Canadian fractional ownership provider AirSprint recently added its 37th aircraft—a Cessna Citation CJ3+—to its fleet as it builds on its long-term growth plan to meet increasing demand. The light jet is the 16th CJ3+ in AirSprint’s fleet, which is the largest in the fractional space in Canada.

In addition to the CJ3+, AirSprint’s fleet includes Embraer Praetor 500 and Legacy 450/500 midsize jets and Citation CJ2+ light jets. With offices in Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal, AirSprint provides services coast-to-coast in Canada, including from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and the Maritimes.

"We're excited to welcome our 37th aircraft, which represents both the growth of our fleet and the strength of our company," said Jared Williams, v-p of operations and COO at AirSprint. "As demand for private aviation continues to rise, each new aircraft strengthens our ability to provide our fractional owners with greater flexibility, guaranteed access, and unparalleled service. Our focus on innovation and continuous improvement remains at the core of everything we do."

NBAA has a packed agenda on the regulatory and safety front at BACE later this month, including NTSB member J. Todd Inman as a keynote speaker at the association’s National Safety Forum held in conjunction with the three-day convention. The forum will take place throughout BACE with safety sessions scheduled for each day on a range of topics.

Inman, who joined the Safety Board in March, has brought a range of federal, state, and private sector experience to the agency, including in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation and in the special investigative unit at State Farm Insurance Companies.

In addition, NBAA-BACE is holding its Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and Small Operators Symposium on the eve of BACE on October 21 and also hosting a range of key government officials and regulators. This includes FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who is scheduled to speak at the opening session of BACE on October 22.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Washington) are participating in a Newsmakers Luncheon on October 21. A Meet the Regulators Session will feature Tim Arel, COO of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization; David Boulter, associate administrator for aviation safety for the FAA; Laurence Wildgoose, FAA assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment; and Holly Canevari, the deputy administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

California’s Ontario International Airport (KONT) has completed a major rehabilitation project on 10,200-foot Runway 8R/26L. The work, which began in February 2023, saw the milling and repaving of 80,000 sq ft of concrete, along with the installation of new lighting.

The $90 million project included a restructuring of the runway’s feeder taxiways with the construction of Taxiway S8, rehabilitation of several other taxiways, and elimination of two adjacent taxiways.

Much of the project funding came from FAA AIP grants, with the remaining $23 million provided by the airport itself through operational revenue. Last month, KONT was awarded an additional $4 million in AIP funding for the start of design work on the rehabilitation of 12,200-foot Runway 8L-26R.

“We want to thank congresswoman Norma Torres, our elected leadership in Washington, D.C., and our regulator partners for their tireless efforts in securing the funding needed to bring this important project to conclusion,” said Alan Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority’s board of commissioners. “Their unwavering support of [KONT] has allowed us to address critical needs, invest in airport operations, and create an unparalleled travel experience for one of the most vibrant population and economic centers in the United States.”

Duncan Aviation recently completed a paint and interior refurbishment of a Gulfstream G200 at its business aircraft maintenance and completions facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. According to the company, the super-midsize twinjet now has “a luxurious merlot paint scheme accented with elegant gold details, a custom interior, and connectivity upgrades.” The makeover was designed by Autumn Elizabeth Design.

“When the aircraft first came to us, the interior and exterior had seen better days. It was looking tired, and lacked an in-flight connectivity solution,” said Duncan Aviation senior modifications and completions sales rep Jeff Beaudette. “They took advantage of the downtime to complete the 192-month inspection to completely transform and customize their aircraft interior and exterior paint, and equip it with a high-speed connectivity system.”

A Gogo Avance L5 air-to-ground connectivity system was installed, providing passengers with in-flight, high-speed Wi-Fi.

To truly be a business tool, business jets must remain seamlessly connected to the world below them. Today’s connectivity solutions frequently fall short of delivering the truly global, consistent, and enterprise-grade connectivity needed to do business. But that is set to change thanks to Eutelsat OneWeb and their recently completed global constellation of low Earth orbit satellites.

A post-election session will kick off the Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2024 event, to be held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel from November 11 to 13. Speakers over the three-day event will include Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano, Guardian Jet co-managing partner Don Dwyer, and more.

