Pilatus Aircraft’s PC-12 was the most-flown business aircraft in the U.S. between August 2023 and July 2024, logging 316,328 takeoffs, according to the Swiss manufacturer. Citing WingX Advance data published in AvBuyer, Pilatus said the PC-12 turboprop single represented 8.8% of all business aircraft departures.

WingX further informed AIN that the PC-12 led all other turboprops during the same time frame with 362,073 hours, an 8% increase that gave it a 28% market share. In all, turboprops flew nearly 1.3 million hours in the U.S. from August 2023 to July 2024.

More than 2,000 PC-12s are in service with some 70 typically in the air at any given time, Pilatus said. That fleet continues to grow with 101 PC-12s produced last year, along with 48 of them delivered to U.S. customers. Globally, the fleet has topped 10 million hours in a variety of missions, with business travel, cargo transport, air ambulance, and emergency services among them.

The latest version, the PC-12 NGX, was announced in 2019 and entered service with customers in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil in 2020.

ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services, a China-based franchisee of ExecuJet MRO Services, has completed three simultaneous 96-month inspections on Embraer Legacy 650s at its Binhai International Airport facility in Tianjin.

The work on the trio of super-midsize business jets took place over a four-month span. According to ExecuJet Haite, the 96-month inspection is the most extensive on the Legacy airframe, requiring more than 3,000 labor hours. It necessitates the complete removal of the aircraft cabin interior, down to the fuselage frame, for structural inspection. The forward and ventral fuel tanks—as well as the wing leading edges, flaps, landing gear, and flight controls—are also removed.

“Completing these highly complex projects in less than four months further demonstrates our proficiency in managing and simultaneously performing multiple heavy base maintenance inspections while still ensuring that we keep within our customers’ demanding flight schedules and budgets,” said ExecuJet Haite general manager Paul Desgrosseilliers. “We will continue to strengthen our processes and procedures to improve our overall quality and minimize aircraft downtime.”

Founded in 2010, ExecuJet Haite also offers base and line maintenance at Beijing Daxing International Airport and has a line station at Beijing Capital International Airport. The fully-owned subsidiary of Sichuan-based Haite Group is an authorized service center for Embraer Executive Jets and other business aircraft OEMs. It holds maintenance certifications from China’s CAAC, the FAA, and EASA, among others.

CAE is increasing its ownership stake in business aviation training provider Simcom and extending an exclusive training agreement with aircraft fractional share firm Flexjet and its affiliates. Under the deal announced this week, Simcon is purchasing a majority of Simcom shares from Volo Sicuro for $230 million, leaving joint venture partner Flexjet with a minority stake in the training provider following the closing “in the coming days.”

Additionally, CAE and Simcom will each extend their respective exclusive business aviation training services agreement with Flexjet and its affiliates by five years. This results in a remaining exclusivity period of 15 years for both agreements.

According to CAE, this investment will further solidify the company’s presence in its core business aviation training market, increase recurring revenue streams, and reinforce its commitment to delivering training solutions in this market segment. Meanwhile, the Flexjet training agreement extension gives CAE greater exposure to the growing fractional jet and charter aviation market.

“We are delighted to increase our investment in this core area and achieve majority ownership of Simcom to strengthen our position in the business aviation market, as well as extend our long-standing partnership with Flexjet, one of the leading and fastest-growing private jet companies,” said CAE business aviation division president Alexandre Prévost.

Raisbeck Engineering and CiES have announced a partnership to improve fuel quantity indication for the Cessna Caravan thanks to new fuel quantity probes they expect to bring to market early next year. The collaboration combines Raisbeck’s expertise in aircraft performance modifications with CiES’ sensor technology prowess.

The probes promise to provide Caravan operators with more reliable and accurate fuel quantity readings. They are designed to enhance operational safety by ensuring precise fuel data, reduce maintenance downtime, and lower overall costs.

“Our leadership in developing fuel quantity probes prioritizes accuracy, safety, and reliability,” CiES president Scott Philiben said. “Expanding the availability of our solution for the Cessna Caravan will give operators fuel quantity information they can trust.”

Introduction of these enhanced probes comes in response to feedback from operators seeking more reliable and cost-effective fuel monitoring solutions. The probes will integrate with existing fuel systems and are expected to provide more accurate readings, which will help prevent overfilling or running out of fuel.

Starting in the first quarter of 2025, the probes will be available for purchase, and both Raisbeck and CiES anticipate significant interest from Caravan operators.

Metro Aviation has placed a deposit-backed order for up to 20 of Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft. The Shreveport, Louisiana-based air medical service provider, which operates in 27 states across the U.S., intends to use the all-electric model for emergency response and intra-hospital transport.   

Founded in 1982, Metro Aviation operates a fleet of 170 aircraft—primarily helicopters and a handful of fixed-wing models, including Pilatus PC-12s, Cessna Citations, and Beechcraft King Airs. With the addition of Beta’s eVTOL, Metro Aviation said it will be able to “offer increased mobility and access to rural and urban geographies with zero operational emissions.” 

Last week, Beta announced that it has started to ramp up production of both the Alia 250 and its conventional fixed-wing counterpart, the Alia CX300, at its 200,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility in Burlington, Vermont. Beta expects to have the Alia 250 eVTOL certified and in commercial service in 2026, following the same approval for the CX300 in 2025. 

Beta has also raised $318 million in fresh capital through a Series C funding round, and on October 31 reported that it has now raised more than $1 billion in equity capital. The latest raise was led by Qatar Investment Authority and was backed by Fidelity Management & Research and TPG Rise Climate.

Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo both enjoyed a flurry of new business this week, logging orders for more than 30 helicopters. Most of the announcements, which also included support and training deals, were made during the European Rotors show in Amsterdam.

Østnes Helicopters—the official distributor for Airbus in the Nordic countries—signed a contract for 10 H125s. These will join a fleet of more than 150 examples of the single-engine model in the region.

Also announced today is a framework agreement between Airbus Helicopters and French operator Airtelis, which is buying up to five H145s. These helicopters will be operated by Airtelis subsidiary Oya Vendée Hélicoptères, which provides support flights for the offshore wind industry.

Leasing group GDHF inked a framework agreement with Leonardo to add 10 more AW189s to its portfolio. It expects the twin-engine aircraft to be deployed in the energy industry support sector with deliveries planned between 2027 and 2029.

UK-based Offshore Helicopter Services is expanding its North Sea fleet through a deal to buy a pair of AW139 intermediate twins. These aircraft are set to enter service in the second quarter of 2026.

Italy's National Fire Corps signed an agreement to boost its mountain rescue and firefighting fleet with an order for specially-equipped AW139 helicopters. Deliveries will start in 2025, adding to an existing fleet of 28 of the type.

Business aircraft maintenance advisory and training provider Aviation Heaven has launched an online business aviation MRO locator and service directory.

According to the company, it offers a new way for business jet operators and owners to find aircraft type-related services such as AOG support, aircraft repair center recommendations, and other services in one place and pre-filtered for their aircraft type. Its features include a worldwide MRO database that can be filtered based on aircraft type and authority approvals.

“We are very proud to launch our new MRO Locator and Service Directory free of charge for all the business aviation industry,” said Andreas Past, the CEO at Aviation Heaven. “It will save users a lot of time and trouble finding the right MRO for their AOG situations and any other service or support they need on a daily basis.”