The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) reported a sharp rise in market confidence and tighter preowned aircraft supply in its Third Quarter 2025 Market Report, citing renewed U.S. tax incentives and stable pricing as key factors driving dealer sentiment. Based on the association’s latest data, business aircraft sales momentum accelerated in the third quarter, setting up what members describe as potential for a strong finish in the last three months of 2025.

IADA’s general market optimism index rose to 3.47 in the quarter, up from 3.07 in the second quarter and 3.12 year over year, on a scale where 1 represents “worst ever” and 5 “best ever.” The report attributes this 13% increase in large part to the return of bonus depreciation, which respondents cited as a key driver of improved sentiment in sales, financing, and leasing.

Pricing trends remained stable to slightly higher across most categories. According to IADA’s six-month outlook, 70% to 80% of respondents expect pricing to hold or increase modestly over the next six months, with the midsize and large-jet segments showing the most growth.

New aircraft backlogs and pricing are also contributing to stable values among in-production preowned aircraft, reinforcing a positive trend in those categories. Meanwhile, approximately three-quarters of respondents foresee stable to slightly lower aircraft availability, reversing the broader expectation of increased listings in the second quarter. 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning of increased air traffic delays as the government shutdown becomes the second-longest in history and controllers face their first $0 paycheck tomorrow. This will come after the nation’s air traffic controllers received only a partial paycheck on October 14. FlightAware on Sunday logged 8,774 delays involving flights in the U.S.

Speaking during a press briefing with House of Representatives leaders last week, Duffy assured that work continues on air traffic modernization. “That is still operational.” However, as for the air traffic controllers, who were not furloughed but are required to work without pay during the shutdown: “They’re angry,” he said.

As a result, he warned, across the national airspace, “There’s certain centers or Tracons or towers where we’ll see lower staffing.” These cancellations will not be centered on a particular tower or center. “It’s maybe one center one day. It’s a Tracon another day.” Many controllers work more than five days a week to make sure that air travel is covered throughout the country, he added, but now they have to worry about finances. “They have to make choices, and the choice they’re making is to take a second job.”

Starlink satcom operator SpaceX is reducing the maximum speed allowed for Starlink Roam, Local Priority, and Global Priority service plans by 80 knots groundspeed. “Effective November 7, 2025, we will be lowering the maximum supported operating groundspeed for all Roam, Local Priority, and Global Priority Plans from 550 mph (471 knots) to 450 mph (391 knots). The adjustment is part of our ongoing efforts to optimize network performance and ensure reliable service for all users,” the company said in a recent update to users.

“If this change affects your connectivity needs—particularly for high-speed in-motion applications—we encourage you to consider upgrading to one of our Aviation plans (20 GB or Unlimited),” Satrlink noted in the update. There are no such speed limits on the Starlink Aviation plans.

Lowering the top speed limit for the non-Aviation plans affects users who are carrying a Starlink Mini antenna on their aircraft and mounting it in a location that can view the sky using suction cups or other non-permanent mechanisms. SpaceX recently lowered the Starlink Mini antenna kit price to $299, and various pilot-supply companies sell packages that enable mounting in the aircraft and connection to a suitable power supply.

Roam monthly service costs are $50 for 50 GB or $165 for unlimited service versus $2,000 for 20 GB or $10,000 for unlimited on the Aviation plan.

Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems technicians have accomplished the first and second post-supplemental type certificate (STC) installations of Garmin’s Autoland system on Beechcraft King Air 350s at its Smyrna, Tennessee (KMQY) facility. The installation includes autothrottles and is available on King Airs equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXi integrated flight deck.

Autoland will automatically select a suitable airport and communicate with ATC while configuring the airplane to land, touching down, applying brakes, and shutting off the engines. Autoland is only available for emergency situations and will activate if it detects an unresponsive pilot; anyone on board can also activate the system by pushing a button.

The autothrottles manage speed and power from takeoff to touchdown, protecting against engine exceedances. Additional assistance is available via automatic autothrottle engagement during under- and overspeed scenarios or engine-out situations.

The installation at Stevens Aerospace was done on King Air 350s with stock Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A engines and four-blade propellers. Garmin will be offering Autoland upgrades with other engine and propeller configurations.

“There has been an extremely high level of interest in this safety modification over the last several months, with many owners waiting in line for the STC completion,” said Gary Brown, technical sales at Stevens KMQY. “This modification now makes the plane even safer, more efficient, and now gives…more peace of mind.”

