Archer Aviation has signed agreements to take over the master lease for Hawthorne Airport (KHHR) near Los Angeles for $126 million in cash. According to Archer, which is developing the Midnight eVTOL, the airport will “serve as its operational hub for its planned L.A. air taxi network operations, including serving a key role in the LA28 Olympic Games.”

The company also plans to use the airport as an innovation testbed for the next-generation AI-powered aviation technologies that it is developing and planning to deploy with its airline and technology partners. This includes AI-powered air traffic and ground operations management, in addition to other key technologies.

Archer previously announced becoming the “exclusive air taxi partner” for the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 and Super Bowl LXI host committee partner. In Archer’s latest 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Archer wrote, “Furthermore, as the Official Air-Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic Games and Team USA, we intend to build and operate our aircraft across a Los Angeles-based UAM network, with the goal of offering convenient access to key locations and events across the metropolitan area.”

Notams published by the FAA late last night temporarily prohibit operation of general aviation (GA) and nonscheduled aircraft at 12 U.S. airports. The notams, which took effect yesterday and expire on Dec. 31, 2025, came after the FAA issued an emergency order on Friday requiring airlines to cut traffic by 4%, rising incrementally to 10% this coming Friday, to ease the burden on air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the government shutdown.

According to NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, “Last week, restrictions were announced on all aviation operations, including general aviation operations, at 40 U.S. airports. Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact, and supports humanitarian flights every day.

“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the NAS. Among the ways we will do that is to ensure business aviation operators have an understanding of these restrictions and their implications.

“Above all, this moment underscores the need to reopen the government to serve all Americans. NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the notams to be repealed when the government reopens.”

After announcing plans to build a manufacturing facility in Florida in May, turbine engine manufacturer Williams International broke ground on the project on October 30. The facility will encompass 1 million sq ft at the Shoal River Industrial Park in Okaloosa County, near Crestview in the Florida panhandle.

More than 150 people including representatives of Florida’s state, county, and local government, helped celebrate the event. The state expects the project to involve capital investment of more than $1 billion. Williams International said the facility enables “the future growth of new product lines,” although it is not known whether than means engines larger than the FJ44 series that powers many light jets.

The first phase of construction is expected to be ready for operation by the end of 2026. Further construction will take place through 2035 to 2036.

“Williams is extremely fortunate to have record demand for our products today, and exponentially growing opportunities for the future,” said John Sordyl, executive v-p of customer experience. “And this new facility, along with the extremely talented workforce in Okaloosa County, is an essential and enabling part of that bright future.”

The FAA’s privacy initiatives risk undermining one of the aircraft registry’s core purposes—identifying the true owner—a panel of business aviation experts said last week at the Corporate Jet Investor Miami conference. Vedder Price shareholder Eddie Gross moderated the panel, which discussed the balance between privacy and transparency in U.S. aircraft registration, as well as if the registry is “losing its attraction.”

Panelists Bruce Marshall of AIC Title Service, Jack Gilchrist of Gilchrist Aviation Law, and Scott McCreary of McAfee & Taft explained how Section 803 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which allows owners to shield personal information in the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services system, might reshape aircraft transactions and industry market intelligence.

They emphasized that the FAA’s privacy response conflates ownership data with operational tracking information from ADS-B. Asked about possible solutions, the panelists called for tiered access allowing qualified professionals continued visibility into registry data. “We still have the ability and the access behind the scenes, the people that really need to know,” Marshall said. McCreary said permittees in the FAA public documents room should continue to have unfettered access.

Panelists expressed concern that restricted access could lead to serious compliance failures and fraud. “If you have an undisclosed owner of an aircraft, it basically turns the buyer’s acquisition of that aircraft into a ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ game,” Marshall warned.

For nearly 90 years, Elliott Aviation has combined exceptional customer service with a personal commitment to high-quality work, fair pricing, and honest communication, helping its customers maximize the flexibility, capabilities, and safety their private aircraft can deliver.

Business aircraft operators are facing severe difficulties accessing Lisbon Airport (LPPT) in Portugal this week due to capacity shortages associated with the Web Summit event being held there today through Wednesday. On Friday, show organizers warned those intending to arrive by nonscheduled flights to consider alternative airports, even though some of these entail long drives to and from the venue, or using airline services.

“Please be advised that there is currently a shortage of private jet slots at Lisbon Airport and surrounding smaller airports,” Web Summit said in a statement. “Lisbon Airport is experiencing difficulty managing the volume of traffic, resulting in a lack of available takeoff and landing slots for all operations.”

