IADA: Strong Demand in Tight Preowned Bizjet Market, Fuel Prices Reach Six-month Peak in September, Business Aviation Groups... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ | October 6, 2026 Tuesday IADA: Strong Demand in Tight Preowned Bizjet Market The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) yesterday released its “2026-2027 Current Market Portrait & Forecast,” which describes strong demand for preowned business jets and a shrinking supply. IADA-accredited dealers closed 746 business aircraft transactions during the first half of this year, a 21% year-over-year (YOY) increase. At the same time, long-range and ultra-long-range jet asking prices have also risen, and deal volume is up over 20%. The association points to strong equity markets, bonus depreciation in the U.S., solid financing, and the ongoing appeal of private travel as all buoying the industry. With OEM delivery backlogs extending up to three years, buyers who can't wait are entering the preowned market, where they're competing for a shrinking pool of clean, late-model jets, particularly among midsize, super-midsize, and large-cabin models. Despite possible headwinds from U.S. tariffs, along with Middle East tensions and their impact on fuel prices, the report noted there has been no slowing in business aircraft demand. North America remains the largest preowned business aircraft market. The current U.S. tariff environment remains generally favorable for qualifying preowned aircraft, while potential restrictions affecting new-production aircraft imports could further strengthen demand for available preowned aircraft, IADA said. The group predicts a slight increase in transactional tempo over the next six months and a drift toward more balanced conditions as OEM deliveries pick up. Read more Fuel Prices Reach Six-month Peak in September The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to affect aviation fuel pricing in the U.S., with jet-A averaging $8.39 a gallon last month, up 4.9% from August, according to iFlightPlanner. That hike represented a per-gallon increase of nearly 39 cents. In the 48 contiguous states, the average was $8.30, a 5.1% increase from August. The U.S. East Coast showed the sharpest rise, with a 57-cent-per-gallon jump to an average of $8.69, equating to a 7% gain. Avgas pricing surged as well in the U.S. last month, though not as severely, with full service averaging $7.75 a gallon—21 cents higher than the previous month. Meanwhile, self-service 100LL rose by 16 cents a gallon, for a nationwide average of $6.67. Data was collected by iFlightPlanner from more than 3,000 FBOs and fuel service providers in the U.S. Over the past six months, national aviation fuel prices have remained elevated, with both fuel types reaching new highs last month. Business Aviation Groups Demand Emissions Policy Changes EBAA is calling on the European Parliament for fairer treatment of the business aviation industry under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). In a position paper published this week with GAMA, the groups renewed an appeal for changes to proposals made in July they say would bring 383 additional business aircraft operators into the scheme’s remit by reducing the threshold for minimum levels of carbon dioxide emissions. The proposals would replace the current EU-ETS distinction between commercial and non-commercial aircraft operators with a single de minimis threshold per company of 1,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The European Commission also proposed that, from 2029, the EU-ETS would apply to all flights from the European Economic Area to third-country destinations within 5,000 kilometers (2,700 nm) of the EU’s geographical center. “This reduction is particularly significant and will be difficult for smaller operators to implement, given the technical, administrative, and financial complexity of the current system,” the EBAA paper states. “Many of these operators do not have the resources, specialized teams, or predictable operating schedules available to larger commercial airlines.” According to the groups, the proposals do not amount to a level playing field because business aviation would face broader carbon-pricing obligations than airlines while being denied access to sustainable aviation fuel allowances. “This is neither proportionate nor technology neutral,” the paper argues. Read more Jet Card Rates Down Both Sequentially and YOY in Q3 North American jet card rates fell to $10,958 per hour in the third quarter, down 3.1% from the second quarter and 2.7% from a year earlier, according to data from Private Jet Card Comparisons (PJCC). While this marks the lowest average since the end of 2023, it still remains 23.7% above pre-pandemic figures. Turboprops fell the