Textron Aviation has received its next round of FAA approvals for its “Gen” series of aircraft—the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 and M2 Gen2 with Garmin autothrottle—the company said yesterday at NBAA-BACE 2025. These are a part of an ambitious schedule of Gen upgrades that the Wichita manufacturer has undertaken for its M2/CJ series, with Gen3 versions on pace to follow shortly after the latest round of Gen2 approvals.

Following 445 flight test hours, the CJ3 approval brings “the most comprehensive Citation Gen2 investment to market,” Textron Aviation said, adding that the aircraft is expected to enter service this year.

Business aviation OEMs are expected to deliver 8,500 business jets over the next decade, according to Honeywell Aerospace’s 34th annual industry forecast released on the eve of NBAA-BACE 2025. While that volume remains unchanged for the past four years as OEMs wrestled with post-Covid supply-chain recovery, the report predicts an increase in value to $283 billion for those aircraft, the highest dollar amount in the history of the survey. Of that amount, two-thirds of the value is expected to be on the large-jet side, according to Honeywell’s calculations.

“I would say starting in 2023 to 2024 and now this year, definitely we’re seeing improvements across all supply chains, ourselves definitely, and you see this in the actual output of OEMs too, where they’re increasing [deliveries],” said Kevin Schwab, strategic planning manager for Honeywell Aerospace. “If you look at OEM guidance, and how we’re doing so far this year in terms of deliveries, I think we’re actually kind of climbing out of this period and starting to deliver the amount of jets the industry needs.”

Volatility is the best word to describe the current state of the business aviation market, according to Rolland Vincent, president of Rolland Vincent Associates and creator of the JetNet iQ Survey. Speaking at NBAA-BACE on Monday, Vincent explained that while factors such as geopolitical risk and tariffs are driving some discomfort and uncertainty among aircraft buyers, the demand signals are still very strong.

For this year, JetNet forecasts deliveries of approximately 820 business jets, up 8% from last year’s total. If that prognostication bears out, that would make 2025 the first year since pre-pandemic 2019 where deliveries surpassed the 800 plateau, and only the second time since 2009 at the start of the Great Recession.

Business aviation entrepreneur Kenny Dichter returned to NBAA-BACE to highlight his next chapter as founder of Real Jet, reentering the air charter brokering realm but this time with a boutique approach that focuses on top-tier service. Speaking to reporters yesterday at BACE, Dichter likened the new venture to models of the Four Seasons or Burgess Yachts—long-standing companies with strong reputations for high-end, white-glove-type service, but that are not asset-based.

Announced earlier this year, the corporate entity is headquartered in New York with the operational base in Atlanta. Launching operations in August, Real Jet already has about 30 people on staff and has arranged about the first 100 flights, most of which have sought out Real Jet service.

CAE is introducing flexibility and digital tools across its aircraft maintenance technician training programs as the industry faces mounting workforce pressures and an evolving learning environment. An online booking platform, debuting this week at NBAA-BACE 2025, also allows customers to reserve training slots online.

The maintenance technician shortage is a real puzzle, acknowledged David Bienvenu, CAE’s global leader for maintenance training. “For every 10,000 that are retiring, only 7,000 people are joining the workforce,” Bienvenu said, noting a net-negative starting point as business aviation grows.

Safety, innovation, and future-oriented initiatives were at the forefront of the 2025 NBAA-BACE Newsmakers Luncheon yesterday. Congressman Sam Graves (R-Missouri) emphasized the importance of compromise in keeping aviation legislation bipartisan.

“The FAA reauthorization was just a shining example of the things that you can get done when you work with the other side,” he said. “Rick [Larsen] and I believe in old-school politics. That means we believe in compromise. It’s not all or nothing.”

Universal Aviation has signed a major agreement with Saudi Arabian officials, expanding its footprint into the Middle East for the first time with the establishment of three new facilties. The company’s Saudi division, led by general manager Hayel Altashkandi, has begun preparations to open a lounge in the shared general aviation terminal at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (OERK) in early 2026.

Universal also received concessions by state-owned airport operator Matarat Holding to manage facilities and provide full ground handling services at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International (OEJN) and Dammam King Fahd International (OEDF) airports.

The digital flip-through issue of AIN’s award-winning NBAA Convention News is now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from NBAA-BACE 2025, whether you’re in Las Vegas attending the show or watching from afar.