Private flight provider VistaJet is pushing to expand its customer base in Africa through a roadshow event it recently staged in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. The business aircraft operator said it views these key business cities in South and East Africa as promising hubs for charter services.

The latest roadshow meetings, where VistaJet displayed one of its Bombardier Global 7500s, follows a similar event held in West Africa during the second quarter. The company said it welcomed “private stakeholders” and media representatives during the events in the three cities visited this week.

According to VistaJet, during the first half of 2024, it achieved a growth rate of 103% in flight program hours sold in Africa. Over the same period, the number of hours flown across the continent increased by 29%.

“Building on VistaJet’s substantial growth in the region, the East and South Africa Roadshow is a vital part of our strategy to serve as a logistics and aviation partner that supports the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement,” said Phillippe Scalabrini, VistaJet’s president for Europe and Africa. “VistaJet is dedicated to playing a crucial role in connecting global funding to these regions’ economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, as Africa offers a significant growth potential for international ventures.”

Starlink dealers now have access to Nextant Aerospace’s latest supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of SpaceX's high-speed, low-earth orbit (LEO) satcom system in Bombardier Global 5000/5500 business jets. Nextant is the engineering arm of Flexjet.

Retail price of the Starlink aviation system hardware for business aircraft is $150,000, not including installation. Service costs range from $2,000 per month for 20 GB and $100 per additional GB to $10,000 for unlimited data.

Nextant is also developing similar STCs for Bombardier Challengers and Embraer Praetors, and these are expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2025. Next up for Nextant will be the Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 in the second quarter.

“Reliable high-speed internet connectivity for all phases of flight was one of the last significant technology challenges that our industry needed to solve,” said Jay Heublein, president of Flexjet global maintenance and product support. “We recognized early on that the technology developed by Starlink represented an evolutionary step forward for in-flight connectivity, and as an industry we could finally offer a solution that was consistent with the expectations our owners have.”

With more than 6,000 LEO satellites in orbit, Starlink offers worldwide coverage with download speeds from 40 to 220 Mbps and uploads of eight to 25 Mpbs. System latency is less than 99 milliseconds, according to SpaceX. 

The U.S. Air Force awarded a $991 million contract to Gulfstream Aerospace for C-20 and C-37 fleet support. The seven-year contractor logistics support (CLS) contract covers a range of global maintenance, component overhaul, repair, and modification services for the aircraft, which are primarily based on GIII/GIV and GV/G550 platforms.

Under the CLS contract, services cover aircraft for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard, in addition to the USAF, and will be performed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay; and Naval Base Ventura County, California.  

“For nearly 60 years, Gulfstream has been a trusted partner to governments and military organizations worldwide,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “This demonstrates the strength of our world-class customer support network and its ability to support all of our customers’ missions. Gulfstream’s special missions business delivers cutting-edge aircraft expertly engineered for a wide range of critical operations and is currently experiencing unprecedented activity with customers around the world.”

Gulfstream has handed over more than 200 special missions aircraft to more than 40 countries, including all branches of the U.S. military and various government agencies.

Aviation insurer USAIG has added more available benefits to its Performance Vector safety initiative, bringing the total to 18 different safety options that eligible business aviation customers can choose from. The program, which is marking its 13th year, supports business and on-demand aviation policyholders in enhancing their safety programs. 

One of the latest additions is a contribution toward fees for the operational risk and resiliency accreditation program offered by VAI (formerly HAI) for helicopter operators. In addition, Corporate Aviation Security International (CASI) has become a participating provider, offering services such as site security assessments and aviation staff training on security topics. USAIG subsidizes a portion of these services for policyholders who opt for CASI.

“Several policyholders advised us they were experiencing increased security concerns for their people and aircraft,” said Paul Ratté, USAIG’s aviation safety programs director. “They sought interventions to improve their posture in an increasingly volatile security environment worldwide.”

Other key safety tools that are part of Vector, such as Argus Prism SMS and the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Action Program, additionally have evolved over time to incorporate new features and industry advancements. Upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), introduced in 2015, remains a popular choice among policyholders, USAIG said. Aviation Performance Solutions added a one-hour simulator session after the three-hour flights offered through Performance Vector’s basic UPRT course.

Plane Place Aviation, an aircraft maintenance provider at Cleburne Regional Airport (KCPT) in Texas, has received FAA Part 145 repair station certification. Established in 2022, the facility strictly focuses on providing maintenance and inspections for Hawkers, Cessna Citation, and Bombardier Challengers, fostering expertise in those airframes while providing customers with “first-class” service.

Among those customers, Plane Place lists charter operators and aircraft maintenance management companies.

The company believes the Part 145 approval will allow it to expand service offerings. In addition to providing maintenance at KCPT—located just southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area—the company also offers a mobile repair team with AOG support throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

“With our team’s dedication, we are proud to earn this prestigious certification, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to maintain the highest standards of safety, quality, and operational excellence, while ensuring each customer receives an exceptional maintenance experience,” said Tristan Noe, the company’s owner and director of maintenance.

Travel to Greenland will become much easier starting this week with the opening of the new Nuuk International Airport (BGGH). An autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland is the world’s largest island. The capital city’s original airport opened in 1979 with a 3,100-foot runway, which was too short to handle airliners.

Redevelopment of the airfield began late in 2019, and with the inauguration of the airport’s new 7,200-foot runway on Thursday, direct international flights to Nuuk will be available for the first time. A terminal with the latest security and baggage-handling technology, along with a new ramp, was completed earlier this year, marking a major step forward for Greenland’s infrastructure and economic development.

“This airport is not just about travel; it’s about building infrastructure that will drive economic growth, reduce travel costs, and open up new commercial opportunities,” said Greenland Airports CEO Jens Lauridsen. “Our vision is to create an infrastructure that not only opens up Greenland to the world but also redefines the experience of traveling here.”

The airport will be the crown jewel in Greenland’s air travel network, which by 2026 will also see rebuilt airports in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, increasing the potential for international industries including tourism, seafood export, and mining. This would make the country “a more attractive destination for investors and businesses worldwide.”

Nearly a year after acquiring an MRO/FBO facility in Dayton, Ohio, from Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, Premier Private Jets’ PremierMRO has become a dealer for Collins Aerospace avionics products. Under the dealership agreement announced this week, PremierMRO will be able to install Collins flight decks and avionics and provide warranty service.

In addition to offering installation of Collins Pro Line Fusion touchscreen-controlled integrated avionics in Cessna Citations and Beechcraft King Airs, PremierMRO can upgrade Pro Line 21 avionics, install Collins’ 5G-resistant radar altimeters, and service avionics under the Collins Avionics Service Plan. The Fusion upgrade modernizes the flight deck with synthetic vision and support for LPV and RNP approaches. The touchscreen displays simplify the pilot interface and reduce keyboard data entry while the avionics also offer physical controls.

“Since acquiring the Dayton facility…we have expanded capabilities to better serve customers, while retaining a long-tenured and deeply experienced technical staff, especially in the area of avionics,” said Premier CEO Josh Birmingham. “I’m proud to say, we’ve created a vital hub for the full gamut of aircraft services, including mobile AOG response in the Upper Midwest.”

The company also has a facility in Stuart, Florida. PremierMRO services include engine work and interior refurbishment, as well as aircraft painting.

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.