With type inspection authorization testing of the HondaJet Elite II’s Garmin Autoland system now complete, final FAA test pilot evaluation is next. This will be followed by full Autoland certification and deployment in new-production HondaJets. Honda Aircraft also conducted a test flight of a HondaJet running 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

When Autoland is certified on the HondaJet, this will be the first FAA approval of the system on a very light twinjet. Autoland is already certified on Cirrus SR-series pistons and the SF50 Vision Jet, Beechcraft King Airs, Pilatus PC-12 Pro, Piper M700, and Daher TBM 960.

Autoland can be deployed by passengers in case the pilot becomes incapacitated, or the system automatically engages after it detects no pilot interaction. Once engaged, Autoland navigates to a suitable airport, sends distress calls to ATC, lands, and shuts down the engines. Honda Aircraft will add Autoland to the HondaJet Elite II once the system receives FAA certification.

During the recent SAF test, a HondaJet flew over Greensboro, North Carolina, with its HF120 engines burning 100% SAF. The neat SAF consisted of a mix of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffinic kerosene and hydrodeoxygenated synthetic aromatic kerosene. The test was conducted with engine manufacturer GE Honda Aero, which had run 100% SAF ground tests with the HF120 in 2022 and 2023.

Textron Inc. is shutting down its Textron eAviation business unit and redistributing the division’s electric and conventional aviation activities among its other subsidiaries, the company revealed on Friday in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 8-K filing. Plans to eliminate Textron eAviation as a separate reporting segment were approved by Textron management on Thursday and will take effect on Jan. 4, 2026, at the start of the fiscal year.

According to the filing, the bulk of Textron eAviation’s business, including the Pipistrel brand, will be absorbed by Textron Aviation. Pipistrel, which Textron acquired in 2022 when it launched the eAviation division, manufactures composite aircraft such as the Velis Electro, the world’s first type-certified fully electric airplane, motorgliders, and the Panthera high-performance piston single, which is undergoing EASA CS-23 certification. It has also been developing the Nuuva family of hybrid-electric VTOL multirole drones and a special-mission platform called Surveyor.

Defense-related activities under the Textron eAviation umbrella will move over to Textron Systems, the conglomerate’s defense business. This suggests that the Nuuva and Surveyor programs may continue under Textron Systems, which already produces military drones.

Notably, the SEC report made no mention of Textron eAviation’s Nexus eVTOL program, which the company slowed down earlier this year.

Textron Aviation has received its first order for a Cessna Citation Latitude in Argentina from Jet Clipper, with delivery expected next year. Jet Clipper, a longtime Citation Latitude customer, provides charter service in Uruguay and Paraguay, in addition to Argentina.

The operator has flown Citations since 2012, beginning with the Mustang, followed by a Citation M2 and CJ3+. “Each upgrade brings new advantages without changing the basic philosophy of Citation aircraft: to be quick, simple, reliable, affordable, and to offer a very efficient support system around the globe,” said Jet Clipper president Angel Zaninovich. “The Latitude is perfect for deep South America because you are only one stop away from the United States or many other destinations.”

With a range of 2,700-nm and takeoff field length of 1,091 meters (3,579 feet), the Latitude can fly nonstop between destinations such as Buenos Aires to Quito, Ecuador; Cordoba, Argentina, to Medellin, Colombia; São Paulo to Oranjestad, Aruba; and Lima to Jacksonville, Florida. The aircraft can seat nine passengers in a flat-floor cabin.

“In a region where time and access are critical, the Citation Latitude’s range and short-field capabilities empower customers to reach remote destinations quickly and efficiently,” said Marcelo Moreira, Textron Aviation’s v-p of sales for Latin America. “The Latitude will support the customer's existing operations by offering the perfect balance of performance and comfort.”

CAE has introduced a data-driven training approach for business aviation pilots called Continuously Optimized Recurrent (CORe) training. The program addresses a long-standing gap in pilot instruction: emerging operational threats not typically covered in traditional task-based training.

Using data gathered through CAE Rise, which aggregates anonymized pilot performance data from thousands of simulator sessions, CORe identifies trends and patterns to develop new learning scenarios. Additional data from OEMs, operators, and sources such as EASA’s Data4Safety program are also used to shape modules that reflect current and future risks.

Instead of repeating the same regulatory scenarios each year, pilots now face fresh, real-world scenarios that require nuanced judgment. Instructors guide pilots through these exercises, observing performance and helping refine responses to new or unseen threats.

According to CAE, the program represents an evolution beyond compliance, analyzing millions of data points to prepare pilots for unfamiliar situations. CORe training is adaptable across aircraft types and authorities, enhancing safety and efficiency throughout business aviation.