The first day will feature a post-election analysis of regulatory changes (including how the FAA might be affected), IRS audits and accelerated depreciation, and leading broker-dealers speaking on what this means for transactions. Other days will see sessions relating to aircraft transactions and financing, private lift solutions, and other business aviation topics.

“CJI Miami has been a cornerstone event for the North American business aviation market, offering the latest insights and updates from industry leaders,” the organizer said.

Held annually, the event attracts “480 key decision-makers in business aviation, including operators, OEMs, appraisers, brokers, financiers, lawyers, and connectivity providers. For three days, attendees can network, discuss deals, and build lasting professional relationships.”

France-based aircraft painting specialist Satys plans to expand its U.S. presence next year with the establishment of six new paint hangars.

The company focuses on airliner class airplanes but also handles business aircraft, listing Dassault Aviation among its customers. It operates 42 paint hangars worldwide and plans to open new facilities in Delaware, North Carolina, and Florida to serve the needs of aircraft manufacturers and MROs.

Globally, Satys employs more than 2,500 workers, training more than 500 aeronautical painters and sealers since 2023, and by 2026 plans to recruit another 200 in France alone. Looking further ahead, it plans to open more than a dozen additional hangars worldwide by 2028.

“In 2024, Satys consolidated its position as a major player in aircraft painting, sealing, and surface treatment,” stated company founder and chairman Christophe Cador, crediting its industrial focus, ability to deliver on time, and the commitment of its teams around the world. “Growth for growth’s sake is not our priority, but the day-to-day satisfaction of our customers and the restoration of our ability to invest remain our top priority.”

Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano and Dassault Falcon Jet CEO Thierry Betbeze brought business aviation leadership in the post-Covid era into focus during the "Leadership Insights and Directions" panel last week at the JetNet iQ Summit in New York City.

"First order of business isn’t hiring—it’s creating fulfillment and purpose," said Amalfitano. "You have to create advancement opportunities that allow for someone to succeed. Nobody wants to do the same thing forever."

He said that younger people are becoming excited about working in the business aviation sector, noting that creating opportunities for advancement and fair compensation is key. "The issue is not about simply hiring. It’s about training and investing dollars in the people so they can become master craftsmen and -women," Amalfitano said. "What happened during the pandemic is we lost the best talent in every aspect of aerospace. You have to hire the people and get them motivated, but you have to invest dollars to train them."

Betbeze explained that industry growth is facing challenges in a post-Covid workforce. "When we all talk about the supply chain, very often this is not raw materials or logistics. It’s that you don’t have the right person in your subcontractors," he said. "What happened with many subcontractors, during Covid, [is] we lost the best ones."

Garmin has introduced its first portable satellite communicator with voice messaging and photo sharing capability, the InReach Messenger Plus, which uses Iridium’s Certus service on the satellite company’s Next constellation. 

Messenger Plus offers similar features as earlier InReach Mini devices, such as two-way texting, location sharing, and SOS capabilities. The latter includes the ability to send interactive text and voice messages and photos to Garmin Response for 24/7 emergency assistance. Voice messages can be up to 30 seconds, or text messages can be sent with up to 1,600 characters on Messenger Plus. 

When paired with the Garmin Messenger app on a smartphone or tablet, Messenger Plus will connect to satellites automatically when the smart device is out of cell service range or not connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. When activating an SOS, the user can share text, photo, and voice messages with response coordinators.

Battery life is up to 600 hours for sending a text message or location every 10 minutes (in low-power messaging mode). Messenger Plus can also be used to charge a smartphone “for enough charge to send custom text messages from the Messenger app,” the company said.

Retail price for the InReach Messenger Plus is $499.99, and it requires an active satellite subscription, which starts at $14.99 per month.

Join us for lunch on Wednesday, October 23, at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas to hear from a distinguished panel of experts who will discuss the options for satellite internet and help you make an informed decision. Gain a deeper understanding of today’s data demands, game-changing LEO satellite technologies, and—looking beyond speed—what else you need to know. Sponsored by Gogo Business Aviation.