The South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA) held its annual Charity Golf Classic on November 13, and one of the unplanned, immediate beneficiaries was an 11-year-old cancer patient. Just after arriving at the PGA National Golf Course a day before the event, Mark Pestal, executive director of business aviation charity AeroAngel, received a flight request from a Daytona family whose 11-year-old daughter with pancreatic cancer needed to fly to Los Angeles in a few days to start treatment.

AeroAngel provides free, private jet flights to help seriously ill children travel to and from lifesaving medical care across the country, and just a day before the golf charity event, the FDA had approved a single-patient clinical trial for the young girl. But she was immunocompromised, which ruled out airline flights as a transport option.

After word of the request spread, an anonymous donor spoke with Pestal—a former assistant U.S. attorney and commercial pilot who founded AeroAngel in 2010—and agreed to provide a flight for her and her family on their Dassault Falcon from Daytona (KDAB) to Van Nuys Airport (KVNY).  

On Monday morning, the patient, her parents, and her pet bunny Bon Bon left from Daytona for their five-hour flight to KVNY, where they were met by a SUV donated by LimoLink, one of the SFBAA event’s sponsors, to transfer them to their hotel.

NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna opened the association's Aviation Business Conference last week in Dallas celebrating the organization’s 85th anniversary and highlighting that its advocacy is as urgent as ever, particularly against the backdrop of the government closure and associated restrictions. Castagna also called on members to remain actively engaged.

Castagna said the anniversary milestone “speaks to the strength, the resilience, and purpose of the association.” NATA was founded in 1940 to represent the interests of general aviation businesses and companies “at a time when private aviation and flying faced significant challenges during World War II,” he stated, adding the association was “shaped by generations who believed in the power of general aviation to connect communities, support commerce, and strengthen our nation, and I think this message resonates really true to me specifically…as we faced government shutdowns.”

He noted the extraordinary circumstances the industry navigated, marked by the government shutdown. “As agencies work to fully resume normal operations, NATA’s focus now turns to ensuring that the lessons learned from this period strengthen the system's resiliency, support predictability and funding, and safeguard the continuity of critical aviation services,” he said. “We are advocating for congressional action to prevent future disruptions before the next fiscal cliff in January. And we cannot do that without you.”

Elevate MRO, the FAA Part 145-certificated repair station division of Elevate Aviation Group, has expanded its capabilities into engine overhaul services via a new strategic partnership with StandardAero. “StandardAero has entered into a standard commercial agreement with Elevate MRO to provide engine overhaul, repair, and hot section inspection on Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A and JT15D engines,” said Jake Saylor, StandardAero’s v-p of marketing and communications.

The agreement allows Elevate MRO to provide access to engine maintenance backed by “world-class expertise, facilities, and OEM-authorized support.” Among the services offered are engine inspections, component repairs, parts replacement, and full-system testing.

According to Elevate MRO, clients can expect enhanced service options, reduced turnaround times, and the combined experience of two industry leaders thanks to this partnership.

“Our expansion into engine overhaul services marks a significant milestone for [us],” said Elevate MRO president Jim Slack. “With this partnership, we are able to offer our clients trusted, high-quality engine maintenance solutions that ensure performance and reliability across a wide range of aircraft performance.”

The FAA on Friday issued a security notam warning U.S. civil aviation operators of “potentially hazardous” conditions in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), citing a worsening security environment and increased Venezuelan military activity. The notam is effective through Feb. 19, 2026.

Per the notam, the FAA also now requires U.S. operators to “provide at least 72-hour advance notice of planned flights to the…FAA…with specific flight details.” It also directs crews to report any observed security issues to the agency's Washington, D.C.-based operations center.

“Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela,” according to the notam. The agency said threats “could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground.”

A background statement released the same day as the notam details recent operational hazards. Since September, the agency said there has been “an increase in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region…as well as activity associated with increasing Venezuela military readiness.” GNSS jammers and spoofers may affect aircraft “out to 250 nautical miles” and disrupt communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.

ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa has renewed its approvals with the FAA and multiple African aviation authorities. In addition to being approved to support U.S.-registered aircraft, the Dassault Aviation subsidiary said the renewed maintenance, repair and overhaul certifications also cover Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The company’s MRO facility at Johannesburg Lanseria International Airport (FALA) recently underwent extensive regulatory audits. These assessed the traceability of its maintenance records, as well as the engineering qualifications and certifications of its personnel, and quality control systems, to ensure full compliance with international standards.

According to ExecuJet MRO Services, Africa’s business aviation sector is growing rapidly and there are now more than 400 aircraft based across the continent. It claims it holds the widest set of regulatory accreditations of any maintenance provider in Africa and hangar capacity for 14 aircraft. It also has a new paint booth for components.

“Maintaining these approvals is more than a compliance requirement. It demonstrates our technical capability and the trust we have earned from regulators across Africa,” said Vince Goncalves, ExecuJet MRO Services regional v-p for Africa. “We are witnessing notable growth with new aircraft entering service, and international charter operators positioning fleets in the region to meet rising demand. This underscores the continent’s growing importance in the global business aviation landscape.”

Prime Appearance, a division of PrimeFlight Aviation Services, has made its second expansion in as many weeks with the purchase of aircraft detailing specialist Immaculate Flight. 

“I am excited for the opportunities this will provide in the future as the two most well-known names in corporate aircraft appearance come together to serve our amazing industry in an even stronger way,” said Brett Logan, president and founder of Immaculate Flight.

In operation for two decades, Immaculate Flight has a national footprint with locations in 12 states and covers more than 200 airports in the U.S. It offers a full slate of cleaning and preservation services for aircraft interiors and exteriors, including mobile teams to handle urgent requests such as pet stains, passenger sickness, and bird strikes.

PrimeFlight is backed by private equity investment firms Capitol Meridian Partners and The Sterling Group. It will integrate and rebrand Immaculate Flight over the coming weeks.

“This acquisition represents a significant step forward for Prime Appearance and our commitment to growth and nationwide coverage for our customers,” said PrimeFlight COO Charlotte Cheatham. “We will now be able to support our clients in new key markets including Atlanta, Austin, Seattle, and Nashville, while having an expanded presence in South Florida, Southern California, the Bay Area, and throughout Texas.”

Prime Appearance also this month acquired Signature Aviation’s aircraft detailing operation at Teterboro Airport.

Aftermarket parts and support services provider Seattle Aviation Solutions (SAS) has acquired a Bombardier Learjet 45 and 60 that it will disassemble to salvage usable components. The teardown will help support Learjet 45 and 60 operators and maintainers keep those aircraft in service, it said.

During the teardown process, Learjet 45 and 60 operators can login to a dedicated website to view available components as they are removed.

The Model 45 was the first clean-sheet Learjet design since the original Model 23. Deliveries began in 1998 and production ended in 2012, when it was replaced by the Learjet 75. The Model 60, derived from the Learjet 55, first flew in 1990, and production ended in 2007. It was followed by the Learjet 60XR, which was manufactured until 2012.

“At SAS, our mission is to be a trusted partner to the aviation community,” said CEO Mustafa Altork. “This teardown is more than sourcing material. It is about ensuring reliability, reducing operational disruptions, and helping our customers maintain strong fleet performance.”

SAS is one of the Seattle Aviation Group companies, which include Seattle Aviation Solutions, Four Star Accessory Overhaul, and National Aviation.