NBAA welcomed the latest trade agreements with the Republic of Korea and Switzerland that each exempt aircraft and parts from tariffs. These agreements follow those already in place with the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and the UK, in line with the 1979 Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.

That agreement provided for a fair and tariff-free trade environment among 30 countries. Korea and Switzerland are both signatories of the agreement. Meanwhile, a 10% U.S. tariff remains in place on aircraft products from Brazil.

The Trump administration had imposed a 39% tariff on Switzerland, prompting Swiss airframer Pilatus Aircraft to place a moratorium on its shipments to the U.S. in August. Pilatus eased that stance late last month to honor its existing commitments and handed over the first PC-12 Pro to a U.S. customer alongside a PC-24 delivery. Outside of aviation, the Swiss tariff has since been reduced to 15%.

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen credited the 1979 agreement with contributing to a $104 billion U.S. trade surplus in the aerospace sector and supporting the creation of 9.4 million jobs within the U.S. “These new agreements not only reestablish equitable trade relations with the Republic of Korea and Switzerland but also enable the aviation industry to continue its major contributions to U.S. jobs and the economy,” Bolen said.

CAE will start training pilots next month at its Montreal center for the Bombardier Global 8000, which recently received Transport Canada approval. As the in-service fleet of the ultra-long-range aircraft grows, CAE intends to add Global 8000 simulators at its other training locations, which includes Dallas, Dubai, Las Vegas, Vienna, and Savannah, Georgia.

In addition to pilot instruction, CAE is introducing programs to prepare maintenance technicians to support the Global 8000. These include computer-based training so that staff who work on other Global models understand the technical differences with the 8000.

The company operates computer-based ground schools in partnership with ERT for all Global-family aircraft covering engine run and taxi and crew resource management for aircraft maintenance technicians. These courses are delivered at all of CAE’s centers worldwide, or at the customer’s base or in remote learning hybrid training rooms.

“The Global 8000 is a significant advancement in business aviation, and CAE is proud to support Bombardier by delivering world-class pilot training for this aircraft,” said Alexandre Prévost, CAE’s civil aviation president. “Developed in close collaboration with Bombardier, our Global 8000 training program leverages next-generation simulator technology, advanced courseware, expert instruction, and CORe training powered by CAE Rise to reflect the performance and sophistication of Bombardier’s newest flagship aircraft.”

The FAA has terminated an emergency order mandating a reduction of flights at 40 busy airports in the U.S. and a subsequent ban on general aviation operations at 12 of them, effective today. “This means normal operations can resume across the National Airspace System (NAS),” the agency said in a statement released yesterday.

According to the FAA, the decision to terminate the order followed detailed reviews of safety trends and a steady decline of “staffing-trigger events” at air traffic control facilities. Staffing triggers had declined to eight on Saturday, compared with 81 a week earlier. The triggers eased following the end of the six-week government shutdown on November 12.

These triggers led the FAA to release an order on November 7 that called for a step-down of operations overall, and subsequently followed with the ban on general aviation operations at 12 specific airports on November 10. While this was going on, a few national newspapers were printing articles alleging that business jets were unaffected by the step-down in operations and suggesting air traffic control privatization options should be considered.

In lifting the restrictions, the FAA noted that it was aware of reports of noncompliance violations by air carriers and is “reviewing and assessing enforcement options.”

AMAC Aerospace recently inaugurated a 44,130-sq-ft engineering center at its headquarters complex in Basel, Switzerland, to help meet growing demand for its aircraft MRO and modification services. The three-floor structure provides dedicated space for multiple disciplines, including mechanical design for stress and structures, systems, cabinets, production engineering, avionics and electrical engineering, technical documentation, and airworthiness.

With more than 160 engineers based onsite, AMAC claims to be one of the largest aviation engineering departments in Europe, supporting both airliners and business aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 747. So far this year, the team has delivered more than 160 approved modifications and has more than 50 other projects underway. The scope of work spans supplement type certificate changes including installations of satellite communications antennas and cabin interior outfitting.

Today at the Dubai Airshow, AMAC announced that Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has extended its approval to work on aircraft registered in that country. The updated certification includes new ratings for the Bombardier Challenger 600 series and the General Electric CF34-3B engine that powers the Challenger 604 and 650.

The group’s GACA approval already covers multiple aircraft types, including the Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream II, IV, V, G350, and G450. Its portfolio also spans the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family, A330, A310, and A340.

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. 

Bombardier and Elie Saab are collaborating on a unique cabin design for the business jet manufacturer’s ultra-long-range Global 8000. The design will be unveiled next year.

