Business aviation company Vista America, an operating partner of Dubai-based Vista Group, is celebrating what it calls a milestone year. “I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible team at Vista America. This first year has been a journey of growth, expanding our capabilities and making a meaningful impact in the world of business aviation across the region," said Vista America president David Stanley.

"This is all thanks to the dedication of the people who make it happen, working around the clock every day of the year. Their commitment to excellence and passion for what they do is the heart of our success. As we look to the future, we will continue investing in our people and our business, ensuring that Vista America evolves, expands, and strengthens the key pillars that define our success."

Vista America is planning to bring a full-motion Bombardier Challenger 300/350 simulator to Columbus, Ohio, where its headquarters is located. In its inaugural year, Vista America brought a fleet of dedicated Bombardier Global 7500s to the U.S. market and embarked on its first-ever U.S. tour, visiting destinations such as New York, Palm Beach, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The company also achieved Wyvern Wingman accreditation, the highest aviation safety rating available from the safety auditing firm.

Parts manufacturer for legacy aircraft and MRO provider Ontic will expand its operations into Florida with the opening of a new facility early next year. The Miramar location—the company’s eighth worldwide—will be a dedicated MRO center of excellence focused on supporting customers of the company's manufactured parts and systems.

With the opening of the site, Ontic will transfer its North Carolina MRO operations to Florida to allow the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities at the former location.

“Opening this eighth Ontic site is another exciting milestone in our growth,” said Jack Karapetyan, v-p of the company’s global MRO operations. “Florida was the natural choice for our expansion as it is already an MRO hub with ample skilled labor and a business-friendly environment, which also acts as a gateway to South American markets.”

The former BBA Aviation subsidiary is not planning any staff reductions due to the relocation. It will offer its maintenance workers in North Carolina the opportunity to move to the Florida facility or transition into manufacturing roles at their current site. Ontic plans to announce more MRO centers of excellence in Europe and Asia next year.

Recognizing a need in the market for an end-to-end operating system in the business aircraft maintenance arena, WingWork has launched a cloud-based platform that streamlines fleet management and maintenance tracking. Aimed at Part 91 and Part 135 operators, the software allows users to “spend more time fixing and less time clicking” through an intuitive interface designed for ease of use and comprehensiveness, the company said.

WingWork assembled a team of more than 50 industry advisors, including maintenance personnel and other experts, to develop the application. “Our network of advisors has been a crucial element to our success,” explained company CEO Matt Castellini. “They give us invaluable feedback on building a world-class tool to power the modern aircraft mechanic.”

The initial rollout includes features such as maintenance tracking, work orders, inventory control, invoice generation, logbook ingestion, and data entry. But WingWork's software design team has plans for further expansion based on customer feedback.

“The maintenance industry is ready for a 21st-century solution that uses cutting-edge technology widely adopted in other industries,” said WingWork chief technology officer Karthik Srinivasan. “We want to develop best-in-class software to help the maintenance industry make the transition from relying on manual processes to harnessing the power of next-generation technology.”

Delta County Airport (KESC), with its airport-operated FBO, is the newest member of AEG Fuels branded dealer group AEG Connect Network. Located in Escanaba on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the addition of KESC strengthens AEG’s reach in the central U.S.

KESC has a 6,500-foot main runway and its FBO—the lone service provider on the field—handles the fueling for both commercial and general aviation at the airport. It offers a 400-sq-ft general aviation lounge attached to the commercial terminal, with a business center and crew car. It has a total of 6,000 sq ft of heated hangar space that can accommodate up to midsize business jets.

“We’re thrilled to join the AEG Connect Network and continue providing our exceptional services to the aviation community,” said KESC manager Robert Ranstadler. “With the support of AEG Fuels and their cutting-edge equipment and training, we’re confident that our customers will experience an unbeatable level of service.”

AEG Connect was launched in 2022, and over the past year it has doubled to 22 locations in the U.S., Europe, and South America.

As part of efforts to clear logjams delaying support for business aircraft engines, Rolls-Royce recently started using an additional hangar in Indianapolis to keep its CorporateCare power-by-the-hour customers flying. The facility has allowed the manufacturer to fast-track North American operators with additional slots available to handle short-notice tasks, such as engine changes.

The initiative introduced in recent months has quickly made a difference to the extent that Rolls-Royce is now looking at where else it could add more hangar capacity in regions including Europe. The first hangar is located at Indianapolis Regional Airport (KMQJ), which is not too far from the company’s existing facility in the city.

Rolls-Royce already has 85 authorized service centers worldwide, but company v-p of sales and marketing for business aviation Lindsey Gillen said it has sometimes proved hard for operators to secure a convenient slot. Additionally, the company needs to keep lease engines maintained and ready for use.

The extra capacity is part of a wider $1 billion investment Rolls-Royce has made in its business aviation service network. It has been looking to further boost its support offering since launching the CorporateCare Enhanced program in January 2019 to respond to customer demand for closing gaps in what work and materials are covered for the BR and Pearl family of turbofans.

StandardAero’s aircraft service center at California's Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) is marking its 25th anniversary this month. The former Western Jet Aviation operation, which was founded in 1999 and acquired last year by StandardAero, specializes in providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul for Gulfstream business jets.

It marked the occasion on October 8 with an event at its Los Angeles-area facility that included former owner and founder Jim Hansen and Van Nuys Airport staff. StandardAero Business Aviation president Tony Brancato thanked employees for their efforts.

The West Coast MRO can also provide support for aircraft operators on the East Coast through its satellite aircraft-on-ground operation at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (KOPF). It offers support for Gulfstream operators through its independent CompleteCare program. The wider StandardAero group includes facilities at multiple other U.S. locations, as well as in Australia, the UK, France, Canada, South Africa, and Singapore.

“Our success is built on the dedication and hard work of our talented employees, and we couldn’t ask for a better team delivering exceptional service to our customers,” said Katie Higgins, v-p and general manager of StandardAero VNY. “Since the site was acquired by StandardAero, we’ve completed multiple site improvement projects and have added a dedicated structures team, providing operators with a whole new level of capability expertise for major structural work.”

Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) is installing a new leadership team after the retirement of founding member and long-time executive director Elizabeth Clark. She will continue as director emeritus after leading the organization for more than 31 years.

Tracie Carwile, a longtime Universal Weather and Aviation executive who is now v-p of global sales and inclusion for GlobalGround Transport, is stepping into the role of CEO and executive director for WCA. Carwile has nearly 20 years of business aviation experience and was a 2020 recipient of NBAA’s 40 Under 40 honor. She has previously been a board member of WCA.

In addition, Cassandra Shelby was named CFO and director of the organization. An international captain on the Gulfstream G550 and G280 for The Coca-Cola Company, Shelby has held various roles with WCA, including president and director.

WCA announced the leadership team as it held its 31st Annual Meeting and Scholarship Award Ceremony during NBAA-BACE last week in Las Vegas.