Bombardier’s Mach 0.925 Global 7500 has now accrued 75 speed records, the company reported today. The announcement comes as the ultra-long-range business jet category continues to establish scores of speed records traveling the globe. Just last week, rival Gulfstream noted that its newest model in the portfolio, the G700, had already accrued 65.

As far as the Global 7500’s latest feats, it has established records between Tokyo and Hong Kong (3 hours 40 minutes); New Delhi and Tokyo (7 hours); and Los Angeles to Auckland (11 hours 55 minutes). Other record flights Bombardier mentioned were Miami to São Paulo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Tokyo to San Jose, and Jeddah to London.

These missions join others that Bombardier has in the books for its flagship model, including an 8,225-nm flight in October 2019 from Sydney, Australia, to Detroit, Michigan—the longest flight recorded in a business aircraft, according to the company.

“What’s even more impressive about these records is they are flown as part of routine aircraft movements, including some missions that have passengers onboard,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive v-p of aircraft sales and Bombardier Defense. “We have on more than one occasion been thrilled to have customers and prospects be aboard for the record-setting city pairs.”

The Global 7500 fleet is approaching 200 aircraft and has accrued more than 200,000 flight hours.

Operators can take concrete steps to enhance procedures surrounding winds, stabilized approaches, and wet runway conditions to guard against runway excursions, advised Advanced Aircrew Academy CEO Dan Boedigheimer. Hosting a workshop during the Bombardier Safety Standdown last week, Boedigheimer delved into key factors surrounding runway excursions and how organizations can help reinforce their operations to prepare for those factors.

He looked at both accidents and incidents involving excursions to derive trends, tracing about one per week on average. “Thankfully, most of them aren't considered accidents,” he noted.

The last primary research on business aircraft excursions, conducted by the National Aerospace Laboratory of the Netherlands, pointed to wet/contaminated runways as one of the most frequent causal factors, Boedigheimer said. Separate but adding to that is hydroplaning.

Another pattern involved winds, more specifically both crosswinds and tailwinds. Others pointed to approach/landing decisions and areas such as excess speed, landing long, and high on approach.

In determining prevention, Boedigheimer said, he employs what he called an “STLI” model—whether there is a standard in place, whether there is adequate training for that standard, whether the leadership supports it, and whether the individual follows the standard.

He challenged attendees to take on four major tasks to address risks and hazards associated with winds, wet runways, and unstabilized approaches.

Companies and individuals in the process of selling private aircraft now have access to SkyShare’s fractional ownership program through its new SkyBridge service. The Utah-based private aviation services group's aircraft sales brokerage service offering allows sellers to travel with the same terms and pricing as SkyShare’s fractional owners. Its fractional fleet includes a mix of Cessna Citation CJ2s and Excels, as well as Gulfstream G200s and Pilatus PC-12s.

According to SkyShare, the new offering is intended to ease the “apprehension and hesitation” felt by those selling aircraft and trying to determine their future travel options “by alleviating the pressure of reacquiring an aircraft with a ticking clock.” The company’s new SFX-12 fractional program, as well as the SFX-Jet and SFX+ options, are available for flights originating or terminating in its primary service area, which runs west from Colorado to the Pacific in the continental U.S.

“The end of the year is always the busiest time to buy and sell aircraft, primarily due to tax reasons,” said SkyShare founder and CEO Cory Bengtzen. “Business leaders and fliers who purchase aircraft before the end of the year will enjoy maximizing tax deductions on the transaction, which is a big reason why we are launching SkyBridge now.”

A new paper released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) shows the potential of second-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) e-fuels produced from CO2, water, and renewable electricity, describing it as “a huge economic and climate opportunity for the U.S.” SAF is considered one of the best near-term options for aviation to meet its emission reduction goals, but how and from what it is made weighs heavily on its benefits over conventional jet fuel.

The key, the EDF study noted, is in the electricity. When it is sourced from excess renewable energy and the carbon component comes from waste CO2 from other industrial processes, manufacturers can produce clean, affordable SAF e-fuels. It estimates that when e-fuels are produced in a supply-driven electricity market, costs could be halved compared to mainstream estimates.

With hundreds of plants producing ethanol in the Midwest, their waste CO2 combined with the region’s abundant renewable energy could account for the bulk of the 3 billion gallons of SAF a year by 2030 as requested in the SAF Grand Challenge issued by the Biden Administration, the report stated.

“By marrying CO2 from local ethanol plants with surplus renewable electricity, the U.S. has the potential to produce some of the cheapest, most sustainable aviation fuels on the market,” said Pedro Piris-Cabezas, EDF’s senior director for global transportation and one of the study's authors.

Effective international trip planning is a specialized art and to ensure a seamless experience for passengers and crews, business aviation organizations should leverage a trip support provider. Learn about the most common challenges with planning an international flight and how ForeFlight Trip Support sets the standard for comprehensive, region-specific trip planning.

