Luxaviation Group today launched a new division to focus exclusively on private jet charter and flight brokerage services. The Luxaviation One unit will source aircraft that are not privately owned, providing full flexibility around the needs of its charter clients.

The Luxembourg-based company’s charter experts will make the aircraft it owns available for charter, as well as sourcing flights from a global network of vetted third-party operators. Thus, the Luxaviation One team is set to double in size from eight to 16 specialists over the next year under the leadership of its CEO, Romain Alati, who has been with the group for 11 years.

“While Luxaviation Charters continues to support our aircraft owners and managed fleet, Luxaviation One is designed with the end client in mind,” explained Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen. “We are leveraging our global expertise and network to offer a seamless, client-centric charter experience—one that prioritizes reliability, discretion, and peace of mind.”

Initially, the unit will focus on charter bookings in Europe and the U.S. Later, it plans to expand into the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific markets.

London City Airport (EGLC) has confirmed that Dassault’s Falcon 6X jet has been cleared to use its 5.5-degree steep approach and 4,984-foot runway. The approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority was announced yesterday, with the 6X joining other Falcon models in being able to operate at the airport close to the UK capital’s financial center. Crews also need to be separately approved for the steep approach at EGLC.

Flights can arrive and depart from London City between 6:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays, from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and between 12:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sundays. Operators can access the Private Jet Centre FBO one hour before opening time each day, and the facility advertises 90-second departure and arrival checks.

According to Dassault, the 6X is also approved to use the steep approach at Lugano Airport in Switzerland and has landed at Gstaad Saanen Airport serving the exclusive Alpine ski resort. The manufacturer has also conducted demonstration flights with the aircraft at challenging high-altitude airports such as La Paz in Bolivia and Telluride in Colorado.

Dassault is working to secure approval for dual-head-up-display capability for the 6X. The aircraft's EASy IV flight deck can include a runway overrun awareness and alerting system to meet an EASA mandate for commercial operations that is anticipated in 2026.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president Nick Daniels issued a plea for unity and action to the aviation community to end the U.S. government shutdown at the NBAA-BACE Newsmakers Luncheon yesterday. He warned that the ongoing shutdown is placing strain on the nation’s air traffic controllers and, by extension, the National Airspace System.

“Please understand my comments today will be passionate,” Daniels began. “There’s a reason for that passion, because I’m pleading with you—not to you, but with you—as a leader in aviation. America’s air traffic controllers—we didn’t ask to be the focus of this shutdown. Yet they’re carrying the full weight of the shutdown, day in and day out.”

Controllers, Daniels noted, are continuing to manage more than 45,000 aircraft and 3 million passengers daily, despite the uncertainty and not receiving paychecks. “There is no version where an American worker can work six days a week and not know how to plan to take care of their family,” he said.

“The calls have already begun…controllers are starting to look for a second job, going to their primary job during the day, and then figuring out, ‘How many hours can I go and drive an Uber to put food on the table next week?’”

He warned that as the shutdown continues, “We’ll begin seeing an entirely new introduction of risk into this National Airspace System, starting now.”

The Bombardier Global 7500, and its Model 8000 successor, can access 30% more airports in real-world conditions than its “closest competitor in speed and range,” Bombardier sales engineer Melissa Giannangelo told AIN. While she demurred on naming that competitor, the Gulfstream G700 is the only in-service aircraft that meets this definition.

The project started with an analysis of more than 13,000 airports worldwide. Then the sales engineering team further narrowed it down to airports with runways exceeding 3,500 feet and field elevation up to 8,000 feet msl, resulting in 6,500 airports where the Global 7500 could land under typical wind conditions, dry runways, and stopping on 60% of available length (i.e. FAA Part 135 operating limitations).

Instead of calculating data airport-by-airport, the company wrote Python code to automatically plot the airports where the Global 7500 and G700 could land, with airport altitude on the vertical axis and available landing distance on the horizontal axis. The data bifurcated between the two aircraft at about 5,000-foot runway lengths, with the Global 7500 able to land on runways as short as about 3,800 feet, including a 40% safety margin and dry conditions with wind. This results in the Global 7500 having about a 30% runway performance advantage over the G700.

When it comes to Authorized Embraer Service Centers in North America, Duncan Aviation has three full-service facilities authorized to work on Phenom 100s and 300s, Legacy 450/500/600/650s and Praetor 500s and 600s. Most clients take advantage of maximizing aircraft downtime and utilizing several service areas at once. 