Web Summit now attracts more than 1,000 companies and also government delegations from more than 75 countries. Lisbon is due to get a new airport in 2034, and the current airport has dealt with capacity issues for some time, including severe delays caused by new immigration processes.

The ExecuJet Aviation FBO in Lisbon is advising clients to consider alternative airports for nonscheduled flights, with the best option being Cascais (LPCS), since it is quite close to the Web Summit venue. Other options include Beja (LPBJ), Porto (LPPR), and Faro (LPFR).

FBO operator Freeman Holdings Group has purchased Texas Aero, the lone service provider at Waco Regional Airport (KACT). The Avfuel-branded facility, which includes a 6,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal, will be rebranded as Freeman Jet Center-Waco, while its staff will be retained to ensure continuity of service for its customers. Texas Aero Jet Sales will continue to operate independently under its existing ownership.

The FBO complex also has 53,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of sheltering super-midsize business jets. Plans call for the construction of a 25,000-sq-ft hangar that would handle the latest ultra-long-range aircraft.

Freeman, the largest Million Air franchisee, operates a portfolio of 22 locations under the Million Air and Freeman Jet Center brands. It also has an ownership stake in California-based ACI Jet, which has FBOs in San Luis Obispo and Santa Ana. This latest move follows Freeman’s expansion into Texas earlier this year with the acquisition of the sole-source FBOs at Preston Smith International Airport (KLBB) in Lubbock and Abilene Regional Airport (KABI).

“Texas Aero has built a strong reputation in the Waco aviation community for its service excellence and customer focus,” said CEO Scott Freeman. “By adding this established location to our network, we continue our commitment to providing outstanding FBO experiences across the Lone Star State and beyond.”

Beta Technologies demonstrated its Alia CX300 electric airplane in Vancouver, Canada, last week during a visit to Helijet International. The helicopter operator is vying to become the first Canadian air carrier to provide passenger and cargo air services using eVTOLs.

The experimental Alia CX300, registered N916LF, touched down at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) on October 31 following a nine-day tour of Washington State. Helijet, which has its headquarters at CYVR’s south terminal, hosted members of Beta’s team and the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility industry association for a flight demonstration Thursday.

“Helijet is delighted to welcome the first arrival of the CX300 to our terminal here at YVR,” said Helijet president and CEO Danny Sitnam. “Today’s smooth and successful demonstration flight is tangible proof that the future of passenger and cargo flights is aboard quiet and emissions-free aircraft like the CX300 and its counterpart, the Alia eVTOL model from Beta Technologies.”

In 2023, Helijet placed a firm order for four Beta Alia 250 eVTOL models, with options for an additional four. The company has not ordered any of the conventional CX300 models, which Beta aims to bring into service next year before certifying the eVTOL version in 2027. Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOLs will join Helijet’s existing helicopter fleet, comprising 14 Sikorsky S-76 and two Airbus AS350s, which it uses for both scheduled passenger and charter service.

Oklahoma’s Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (1F0) will undergo a renovation after ground was broken on the construction of a new $3.3 million passenger terminal there last week.

A partnership between the city of Ardmore and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), the project will replace the airport’s original terminal with a 3,368-sq-ft building more than twice its size. Dan Luttrell, the airport’s director, told AIN the old 1960s-vintage terminal will be torn down before the start of construction on the new one.

The updated terminal, expected to be completed by November 2026, will feature a lounge area, office space, and shower facilities for pilots among its amenities. With a runway length of 5,014 feet, 1F0 sees 9,500 operations annually. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, it sits on 110 acres north of the Dallas Metroplex airspace.

“We’re very excited about the new terminal and the potential it will bring to the area,” said Luttrell. “As flights come in, the new terminal will be the first thing the pilots and passengers see. We are proud to be the first impression that reflects the quality of our operations here in Ardmore.

Other improvements slated for the airport include the installation of a perimeter fence by the middle of next year, as well as a planned runway rehabilitation to be completed by mid-2028.

Our annual Upfront breakfast at NBAA-BACE is now a post-show webinar on November 12—so more partners can join the conversation without the 8 a.m. rush. Instead of gathering over breakfast during the busiest week of the year, we’ve moved our annual presentation to after NBAA-BACE. It’s a more convenient way to connect, gain valuable guidance, and continue the conversation beyond the show floor. Our presentation will include 2026 AIN Media Group Marketing Opportunities, Best Practices for PR Submissions, and Social Media Trends. Register today!