“Our commitment is to offer an unparalleled and unmatched customer experience at every stage of the journey, and today we take that commitment to a new level,” said Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel. This is “our first-ever design collaboration with a luxury fashion house, creating a uniquely refined passenger cabin design exclusively for the Global 8000.

“As two iconic family businesses and two world-class brands, we share a profound commitment to heritage and excellence, driven by our high-performing teams and fueled—both of us—by innovation,” he added. “By combining engineering and craftsmanship expertise with Elie Saab’s iconic design vision, we are offering our customer something truly unique, an aircraft that will reflect the pinnacle of elegance and a spectacular attention to detail.”

Elie Saab Jr., vice chairman and CEO of Elie Saab Group, said the two companies share a “passion for excellence, craftsmanship, and heritage…Together with Bombardier, we are crafting a bespoke jet interior that captures the spirit and aesthetic of Elie Saab. Every line, every material, every detail is being imagined to create a unique experience above the clouds aboard the exceptional Global 8000.”

Pat Epps, a Georgia native and long-time general aviation icon, died on Friday at the age of 91. A memorial service will be held on Thursday morning.

A member of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame; recipient of NBAA’s American Spirit Award and NATA’s William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award; and a 2007 Living Legend of Aviation honoree, Epps was the son of Ben Epps, an aviation pioneer and contemporary of the Wright Brothers.

Epps went on to follow in his father's footsteps, with a long aviation career during which he amassed more than 10,000 flight hours as a commercial pilot. A Georgia Tech graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, Epps later served as a flight-test engineer for Boeing on the prototype 707, America’s first jetliner.

After a stint in the Air Force, he launched Epps Air Service, which grew into a full-service FBO, aircraft charter, and maintenance facility at Atlanta DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK). He owned the 18-acre facility for nearly six decades until it was sold in 2023 to become part of the AeroCenters chain. 

“Pat’s passion for aviation, his steady judgement, and his commitment to elevating our industry set an example that will continue to resonate for years to come,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “His lifetime of service reflects a legacy that endures far beyond his extraordinary accomplishments.”

Action Aviation has become the Middle East launch customer for Gogo’s latest Galileo FDX connectivity terminal. The group’s UAE-based aircraft management and charter operation today signed an agreement at the Dubai Airshow to have the equipment fitted to its Boeing BBJ.

The aircraft is getting the larger of Gogo’s two fuselage-mounted, electronically steered antenna installations. Action’s BBJ passengers will be among the first in the region to be able to use the global connectivity powered by the Eutelsat OneWeb satellite constellation.

Gogo’s Galileo FDX system features a full-duplex antenna with two arrays: one for data transmission and one for receiving and enabling high-speed, low-latency connectivity for the cabin. The technology is optimized for large-cabin aircraft to connect multiple passengers using multiple digital devices for extremely data-intensive operations, Gogo said.

Gogo is appearing at the Dubai Airshow for the first time since it acquired Satcom Direct, and its stand features the group’s expanded portfolio of multi-orbit, multi-broadband satellite communications and air-to-ground systems. Action Aviation was a previous Satcom Direct customer.

“When evaluating connectivity solutions, we wanted more than incremental improvement—we wanted a system that would redefine what global in-flight connectivity can deliver,” explained Action Aviation CEO Mark Butler. “After extensive research and consultation, we selected Gogo Galileo FDX as the clear choice for achieving high-speed, reliable, and truly global broadband performance.”

The FAA has granted interim level-C qualification for the Bell 525 flight simulation training device (FSTD) at the Bell Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas, the rotorcraft OEM announced today at European Rotors 2025. Designed and manufactured by Tampa, Florida-based sister company TRU Simulation + Training, the simulator will enable pilots to log flight hours on the super-medium twin helicopter prior to FAA type certification, which Bell previously said is expected by year-end.

TRU Simulation developed the device to provide pilots with a seamless transition from simulator to aircraft. Bell said the qualification marks an important advancement in its training program and overall readiness for commercial operations.

The FSTD features a high-fidelity visual system, realistic cockpit environment, and advanced motion platform to reproduce flight dynamics and handling qualities of the 525. It allows trainees to experience normal and emergency scenarios in a fully immersive, controlled environment.

“This milestone is a great step toward preparing our teams for future operations with the Bell 525 and future pilots for type rating,” said Bell senior v-p Mike Deslatte. “Now, our pilots can log Bell 525 flight hours and build on their aircraft knowledge from flight test operations.”

The Bell 525 incorporates fly-by-wire controls, an integrated vehicle health monitoring system, and a drive architecture that separates high-speed components from the main gearbox into independent engine reduction gearboxes.

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