The DC Aviation Al Futtaim FBO at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW) has joined World Fuel Services’ Air Elite network. The companies announced the partnership today, boosting Air Elite’s profile in the growing Middle East market for business aviation support and adding to more than 80 locations worldwide.

In addition to a dedicated VIP lounge, the facility offers air-conditioned hangars and adjacent ramp parking. Passengers and crew can clear immigration and customs requirements within the private terminal, which is operational on a 24/7 basis.

The DC Aviation group is active in aircraft management and charter, as well as providing Part 145-approved line maintenance and AOG support. The Germany-based company also provides support for operators at its Stuttgart headquarters, as well as in Munich, Nice, and Malta.

Al Maktoum International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from downtown Dubai and offers convenient road connections to Dubai Expo City, the Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Dubai Marina. It is also close to the main highways to and from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other parts of the UAE.

“Joining the Air Elite network represents our ongoing pursuit of operational excellence,” said DC Aviation Al Futtaim’s director of ground operations, Mark Caven. “Being selected to be part of this exclusive network is a significant affirmation of our safety and operational standards, people and customer-centric mindset.”

Pilatus has delivered a PC-12 turboprop single to the German Armed Forces. The Swiss manufacturer said the aircraft is now with the service’s Airworthiness Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment (WTD 61) at the Ingolstadt/Manching air base and will be used for training test pilots, as well as carrying personnel and supplies.

According to Pilatus, the delivery is the first step in what it said is a long-term partnership with the German Armed Forces. This will include the provision of logistical and technical support.

“The PC-12 will help us to perform our training and transport tasks safely and efficiently,” said Barbara Reinhold, director of the WTD 61 Wehrtechnische Dienststelle unit, which is based about 50 miles north of Munich. Some German military pilots already receive training in Pilatus PC-9 aircraft operated by Qinetiq.

The latest PC-12 Pro model, which is offered for both civilian and government/special missions customers, has a maximum range with six passengers of 1,565 nm and cruises at 290 knots. With a maximum payload of 2,336 pounds, the aircraft can take off over a 50-foot obstacle in 2,485 feet and land in 2,170 feet, including on unpaved surfaces.

BellAir this week rebranded as Jet Excellence following its recent acquisition of Red Wing Aeroplane from the Vista Global group. The U.S. charter operator announced the move yesterday, saying that the deal adds 19 Cessna Citation Xs to its fleet, with further additions planned over the next 12 to 24 months. The Citation Xs were formerly operated by Vista and were transferred to Red Wing in conjunction with the sale. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

Wheels Up executives Michael Vargo and Zach Palmer are joining Jet Excellence to serve as COO and v-p of commercial strategy, respectively. Vargo previously led Citation X operator Mountain Aviation and is now leading the operational integration of the BellAir and Red Wing fleets at the rebranded group’s base at Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA) in North Carolina.

The 27 Citation Xs Jet Excellence now operates are under long-term lease with various partners, and the company wants to increase the number of aircraft to more than 30. Its total fleet numbers 35 and also includes other Citation models, Hawker 800XPs, and a King Air 350.

According to the company founder, CEO, and chairman McQueen Campbell, the company operates a high-utilization floating fleet model rather than through aircraft management contracts. The company provides wholesale charter services for other private flight providers.

Gogo has appointed Metrojet Engineering Clark (MEC) as an authorized dealer for its satellite communications systems. The maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider will install the equipment in business and government aircraft at its facility at Clark International Airport (RPLC) in the Philippines.

Metrojet will supply the multi-orbit, multi-band equipment previously produced under the Satcom Direct brand, which Gogo Business Aviation acquired in February 2025. MEC is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based business aviation services group.

The Clark facility holds authorized repair station approvals from the FAA, as well as from regulators in the Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Qatar, South Korea, Indonesia, San Marino, and Guernsey. It has 76,424 sq ft of hangar space at the former U.S. military base. It performs line and base maintenance on multiple business aircraft, including Gulfstream and Bombardier types, and also has approvals from Honeywell and Starlink.

“The availability of satellite communication technology through MEC provides operators with additional options to meet their connectivity needs, supporting both operational requirements and passenger expectations,” said MEC general manager Rudgen Guzman.