Bombardier’s next major aircraft service center expansion will be in the U.S. Midwest with a 64,500-sq-ft facility planned for Fort Wayne International Airport (KFWA) in Indiana, the company announced today. Anticipated to open in the second half of 2026, the center is the latest of a string of service center expansions the Montreal-headquartered business jet manufacturer has undertaken over the past decade.

In August, Bombardier announced it was planning a multi-phase, multi-site expansion, but did not at the time detail specifics of those ambitions, only saying projects would roll out in the coming years. Today’s reveal “kicks off Bombardier’s previously announced multi-phase, large-scale U.S. expansion initiative,” the company noted.

To result in the creation of 100 jobs over the next few years, the facility will be equipped to support the full lineup of Bombardier business jets. The facility will have space to accommodate up to six aircraft and offer a range of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modifications, avionics installations, and AOG support.

“The U.S. is a key market for Bombardier, with nearly 3,000 aircraft in operation. Growing demand from the Midwest made Fort Wayne a natural choice for our newest service center, which will serve as a strategic hub for customers from across the region and beyond,” said Paul Sislian, executive v-p of aftermarket services and strategy for Bombardier.

Atlantic Aviation is stepping up efforts to support eVTOL aircraft operations with a new real estate partnership in the U.S. On Monday, the FBO group’s Vertiports by Atlantic subsidiary announced it selected Cushman & Wakefield as its real estate partner to develop urban mobility infrastructure in markets such as California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

The companies will focus on identifying opportunities to use vacant land to establish vertiports for air-taxi operators. According to Vertiports by Atlantic, it is targeting early-use cases in metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Long Island, and Newark, as well as Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida. Atlantic, which operates 105 FBOs in North America, hopes to start securing initial sites by year-end.

Cushman & Wakefield is a global commercial real estate services group with 400 offices across 60 countries. A team lead by Mike Condon Jr., Kent Hindes, and Kylie Rawn will support Vertiports by Atlantic under the new partnership.

“Our vision is to reimagine urban connectivity by creating the infrastructure to support passenger eVTOL operations,” said Kevin Cox, CEO of Vertiports by Atlantic. “This initiative represents not only a key investment in sustainable transportation but also an opportunity to provide faster, cleaner, and more efficient mobility options in some of the country’s busiest cities.”

Textron Aviation is celebrating 35 years of continuous operation at its Milwaukee Service Center, located at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (KMKE). The facility provides maintenance and service for Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft across the U.S. Midwest and beyond.

Established in 1990 as a Cessna Citation Service Center, the Milwaukee facility has evolved into a full-service operation supporting nearly all Textron Aviation aircraft models. The center’s 42,000-sq-ft hangar can accommodate up to 24 aircraft, and its team of technicians provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, airframe inspections, avionics upgrades, engine overhauls, and pre-purchase evaluations.

In addition, the Milwaukee team operates two mobile service units and a go team to deliver on-site support wherever customers need assistance. Two employees have worked at the facility since it opened, contributing to the center’s continuity and expertise.

“Marking 35 years in Milwaukee is a proud milestone for our team and is a reflection of the trust our customers place in us,” said facility general manager Steve Kruk. “Throughout the decades, our employees have built lasting relationships that go far beyond aircraft maintenance. These bonds are the reason customers continue to return—and they’re what inspire our team to show up every day with pride, purpose, and a commitment to excellence.”

Textron Aviation’s global network includes 20 company-owned service centers, more than 300 authorized facilities, and about 50 mobile service units.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), stressing that it does not condone federal employees participating in a coordinated activity that could harm capacity in the National Airspace System, has urged members to “avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our professions.”

This comes amid reports of temporary tower closure and delays that occurred at multiple U.S. airports—including those in Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, and Burbank—due to staffing issues caused by sick callouts. Air traffic controllers are exempt from furlough during the government shutdown, but are expected to work without pay. In 2019, controller “sickouts” were partially credited to the ending of a 35-day shutdown.

NATCA has urged lawmakers to avoid a shutdown and is now appealing for the reopening of the government. NATCA president Nick Daniels stressed this during a press conference with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this week: “We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the FAA and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction aside and focus completely on their vital work.”

However, NATCA also posted a message on its webpage that it “does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent.”

The Global Aircraft Dealers Association (GLADA) this week unveiled its broker training program, which will go live on October 20. Geared for aircraft sales brokers of all experience levels, the program is “designed to elevate standards of professionalism, knowledge, and ethical conduct across the aircraft sales industry,” according to GLADA.