CAE has also partnered with Advanced Aircrew Academy to launch eLearning modules for business aviation, integrating online courseware into CAE’s global training ecosystem. The collaboration offers courses covering programs that meet FAA and ICAO standards for operators ranging from corporate flight departments to on-demand charter services. 

New systems help pilots, simplify flight—and keep humans at the helm.

The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider a bipartisan aviation safety package tomorrow that is designed to address many of the concerns raised in the aftermath of the January 29 collision of a U.S. Army Black Hawk and a PSA Airlines CRJ700.

S.2503, the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, combines elements in separate bills that Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced in July and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) had offered in June. Key among the numerous provisions in the bill is a mandate that all aircraft that are required to have ADS-B Out to also be equipped with ADS-B In by late 2031. The measure would provide a possible one-year extension for retrofits.

The bill further would eliminate a “loophole” that allows most military aircraft to operate without ADS-B transmitting. Other measures would strengthen oversight of mixed air traffic and flight routes near commercial service airports, call for an Airborne Collision Avoidance System-X action plan, and direct the FAA to update standards on safe distances between aircraft and controller training once ADS-B In is widely adopted.

In addition, the ROTOR Act would establish an FAA Office of FAA-DOD Coordination and direct the Inspector General of the Army to conduct an audit of the Army’s coordination with the FAA.

The office of the under secretary of defense has awarded a small business innovation research (SBIR) contract to Polaris Aero for development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for its Vocus safety intelligence platform. “We’re applying AI technology to make safety management systems more insightful and useful,” said Steve Bruneau, Polaris Aero’s v-p of aviation software for risk analysis and safety management systems (SMS).

The Phoenix-based company has been working with AI for about 10 months, he said, “and we’re starting to do more with it.” He explained that none of the information that Polaris Aero gathers from aircraft operators and customers is shared with publicly available AI platforms. Much of the work on the SBIR contract will also benefit the company’s work with commercial customers.

While the AI won’t provide final reports, it speeds up the safety officer’s work by filling in information needed for safety reports and helps generate lessons-learned summaries. This enables the safety officer to “communicate knowledge rather than writing reports,” Bruneau said.

The SBIR funding is for all branches of the military, but only for flight-related activities. All information is stored in a government-secure cloud. As the end user, the military helps shape the requirements of the contract. “They use it in a prototyping way to validate the program,” he said. “The government is a partner in that regard.”

Two years after private equity firm AE Industrial Partners (AEI) acquired a majority interest in Yingling Aviation, the iconic Wichita maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business is undergoing a transformation that is rapidly expanding its size and capabilities with additional hangars, multiple acquisitions, and broadened services. The latter includes winglet installation and paint capability for the largest business jets.

After the acquisition, AEI brought in two retired executives from West Star Aviation: Robert Rasberry and Rodger Renaud as CEO and COO, respectively. They expedited an ambitious growth trajectory with the acquisition of three local businesses within a year: avionics specialist Bevan Aviation, MRO Mid-Continent Aviation Services (MCAS), and aircraft cabinetry and interior firm Global Engineering & Technology.

Not only have those acquisitions brought new specialties, but they have also provided much-needed space for Yingling’s quest to push up into the largest of business jets. MCAS added 80,000 sq ft of hangar capacity, and now Yingling spans 14 hangars and 550,000 sq ft of total space.

And it is continuing to spread out at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (KICT). Notably, the company is preparing to break ground on a 60,000-sq-ft hangar for a paint facility that will can accommodate the Bombardier Global 7500. Construction is set to begin next year, with completion in 2027.

Nimbl and Scott International Procedures are expanding their two-decade partnership to give business aviation operators broader access to customized international procedures training and safety resources.

The partnership enables integration of a flight department’s international operations manual directly into live or remote-live instruction. The approach provides hands-on training aligned with an operator’s approved procedures, reinforcing compliance and safety through real-world application.

Scott IPC is offering Nimbl clients a 15% discount on all training programs. “We’re proud to expand our partnership with Nimbl to give operators greater access to the training and resources they need to fly confidently worldwide,” said Amy Scott, co-founder of Scott IPC.

Clément Meersseman, Nimbl’s v-p of strategic partnerships, added that the collaboration supports both companies’ shared mission to improve safety and compliance. “Nimbl has always valued the quality of Scott IPC’s training and looks forward to encouraging clients to stay safe and compliant,” he said.

Our annual Upfront breakfast at NBAA-BACE is now a post-show webinar on November 12—so more partners can join the conversation without the 8 a.m. rush. Instead of gathering over breakfast during the busiest week of the year, we’ve moved our annual presentation to after NBAA-BACE. It’s a more convenient way to connect, gain valuable guidance, and continue the conversation beyond the show floor. Our presentation will include 2026 AIN Media Group Marketing Opportunities, Best Practices for PR Submissions, and Social Media Trends. Register today!