Textron Aviation this morning unveiled its latest jet to get a major upgrade: the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3, which will feature Garmin’s new G3000 Prime touchscreen avionics suite and other refinements. Service entry is planned for 2026.

Garmin G3000 Prime isn’t the sole upgrade for the CJ4 Gen3. In addition, it will be equipped with new winglets fitted with an informal accent light on the upper edge. Interior acoustics are also improved with new materials helping reduce noise in the cockpit and cabin. Furthering the penetration of lithium-ion main-ship batteries in business aircraft, the CJ4 will have a True Blue Power Li-ion battery that improves starting power and lowers weight. 

Further, both the flight deck and cabin will have lighting improvements. Lighting is added to side pockets at each seat and improved floodlighting illuminates the seats along with updated reading lights with directional control and variable scope.

The M2 and CJ3 are also getting a Gen3 treatment, and the major feature will be adding Garmin’s Autoland technology. Certification of the M2 and CJ3 Gen3 models is expected in 2026. Owners of M2 Gen2 and CJ3 Gen2 models, which brought autothrottles to these airplanes, will be able to upgrade to Autoland through a service bulletin.

Embraer returns to NBAA-BACE 2024 enjoying a strong sales year and continued growth, including a nearly 50% jump in third-quarter business jet deliveries in the third quarter, to 41 aircraft. It also handed over 16 regional jetliners. This compares with 28 executive jets and 15 of its airliners in third-quarter 2023. For the first nine months, the company delivered 86 business jets and 42 airliners, up from 66 and 39, respectively a year ago. 

Praetor deliveries in the quarter were notably up, reaching 19, versus nine in the same period in 2023. Phenom deliveries improved to 22, up two from a year ago. The backlog of Embraer's Executive Jets business unit reached $4.4 billion during the quarter, a 3% year-over-year increase but down 4% quarter over quarter.

Embraer reported the results as it prepared to arrive at BACE this week, where it is showcasing its Phenom 100EX, Phenom 300E, and Praetor 600 business jets. The Brazilian airframer is also touting the expansion of its owned MRO service center network.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace (IAM) Workers District 70 Local 774 ratified a five-year agreement yesterday. Wichita-based Textron Aviation is now working to welcome back these employees, who have been on strike since September 23, starting on Wednesday.

“We are pleased to have ratified a contract with the IAM that offers our employees, their families, and the Wichita community a shared future,” said Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper. “We value our workforce and the work they do, and this agreement reflects our commitment to our team. The ratification of this contract marks a new chapter, and we are eager to move forward together."

Among the key points of the ratified labor agreement are maintaining major manufacturing operations in Wichita, a 31% general salary increase over the life of the contract with an immediate 11% increase, cost-of-living adjustments that double from the previous contract to $1,500 a year, a guaranteed $3,000 annual lump sum payment per employee, an updated pay scale for long-tenured employees, and an increase of the company 401(k) retirement plan match to 9%.

In addition, the agreement caps insurance plan premiums increases for its low- and high-deductible health care plans, with no premium increases through 2029 for its no-deductible health plan with new free services at its Plane Healthy Wellness Centers and pharmacy locations.

ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services China has started providing ground-handling services for business aircraft at Beijing Capital International Airport (ZBAA). The new arrangement is based on a contract signed with Capital Airport Holding Business Aviation Management (CBM), the state-owned company responsible for business aviation and running the FBO at the Chinese capital’s main gateway.

Ground handling services began on October 1 at the start of China’s “Golden Week” National Day holiday period. Under the contract, ExecuJet Haite is now the exclusive ground-handling agent for CBM at the airport, covering tasks such as marshalling aircraft and supporting flight crew.

Earlier this year, CBM and ExecuJet Haite opened a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility at Beijing Daxing International Airport, where CBM also provides FBO services. In addition, ExecuJet Haite runs line and base maintenance operation at Tianjin Binhai International Airport (ZBTG), and it intends to start ground handling services at Daxing (ZBAD) next month.

ExecuJet Haite has increased its ground handling team at Beijing Capital and provided line technician and customer service training to employees.

“The decision to select ExecuJet Haite as the ground-handling supplier came naturally to CBM through open tender, as we are both strictly focused on quality, continuous improvement and delivering an exceptional client experience,” said CBM general manager Li Yiyong.