While it plans to expand the training program’s curriculum, the first phase will cover best practices and ethics; letters of intent and aircraft purchase agreements; pre-purchase inspections; import/export procedures; escrow processes; and closing the transaction. Each phase can be used for training and as a reference guide, and training and testing is available on the GLADA member portal. The education committee will expand the curriculum as regulations and market conditions change and to reflect emerging best practices.

After joining GLADA, new broker members will need to complete the training and pass the exam within one year to earn a GLADA certificate of accreditation. The association encourages existing members to obtain the accreditation voluntarily.

“This training initiative is a significant step toward strengthening professionalism and consistency across our industry,” said Mike McCracken, chair of GLADA’s education committee. “We are confident it will be a valuable tool for new entrants and seasoned brokers alike. The mission of the education committee is to provide accessible, relevant, and forward-thinking resources to help brokers maintain excellence.”

MRO services provider Duncan Aviation’s facility at Battle Creek, Michigan, has been approved as an FAA knowledge testing center for aircraft technician and pilot students. Located within the company’s Technical Education Center, it is the only Duncan location to receive this designation.

The site can now serve students from nearby airframe and powerplant schools, providing greater access to written exams required for certifications and career advancement, in addition to eliminating the travel time for Duncan’s own staff to reach the nearest testing facility.

FAA testing centers provide a standardized environment for the administration of Airman Knowledge Tests (AKT), computerized exams that are required for a wide range of aviation certifications. The Duncan center will offer AKTs for pilots, mechanics, and aviation professionals, with FAA-approved testing materials and supplement books, and provide a secure location for exam integrity.

More than 300 employees and guests celebrated the opening of Liebherr-Aerospace Saline’s new building at the company’s campus in Saline, Michigan, earlier this month. The 33,000-sq-ft facility adds to Liebherr-Aerospace’s OEM equipment testing and MRO services, including work on landing gear and pneumatic components.

Heat-transfer components manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace are installed in commercial airplanes, helicopters, and business jets, including those manufactured by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, and Mitsubishi.

“The positive and overwhelming acceptance by our customers has allowed us to expand our offerings worldwide, thus validating our strategy to be close to our customers,” said Liebherr-Aerospace Transportation chief customer officer Alex Vlielander. “Furthermore, by expanding the network we are shortening the overall turn around time by eliminating transportation time, cutting down on cost and lowering our carbon footprint.”

“It is also important that we recognize the sustainable contributions of our employees. This milestone is proof of their daily contribution to our success,” added Will Dew, managing director commercial at Liebherr-Aerospace Saline. “Thanks to their tireless commitment and the new local conditions that the new building provides us with, we can respond even more quickly to the growing demand from our customers and strengthen our long-term competitiveness.”

Florida has begun enforcing a new state law prohibiting weather modification and geoengineering activities within state lines, directing all 125 public-use airports in the state to report aircraft equipped for such operations. Some Florida airports have posted such restrictions via FAA notices.

In a July 14 letter to airport operators, Attorney General James Uthmeier said Senate Bill 56, signed into law in June, bans “the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.” Violators face fines up to $100,000. Uthmeier told airports to comply with new reporting requirements to the Florida Department of Transportation starting last Wednesday.

FAA National Airspace System notices show that Palm Beach International (KPBI) and Daytona Beach International (KDAB) have both posted closures to aircraft “equipped with weather modification or geoengineering equipment.” Each requires prior permission for entry.

According to PolitiFact, companies that conduct weather modification activities must submit reports to NOAA, and none in Florida have been reported to the agency since this requirement was enacted in 1957.

International private flight provider Vista is preparing to expand operations in Asia next year, having recently announced plans to increase its presence in markets such as Japan. In March, the group was boosted by a $600 million investment by Asian private equity firm RRJ Capital.

Late last month, the group relaunched its VistaJet and XO programs in an event at Tokyo Haneda Airport (RJTT) with one of its Bombardier Global 7500s on display. According to Vista, it achieved growth in flight volumes of between 45% and 55% in the country during the first half of 2025, although it did not specify actual flight volumes operated in cities that also include Hokkaido, Naha, and Osaka.

According to Vista, private flight operators are increasingly responding to demand for so-called “bleisure travel” in which the lines between work and personal time are purposely blurred. Vista chief commercial officer Ian Moore said this is especially true among high-net-worth individuals.

In the the first half, Vista reported 22% growth in its program membership. It said Japan proved to be the fastest-growing territory with an increase of 50%. This year, Vista has also been pushing for growth in the Middle East region. In August, it announced that it had received approval from Saudi Arabia's aviation regulator to operate on-demand private flights on domestic routes.