most, down 19.9% from the second quarter and 21.7% year over year (YOY), to $5,022 per hour. PJCC said OneFlight, which listed more than a dozen turboprop rates, weighed most heavily on the average after pausing operations in mid-September. Fractional operator PlaneSense also ended sales of its Pilatus PC-12 card because the program sold out. Very light jets dropped 4.5% sequentially, to $7,341 per hour, and large-cabin jets slid 2.9%, to $14,791. Ultra-long-range jets, up 1.2%, and midsize jets, up 0.5%, were the only categories to rise quarter over quarter. Daily minimums rose to 95 minutes from 92.9 minutes, raising the cost of short flights. PJCC president and editor-in-chief Doug Gollan noted that “consumers like jet cards because once they find a good match for their specific needs, most programs lock in pricing and terms for 12 months and sometimes longer.” PJCC’s analysis covers published rates for entry-level cards of fewer than 50 hours and excludes promotional deals. Sponsor Content: Duncan Aviation Heritage Reimagined: Duncan Aviation Refurbishes Gulfstream G450 What happens when personal history meets modern aircraft design? Duncan Aviation transformed a Gulfstream G450 with WWII-inspired camouflage, residential comfort, custom craftsmanship, and thoughtful innovations throughout. From its distinctive exterior to a cabin tailored around its owner, the refurbishment demonstrates how meaningful design can make an aircraft truly one of a kind. Read more Ontic Gains Wichita Foothold with Aero-Mach Acquisition Aviation supplier Ontic has reinforced its specialty manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of Wichita-based Aero-Mach Companies. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. With more than 50 years of aviation experience, Aero-Mach comprises three specialist brands: Aero-Mach Labs, Aero-Mach Wilco, and Aero-Mach TCO, which collectively offer manufacturing, technical services, repair capabilities, and distribution services. Ontic said these capabilities complement its own specialty manufacturing, supply, and support services. The acquisition increases Ontic’s U.S. footprint with the Wichita facility and expands its worldwide reach to 11 locations. Plans call for keeping the Aero-Mach team in place. “What changes is the global scale, investment, and expertise we now have behind us as part of Ontic,” said Aero-Mach general manager Jason White. “Aero-Mach is a great fit for Ontic,” said Ontic CEO JC Gallagher. “It has an excellent reputation, specialist capabilities, and strong relationships with customers across the aviation industry. By bringing Aero-Mach into Ontic, we can build on those strengths while providing the investment, scale, and global reach to support its continued growth.” Aero-Mach CEO Jeff Carnley called the acquisition the “next exciting step” for the company. “Becoming part of a global aerospace business gives us the opportunity to build on what we have created, invest in our capabilities, and continue to grow while retaining the strengths that our customers value,” he said. In-Flight Crew Connections Outlines Hiring Strategies Business aviation operators continue to face challenges hiring qualified personnel, according to In-Flight Crew Connections’ latest industry staffing report. “The aviation workforce is active,” the report—“The State of the Staffing Industry 2026”—notes. “Training pipelines continue to produce new entrants, and interest in aviation careers remains strong,” it explains. “Yet many flight departments continue to encounter the same constraint: finding professionals who are fully prepared to operate in business aviation environments.” According to In-Flight, this applies to pilots, mechanics, and other roles, and will require flight departments to evaluate their staffing strategies. This means considering a more flexible staffing strategy; focusing on availability of maintenance technicians and services; enhancing experience through internal development and mentorship; supporting key personnel such as schedulers and dispatchers; and aligning staffing decisions with real workload demands, it added. On the maintenance side, the company pointed out, “Business aviation has a structural disadvantage in that fight. A corporate flight department with two or three aircraft can’t out-hire an airline’s talent pipeline, and it usually can’t match a major MRO’s training budget either. “What it can offer, when it’s run well, is variety, autonomy, and a smaller, closer team, which matters to plenty of technicians. But that pitch only works if candidates know it exists, and most flight departments aren’t set up to run their own recruiting funnel.” Jeppesen Launches Initial ForeFlight Airflow AI Agents Jeppesen is stepping up introduction of its artificial