During simulation exercises using helicopters in place of Eve Air Mobility’s eVTOL aircraft to trial air taxi services, one passenger tried to board with a gun and another was drunk. Speaking during an Investors Day event held in New York City this week by parent company Embraer, Eve CEO Johann Bordais said both passengers were turned away.

Eve has held air taxi trials carrying passengers in Rio de Janeiro and Chicago with partners including Helisul and Blade, but Bordais did not reveal where these incidents had occurred. In late 2023, Eve held another simulation exercise with helicopters operated by Flexjet being used to assess aspects of operations including air traffic management, but these flights did not carry passengers.

According to Bordais, the simulations have helped Eve and prospective operators of its five-seat, piloted eVTOL consider various scenarios for interacting with passengers. They were also intended to raise public awareness about eVTOL air taxi services in large cities facing significant road traffic congestion.

Eve, which has raised around $740 million in funding since its initial public offering on Wall Street in 2022, is now targeting 2027 for initial launch of commercial operations and aircraft deliveries. In July, it rolled out its first full-scale prototype for what has been referred to as the Eve 100, which is expected to be the first in a family of eVTOLs.

Private aviation company Jet Linx has unveiled a “limited-time Access Card program” that allows up to six users to book air charter flights for 90 days via Jet Linx's nationwide fleet. It also includes guaranteed hourly rates with no additional charges for peak travel periods.

“The Jet Linx Access Card provides a competitive solution for opportunistic private flyers to experience our unmatched service and flexibility,” said Jet Linx president and CEO Brent Wouters. “This low-barrier solution delivers the premium amenities that seasoned private aviation users demand, empowering curious flyers to discover the advantages of our locally-focused, value-driven model.”

“We designed this new jet card as an invitation to showcase the distinct advantages of the Jet Linx experience. In today's market, discerning private aviation clients rightfully seek exceptional value, and we welcome their careful evaluation,” added Adam Posar, executive v-p of jet card sales at Jet Linx. “Whether you're currently invested in fractional ownership or hold a jet card with another provider, this program offers an opportunity to experience firsthand how our unique service model elevates private aviation beyond industry standards.”

The Access Card's primary service area covers the contiguous U.S., parts of Mexico and Canada, and select Caribbean destinations. However, Jet Linx has the capability to operate international flights to more than 180 countries.

Operators of Sikorsky S-92 helicopters can reduce operating costs and boost availability with longer scheduled inspection intervals introduced by the OEM.

The new intervals extend those for scheduled inspections to 500 hours from 375 hours and 1,000 hours from 750 hours. According to Sikorsky, this will eliminate up to 30 inspections over the 30,000-hour S-92 lifespan, reducing maintenance downtime over that period by a year.

Sikorsky and the S-92 Maintenance Steering Review Group analyzed 20 years' worth of data collected from more than 300 S-92s that logged more than 2.4 million flight hours. This allowed the company to develop “a methodology to safely and confidently allow continued fleet operation beyond the current limits,” according to Sikorsky.

Before the inspection interval change, S-92 operators were provided a one-time life extension on certain main gearbox housings and a rotor hub component life extension to 15,000 hours from 9,000 hours.

“Increasing inspection intervals for the S-92 is a major victory for operators striving to mitigate downtime and maximize fleet availability, and a testament of the commitment to safety and innovation that Sikorsky champions,” said Leon Silva, v-p of Sikorsky's global commercial and military systems. “This is yet another example of Sikorsky’s continued investment in the S-92 platform, and we are thrilled to see it help customers perform against some of the biggest challenges in the world.”

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings has introduced a range of new products and services under the theme "Envisioned Precision." Among the highlights are advanced coatings and tools designed to make the aircraft finishing process more efficient and to offer more aesthetic options for aviation professionals.

At the forefront of its product launches is the 850 Series Skyscapes Effect Finishes, a high-performance polyurethane base coat offering a wide variety of effects for use on both small and large aircraft. The new line allows for versatile application, including striping, accents, and overall paint jobs, providing a durable, vibrant finish with metallic and hybrid options. “It's all about helping the OEM and the maintenance facility get it done quicker and out the door,” Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams market segment manager for aerospace, told AIN.

Complementing the 850 Series is the new 858 Series Skyscapes single-stage topcoat, designed for both exterior and interior surfaces. This polyester/urethane hybrid system offers a range of gloss levels, delivering a durable and smooth appearance.

Sherwin-Williams also unveiled updates to its online Aircraft Color Visualizer tool that allows users to experiment with color combinations on various aircraft models. The system now supports 10 aircraft types, up from six, including everything from kitplanes to heavy jets. In addition, Sherwin-Williams is introducing a next-generation chrome-free epoxy primer, designed for corrosion resistance without the environmental drawbacks of traditional chrome-based systems.

AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2025 survey (to be published in April) is January 17. The survey takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel, or any other time that is convenient for you. Participants will be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift card (winner must reside in the U.S.). Log in to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.