Jerry Holland, 90, the founder of the Sheltair FBO chain, passed away on Tuesday at his home. With nothing more than a high school diploma, he grew the company from a single FBO to the industry’s largest privately-owned aviation network, with nearly five million square feet of airport infrastructure spread across 16 locations in four states.

Holland—who was described as a simple man with a big vision—began his career in construction in 1963. He first entered the aviation arena 20 years later, after a friend sold him a set of hangars at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE). In 1986, he broke ground on the company’s flagship FBO at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (KFLL) and soon followed that up with a second location, continuing its growth in the Southeast U.S.

During the Covid pandemic, Holland stepped back from the chain’s day-to-day operations and turned over the Sheltair reins to his daughter, Lisa, who has maintained the drive for growth and excellence, based on the values he instilled. “We are proud of all that Sheltair has accomplished, and much of that success is due to the strong foundation my father established,” she said

Jerry is survived by Mikki, his wife of 60 years, their two daughters, Lisa and Lori; and three grandchildren, one of whom—Kai Seymour—has joined the company as a third-generation family member.

Amstat’s latest analysis of the preowned business aircraft market indicates that resale activity remained strong through the third quarter, with overall transactions for jets and turboprops up 3% from the same period last year and 9.5% above the 10-year quarterly average. Year-to-date transactions are 8.7% higher than the first three quarters of 2024. Inventory expanded 2.2% year over year (YOY) and 9.6% since January, with 6.7% of the active fleet up for sale—still below the long-term average of 7.5%.

Preowned business jet transactions in the quarter increased 5.6% YOY and sit 12.4% above the decade average for the quarter. Jet inventory contracted 1.4% YOY, with 7.7% of the fleet available, below the 8.4% ten-year norm.

Turboprop transactions dipped 1.8% versus last year’s third quarter, but activity remains 7.5% higher than the long-term average. Turboprop inventory grew 11.5% YOY, with 5.3% of the fleet listed—still shy of the 6.1% decade average.

Inventory share by manufacturer remained consistent, with modest gains for Cessna Citation and Dassault Falcon and slight declines for Beechcraft and Pilatus. Piper expanded its share within the turboprop segment.

“The preowned market continues to demonstrate resilience and depth across most segments,” said Amstat general manager Andrew Young. He added that despite rising inventory, sustained activity and firm demand point to ongoing confidence heading into the fourth quarter.

Aviation real estate developer and operator Sky Harbour has received a lease for a new hangar development at Atlanta DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK). To be located on a 13-acre parcel on the east side of the field, the “Home Base Operation” (HBO) complex will feature 130,000 sq ft of private hangar space suitable for business jets, with attached, customizable, high-end office space; private ramp; operational infrastructure; and private parking, along with a dedicated fuel farm for the use of Sky Harbour's tenants.

The company will also partner with the Atlanta chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, a non-profit group providing aerospace education and community organization, dedicated to maintaining the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy. Sky Harbour will provide hangar space and a classroom at the facility for their use, free of charge.

Pending FAA approval, the developer anticipates breaking ground at KPDK in third-quarter 2027 and opening the facility a year later. "This is the culmination of a five-year effort to enter the number-one airport in one of the nation's most robust and fastest-growing business aviation markets,” said Sky Harbour CEO Tal Keinan.

For the company, this will be its 20th location nationwide, with nine facilities in operation in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, California, Washington, Arizona, and Colorado, along with 11 more under development, including its first several in the U.S. Northeast.

Buoyed by strong demand, Safran Helicopter Engines is targeting the delivery of more than 800 helicopter engines this year as it strives to ramp up production. While up 300 from three years ago, it is still shy of where the engine maker believes its production needs to be.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the European Rotors show held this week, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Cédric Goubet said the company is enjoying “continued and significant growth across all market segments,” despite the geopolitical challenges and continued supply chain concerns. “Our main challenge,” Goubet continued, is the ramp-up in production and capacity.

“We still have some way to go to fix our capacity gap” to meet global demand. Safran is looking internally and externally to build capacity, but Goubet estimated that it may reach the necessary production levels by the end of 2027. At the same time, he pointed to progress already made over the past few years. In 2022, Safran delivered 500 helicopter engines in 2022, more than 600 in 2023, and an estimated 730 last year.

On the repaired engine side, Safran is estimated to be around 1,300 units, he added, noting this is another area of increase. The company, however, sees demand for 1,200 new engines per year and 1,500 repaired engines per year by 2027.

House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee leaders have introduced a bill to shield the air traffic control system from funding lapses in the event of a future government shutdown in the U.S. T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Washington) joined aviation subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Andre Carson (D-Indiana) today in introducing the Aviation Funding Solvency Act to allow the FAA to tap into the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund to cover ATC services should there be another government funding lapse.

According to the committee, the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund covers airline war risk insurance claims when activated under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program. The program was terminated in 2014, but interest has continued to accumulate on the fund balance, reaching more than $2.6 billion. This is “significantly more than the fund has needed to cover CRAF claims,” the bipartisan leadership stated.

The bill immediately garnered aviation industry support, including from the broad-based Modern Skies Coalition comprising most of the major aviation associations. In addition, the coalition backed a separate but earlier bill offered by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), also to protect ATC from government shutdowns. Meanwhile, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen urged members of the Senate Commerce Committee to pass the legislation to ensure the aviation system continues safe and efficient operations during a shutdown.

Blade Urban Air Mobility is launching a trial commuter flights into New York City from Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in Whit Plains, New York. The twice-daily weekday services will start on December 1 using helicopters and are intended to prepare the way for operations later with the four-passenger eVTOL being develop by Blade parent company Joby.

According to Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal, the move is in response to rising demand for more efficient commuting options. "With the return of five-day work weeks and traffic between the greater New York City suburbs and Manhattan now exceeding pre-pandemic levels, it was time for Blade to service this demand,” he said.

Blade’s website currently offers existing flights in its chartered rotorcraft fleet between Westchester and Blade’s West 30th Street helipad lounge. This is typically served by a five-passenger Bell 407, at a cost of $225 per seat.

However, the new pilot program promises seats priced starting at $125 with the purchase of a commuter pass. Blade has not specified which aircraft will operate the trial service but promises to shorten rush hour commutes “from over an hour and a half to 12 minutes.”

Abu Dhabi-based aircraft charter and management provider RoyalJet has selected the CFM Leap-1A engine to power its upcoming fleet of Airbus ACJ320neos, it said this week at the Dubai Airshow. Late last year, the company placed an order worth as much as $1 billion for three Airbus ACJ320neo VVIP jets plus options for six more, the first of which is expected to be delivered next year.

The Leap turbofan—manufactured by CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines—now equips more than 4,000 aircraft. Its advanced technologies, such as composite fan blades and ceramic matrix composites, allows it to deliver 15% less fuel burn and 15% lower carbon emissions than the previous generation CFM-56 engines. Its open MRO ecosystem also offers dozens of maintenance locations around the world.

RoyalJet, which operates from its FBO facility at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (OMAA), also announced the appointment of Alain Champonnois as v-p of commercial operations. This is the second tour with the company for Champonnois, an industry veteran for more than a quarter of a century. He previously served as its commercial director before taking on the role of Chapman Freeborn’s president and CEO for India, the Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, he has served in executive roles in the region for Jetex, Honda Aircraft, and Jet Aviation.