with four refurbishment projects already underway, following 16 completions last year. Shirazi, who also serves as owner and president of preowned aircraft broker SmartJets, said more than half of SmartJets buyers opt for a VIP Completions refurbishment.

With preparations underway for its third Annual FBO Awards Gala, AIN welcomes NATA as the official sponsor and facilitator of the FBO Sustainability Award. The award recognizes the company or organization that best incorporates environmentally conscious practices into its daily operations.

“I think there’s been a big investment and interest in sustainability measures to continue to mitigate environmental impacts from our industry’s operations,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “It enhances the visibility of FBOs and our aviation businesses as partners to airports, to their customers, and to local communities by really recognizing the measurable ways that FBOs are addressing sustainability today.”

In a change from the two previous years, next year’s award will be split into two categories: one for FBO chains and the other encompassing single locations. To be nominated, an online registration explaining why the company should be considered will need to be filed with a nominal entry fee. NATA has established a pool of $5,000 to cover nomination costs on a first-come, first-served basis. Those entries will then be evaluated by NATA, which has its own industry sustainability standards.

The nomination window will close on November 6, and the winners will be named at the Feb. 24, 2027 event, following the conclusion of the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Leonardo inaugurated a new helicopter servicing hub at London Elstree Aerodrome (EGTR) in the UK, backing the project with approximately £15 million (about $20 million) in investment. The facility, which marks Leonardo’s 10th location in the UK, will deliver direct, manufacturer-backed logistics, maintenance, and technical support for the company’s civil helicopter fleet across the UK and Ireland.

Components and parts stocked at the facility carry an estimated initial value of more than £10 million. Currently, 10 employees staff the facility full-time, with that figure expected to reach approximately 25 during peak demand periods. The site can handle up to four helicopters at one time.

Leonardo operates more than 200 civil and public service helicopters across the UK and Ireland. Around 30 of those aircraft support community services, including emergency medical services.

“This brings us closer to our customers,” said Vittorio Della Bella, senior v-p of customer support and training services at Leonardo Helicopters. Clive Higgins, CEO of Leonardo UK, said the investment gives customers assurance that maintenance support will remain available across the full service life of their aircraft while creating career opportunities for the next generation of aircraft maintenance engineers.

Leonardo is also working with the University of Hertfordshire to provide industrial input to its maintenance engineering curriculum.

The chronic shortage of jet fuel caused by the ongoing wartime closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the air transport sector’s vulnerability to geopolitics. At the same time, the industry is supposed to be focused on meeting its net-zero decarbonization commitments—a confluence that raises questions around how to reconcile short-term imperatives with longer-term objectives.

Some companies developing new approaches to fuel supply and aircraft propulsion see the current crisis as a potential tipping point that could provide fresh impetus for their work. At the same time, they acknowledge that the urgent need to secure fossil fuels immediately could cause a loss of focus on the long-term ambition for alternative fuels.

UK start-up OXCCU is developing a process for converting biogenic waste carbon and hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel. OXCCU’s CEO and co-founder, Andrew Symes, sees SAF as the long-term solution to air transport’s energy needs, but he also recognizes the imperative to secure affordable fossil jet fuel for the transition. In his view, air transport stakeholders need to step up efforts to shore up access to fossil-based jet-A and, at the same time, support longer-term availability of sustainable alternatives.

Private aviation operator Airshare has selected the Gogo Galileo HDX satcom system for its fleet of Embraer Phenom 300s, with installations beginning in May at the company’s maintenance facility in Wichita.

According to the company, the decision followed a one-hour demonstration flight in which 23 devices connected eight passengers and two crew. This involved transferring more than 16 gigabytes of data while running multiple data-heavy applications simultaneously.

Powered by the Eutelsat OneWeb low-earth-orbit network, the Galileo HDX uses an electronically steered antenna rated at up to 60 Mbps. Gogo said the antenna adds minimal aerodynamic drag, is lightweight and compact, and requires little airframe modification to install.

“High-performance connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have,” commented Michael Skov Christensen, chief commercial officer of Gogo, adding that the technology is no longer limited to large-cabin aircraft. John Owen, CEO of Airshare, said the upgrade gives Phenom 300 passengers the same connectivity standard they would expect in an office or at home.

Airshare and Gogo have entered a multi-year agreement for low-earth-orbit broadband satellite internet services in the past. Airshare, a Kompass Kapital company headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, operates more than 100 aircraft through aircraft management, fractional ownership, jet card, and charter programs. The company holds an IS-BAO Stage 3 registration and an Argus Platinum designation.

Avfuel sister company Avflight has announced the opening of its new FBO terminal at Mississippi’s Hattiesburg/Laurel Regional Airport (KPIB). Avflight acquired US Aviation Services, the lone service provider on the field, in 2024. The location had a 4,000-sq-ft terminal, built in the 1970s and last remodeled a decade ago, that will be retained and leased for corporate office space.

Its newly built replacement—which was funded through an FAA airport infrastructure grant—took a year and a half to complete. At 5,300 sq ft, it features an airy, naturally lit double-height lobby, a six-seat conference room, and a pilot lounge with flight-planning area and snooze room.

The complex offers 80,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of accommodating aircraft up to a Gulfstream G550, and Avflight recently added a new fuel farm with the capacity of 24,000 gallons of jet-A, 10,000 gallons of avgas, 550 gallons of diesel fuel, and 550 gallons of unleaded gasoline. A member of the Avfuel network, it participates in the fuel provider’s Avtrip customer loyalty program, as well as Avfuel contract fuel.

“This new terminal represents a significant investment in the Hattiesburg community,” said Garrett Hain, Avflight’s v-p of finance. “Thanks to [KPIB], Avflight is proud to operate within this exceptional new facility, delivering the elevated service and seamless experience our guests have come to expect.”

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