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

Greenpoint Technologies’ Moses Lake, Washington modification center delivered another Boeing BBJ 787 to a customer on schedule after completing a cabin modification and interior upgrade project, the Safran unit announced last week.

The project was among a series of maintenance and refurbishment programs Greenpoint has undertaken for VVIP BBJ 787 clients in the past year. “Greenpoint has delivered a record number of BBJ 787 interior completions and maintenance programs, representing one of the most experienced teams worldwide working on the platform,” it said. The company delivered its sixth BBJ 787 completion project in August. It has also inducted 787s for maintenance.

“This successful on-time delivery demonstrates our expanding maintenance capabilities and deep expertise with the BBJ 787 airframe,” said Greenpoint Technologies CEO Klaus Koester. “More importantly, it reflects Greenpoint’s commitment to supporting our clients throughout the entire life cycle of their aircraft.”

Established in 1987, Bothell, Washington-headquartered Greenpoint is one of the original Boeing Business Jets-authorized completions centers, with dozens of projects spanning 747, 757, 777, and 787 models, in addition to BBJs based on the 737 series.

Business aviation sustainability solutions provider 4Air has reached several milestones since its launch five years ago. The company noted that it has facilitated the offset of more than 6 million tonnes of CO2 through the use of verified carbon offsets and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by its customers.

That equates to more than 2 million carbon-neutral flight hours, and the documented use of 20.2 million gallons of blended SAF, which by itself was responsible for life cycle CO2 emissions reductions of 43,000 tonnes of CO2 compared to the use of jet-A.

Since 2020, 4Air has also contributed $250,000 to support aviation sustainability research through its Aviation Climate Fund, and it recently implemented the first live trials for the mitigation of business aviation contrails.

“Our goal with launching 4Air was to make sustainability accessible, and this success shows that there is a desire by business aviation to decarbonize, if the right tools are put in place,” said company president Kennedy Ricci. “But we must keep pushing to drive broader industry adoption and achieve even higher levels of sustainability.”

NBAA has set a voluntary industry goal of net-zero for 2050. SAF adoption by business aircraft operators will play a large part in being able to achieve that goal.

Blackhawk Group has received FAA approval for its XP66D engine upgrade for the Daher TBM 700, which replaces the original 700-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-64 with the 850-shp PT6A-66D. At Blackhawk’s Waco, Texas headquarters, the first installation is underway, and a second is scheduled at Blackhawk’s Avex Performance Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The certification TBM 700 is a 2004 C2 model that showcases all of the company’s capabilities with new Garmin avionics, custom paint, and a fresh interior.

With the 21% increase in power, the XP66D-upgraded TBM 700 can climb to FL310 in 22 minutes, shaving six minutes off the original model’s performance. Cruise speed is up by an average of 25 ktas, to 303 ktas.

“The approval and first installation of the XP66D engine upgrade represents a landmark achievement for Blackhawk and for TBM 700 operators worldwide,” said Edwin Black, president of Blackhawk’s proprietary upgrades division. “By combining our proven expertise in STC development with the unmatched TBM knowledge of our Avex Performance Centers, we’re delivering a truly transformative upgrade.”

Meanwhile, Blackhawk has launched an STC program to add an electrically heated anti-ice boot on the Piper Meridian elevator horn gap. This is the same solution that Piper uses for the M600 and M700 turboprop singles and prevents ice from forming between the elevator horn and horizontal stabilizer.

Business aviation data firm JetNet has launched its next-generation AI-driven market intelligence platform. According to the company, the new functionality will integrate explainable generative AI directly into its aviation data ecosystem.

“JetNet AI represents the future of aviation intelligence,” explained Greg Kimball, the Utica, New York-based data analyst’s chief product officer. “We’re empowering professionals to ask natural language questions of their data and get instant, accurate insights from across fleet, flight, and market intelligence, securely, within their daily workflows.”

Attendees visiting JetNet's booth at NBAA-BACE 2025 were able to get early access to join the AI beta testing program. “NBAA-BACE was the perfect stage to unveil JetNet AI, our most transformative innovation yet,” said company CEO Derek Swaim. “This launch marks a major milestone in our mission to deliver instant, actionable intelligence to aviation professionals.”

AIN’s senior-level Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) West, our 10th CALS event, is set for January 12 to 14 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the latest hot topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation. The summit is attendee-centric, serving as an educational and professional networking platform that connects corporate aviation leaders with peers, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed and informal environment. We invite U.S.-based directors of aviation and flight department leaders to apply to attend this all-expenses-paid event as our guests. There are only 50 spots available, so apply today.