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The December 2024 target date for the U.S. to align its notam format with ICAO international standards has been delayed by at least one year, missing both the FAA’s schedule and a congressional deadline. “We are in the process of making changes and plan on implementing the ICAO notam format late next year,” the FAA told AIN.

According to the agency, the updated format will improve accuracy and accessibility of notam data for pilots, dispatchers, and other notam consumers; provide notam consumers with one consistent format for domestic and international operations; and allow for enhanced search, sorting, filtering, and archiving capabilities of notam data.

Meanwhile, there have been no FAA public reports giving the status of the transition process since details of the new format and December 2024 original implementation target were announced in September 2021. For years, aviation trade organizations and the NTSB have been pushing for a more user-friendly notam system. Congress last year passed amendments calling on the FAA to implement the modernized notam system by Sept. 30, 2024.

When the new format does become effective, the FAA said it will release the following publications to reflect the changes and provide user guidance: an updated version of 7930.2 Notices to Airmen; Advisory Circular 150/5200-28 Notices to Airmen for Airport Operators; and the Aeronautical Information Services Manual.

Atlantic Aviation has extended its agreement with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on the management of the East 34th Street Heliport in Midtown Manhattan. The deal puts the facility on the East River waterfront under Atlantic’s control for the next five years.

As part of NYCEDC’s mission of delivering sustainable infrastructure to support the city’s economy, Atlantic will soon upgrade the facility, including installing charging stations to permit eVTOL operations. Plans call for the application of both combined charging system and global electric aviation charging system (GEACS) solutions, and Atlantic is actively working with partner Beta Technologies, as well as airframers Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation and others, to understand eVTOL requirements and adapt the site to meet them ahead of the first eVTOL entries into service.

New York City is expected to be a key market for eVTOL operations, with the aircraft offering faster, quieter, and more sustainable travel options for residents and visitors.

“Maintaining our presence at the East 34th Street Heliport and expanding infrastructure there to support eVTOL operations aligns with our commitment to community-beneficial transportation solutions and will support New York City on its journey to facilitating quiet and sustainable aviation operations,” said John Redcay, Atlantic’s chief commercial and sustainability officer.

Aircraft management group Axis Aviation has introduced an artificial intelligence-driven search feature for its flight crew support app. The Direct To search assistant rolled out today allows pilots and other crew to pose questions to find safety information stored on the Crew Axis platform.

The tool gives descriptive answers to questions and provides page references to manuals where users can quickly find what they need. The in-house app that Axis Aviation launched in May was designed in partnership with a third-party provider and processes data from hundreds of pages stored in Crew Axis. According to the company, it provides an intuitive shortcut to accessing important flight information.

“Launch of our own AI functionality will deliver new levels of efficiency for our pilots and crew,” said Axis Aviation Europe’s managing director Kerstin Mumenthaler. “Users can simply ask any query related to their flight and receive accurate answers, backed by technical data. Our aim is to simplify the decision-making process and drive efficiency.”

According to the company, AI can boost the digital transformation it feels is needed to deliver the increased levels of transparency that business aviation customers now expect of service providers.

Aircraft management and charter group TAG Aviation is in the process of expanding its fleet with the addition of nine business jets. New arrivals for its Europe-based operation include a Dassault Falcon 6X, Bombardier Challenger 650, and Gulfstream G500. In Asia, the company has added a G550, as well as a Bombardier Global 6000 and four Global 7500s.

The Falcon 6X and three of the Global 7500s are new-production aircraft due to be delivered from the manufacturers in early 2025. TAG has already received one preowned Global 7500.

Operating from TAG’s UK base at the London-area Farnborough Airport, the 6X and the Challenger 650 will be available for charter customers in Europe. The G550 will be based in Hong Kong and available for charter flights soon.

“As we enter the final quarter of 2024 and look ahead to 2025, we are very excited to expand our fleet with these new additions and types, and offer our charter clients additional aircraft charter options,” said TAG Aviation’s president, Steven Young. “Our invaluable teams from operations, client services, charter, maintenance, and FBOs are dedicated on a 24/7 basis to deliver our personalized services to every aspect of our client’s travel journey.”

AIN’s FBO survey is now open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2025 survey (to be published in April) is February 3. The survey takes only a minute to fill out, and you can do it while waiting for passengers in an FBO or any other time that is convenient for you. Participants will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon gift cards (winner must reside in the U.S.). Login here to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.