intelligence-based ForeFlight Airflow operations planning and management system with the activation of 150 AI agents. At the company’s Commercial Aviation User Conference in Paris today, the Texas-based group said it is now supporting several airlines that are early adopters of the technology, and plans to roll out other AI agents for business aviation and military customers in the coming months. The initial batch of AI agents is intended to support more effective use of ForeFlight Airflow’s Trip Trading and Trip Mastery tools, which help pilots and schedulers to organize crew rosters. They are also being deployed with the platform’s Augmented Ops Control function, which helps operators deal with flight disruptions—proposing, for example, recovery options for displaced aircraft and crews. Jeppesen introduced ForeFlight Airflow in July as the foundation for its agentic AI strategy, which it said is initially focused on growing revenues, reducing costs, and protecting assets for operators. The initial rollout included the AI-driven ClearNotams feature intended to make the notices easier for pilots to interpret. According to the company, operators can choose how much automation they want to use with the platform and the pace at which they want to adopt AI. In addition to the ForeFlight platform, the Airflow technology can be applied to operators’ existing third-party systems and tools. Read more Pilot Michael Donahoe Sr. Dies but Legacy Lives on Michael Donahoe Sr. recently died at age 88 but leaves behind a legacy of aviation adventures and generosity through a charity that he helped found to fly children to medical facilities for treatment. Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in May 1938, Donahoe became entranced with aviation at age 12, started flying at 16, and earned his pilot license at 18. “I learned to fly in a Piper Tri-Pacer in Oklahoma, where the wind never blew up and down the runway,” he said in an interview with AIN earlier this year. “I got my instrument rating by demonstrating extreme good performance on flying the \[radio\] ranges. That was far back, 1956, 1957, but that's how it all started.” An early proponent of business aviation, Donahoe owned and flew airplanes to support his far-flung business interests, including a pressurized Beechcraft Baron, Cessna Conquest turboprop twin, Lockheed Jetstar II, Learjet 24, Diamond 1A, Cessna Citations, and Gulfstream IV and G550. His legacy includes long-time support of Wings of Humanity, a charity that helps families travel together for specialized medical treatment. Donahoe and his friend Denny Sanford—who died five days after Donahoe—helped raise more than $4 million for children’s charities and funded and backed Wings of Humanity. Read more SkyFly Axe Eyes FAA MOSAIC Approval SkyFly expects to begin delivering its two-seat Axe eVTOL by next year's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Designed mainly for personal use with a roughly 100-mile range, it can fly like an airplane if any rotor loses power. Watch video PEOPLE IN AVIATION Jet Aviation president Jeremie Caillet received the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award last month at the European Living Legends of Aviation Awards in St. Wolfgang, Austria. Caillet joined the company in 2008 as an engineering team leader and moved up through its completions business, becoming v-p of completions in 2019 and senior v-p of regional operations for EMEA in 2021. He was named president of Jet Aviation in 2024. Sasha Orth was promoted to landing gear sales representative at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she will continue to handle scheduling for the accessories department. Orth joined the company as accessory scheduler in December 2024. Yingling Aviation hired Jerome Cottner as director of sales for its MRO operation at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who led avionics teams supporting CH-53D helicopters on two combat deployments, Cottner has previously served as president of both Global Aviation Technologies and Omni Aircraft Maintenance. April Wood was named sales director for the U.S. Midwest at business aircraft brokerage Jetcraft. Wood’s more than 20 years in private aviation sales include senior roles at NetJets and Executive Jet Management, where she counseled aircraft owners and companies on operating and ownership decisions. Texas-based MRO provider Plane Place Aviation hired Ron Reiling as sales manager. Reiling, who holds an FAA A&P certificate, previously held regional sales and account management positions at StandardAero, Dallas Airmotive, and Gulfstream, selling maintenance, engine, and avionics services. AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). 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