Embraer delivered the first Praetor 600E to launch customer Flexjet, the aircraft manufacturer said today. The super-midsize jet was part of a $7 billion order placed by Flexjet last year—the largest in the operator’s history.

The Praetor 600E, which received a trio of certifications in April, offers a suite of passenger experience enhancements. These include newly designed seating, an advanced cabin management system, and the Embraer-exclusive Smart Window, a 42-inch OLED touchscreen that enables videoconferencing, high-resolution video streaming, and real-time views from three externally mounted cameras.

Timing of this handover comes as a surprise because the airframer said in February, when announcing the Praetor family upgrade, that first deliveries would begin in early 2029.

“We are proud to deliver the inaugural Praetor 600E to Flexjet, a trusted strategic partner for more than 20 years and a company that shares Embraer’s commitment to efficiency, innovation, and exceptional customer experience,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano. “This milestone reflects the strength of our longstanding relationship, the winning combination of next-generation features onboard the Praetor 600E, and Flexjet’s continued confidence in Embraer’s ability to deliver industry-leading aircraft that meet the evolving needs of its bespoke customers.”

The smaller Praetor 500E—which received FAA, EASA, and ANAC certification in June—will make its debut with launch customer Flexjet by year-end, also years ahead of original plans.

Think about the person in your flight department who everyone turns to. They know the aircraft, the owner, and how the operation really works. They remember why certain decisions were made years ago and can tell when something just doesn’t feel right.

Now think about how much of that knowledge walks out the door when they retire. For many flight department leaders, there’s already a name on the team attached to that thought. Maybe more than one. We know who’s getting close, and lately, it seems like every scroll through LinkedIn brings another retirement announcement.

Business aviation is facing a wave of retirements over the next few years, and I keep thinking about how much we need to learn from these people before they go. The need to replace key people came into sharp focus recently when I moderated an AIN roundtable with flight department leaders. One aviation director said his company won’t let him start recruiting until a position is vacant, while another director takes a very different approach.

When someone’s nearing retirement, he will hire that person’s successor as much as 18 months in advance. They refer to it as a “bridge hire,” and the practice is deeply embedded in their culture.

As he explained it, the overlap is “a bridge one person walks another across, rather than a cliff the department jumps off the day someone leaves.”

Following news that NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen has been sidelined due to medical treatment ahead of NBAA-BACE next month, the organization’s board of directors has named senior v-p of communications Dan Hubbard as interim COO.

“We are wishing Ed a full recovery as he takes the time he needs to focus on his health,” said association chairman John Witzig. “Dan has a strong strategic view of NBAA’s mission and all its initiatives. As NBAA’s interim COO, he will oversee day-to-day operations during Ed’s absence, including at NBAA-BACE, with support from a leadership team with decades of experience and a proven track record of serving the business aviation community with excellence.”

A 22-year veteran of the organization, Hubbard was named senior v-p of communications in 2008. In addition to that role, he has been deeply involved with NBAA’s external affairs, partnerships, and advocacy initiatives in the U.S. and globally, including BACE conventions on four continents.

Hubbard noted that the association is well positioned to continue operating seamlessly and serving its members strategically and effectively. “I have every confidence in our ability to execute an outstanding NBAA-BACE next month, while continuing to advance the industry’s policy agenda and supporting the operational and other needs of our members.”

NBAA also promoted Heidi Williams from v-p of air traffic services and infrastructure to senior v-p of operations.

Universal Aviation is now offering hangar space at Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (MROC). GAT SJO, the consortium of Universal Aviation Costa Rica and local partners that manages the airport’s general aviation terminal (GAT), has won the use of the 10,000-sq-ft hangar, following a competitive process conducted by airport operator Aeris.

The addition gives Universal, which operates the GAT, the only hangar space on the field for general aviation use. It can accommodate aircraft up to super-midsize business jets for overnight or longer-term stays.

As one of the ground handlers at the San José facility, Universal Aviation Costa Rica provides IS-BAH Stage 2-registered ground support, including ground handling, customs and immigration coordination, flight planning, ground transportation, catering coordination, permit support, and other mission requirements.

“This is an important strategic addition for business aviation in Costa Rica,” said Universal CEO Adolfo Aragón. “Since opening Costa Rica’s first GAT in San José, we’ve continued working closely with Aeris, local authorities, and our partners to strengthen the infrastructure and support available to business aviation. Adding hangar capability is another step forward and means we can now offer operators something unique at MROC—access to both the country’s first and only GAT and hangar space at the same airport.”

As one of the industry’s leading avionics integration specialists, West Star Aviation is helping operators prepare for this next generation of connectivity by providing expert consultation, installation, and certification support for Honeywell SATCOM solutions.

The Canadian government has proposed expanding its 100% expensing to eligible business aircraft acquired on or after September 15. Prime Minister Mark Carney this week unveiled a “productivity mega deduction” measure that would increase the range of assets covered under Canada’s 100% depreciation provision that was included in Budget 2025.

Initially, the 100% depreciation effort covered about 15% of assets, but under the productivity mega deduction, that is expanding to about 65%, including aircraft, along with fiber-optic cable, mining property, oil and gas pipelines, software, research and development, and computer equipment, among others.

Under the productivity mega deduction measure, the aircraft must be ready to fly for the business. If it is still being completed/refurbished at year-end, the deduction will roll over to the year it is ready to use, according to the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA).

The depreciation measure also applies to preowned aircraft, subject to certain rules surrounding previous ownership of the buyer or a non-arm’s-length person.

“This is a significant advocacy win for CBAA and our members,” said CBAA president and CEO Harlan Simpkins. “We consistently strive for policies that drive investments and strengthen Canada’s competitiveness. Including aircraft in the productivity mega deduction is a solid initiative for business aviation opportunities.” He added that CBAA is continuing to monitor implementation of the measure, which must be legislatively approved.

MRO technology firm Alpha Wingman is bringing its own version of a “Shark Tank” type competition to NBAA-BACE 2026. PitchAv, held on October 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will provide a forum for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas before five judges. Potential presenters must provide their presentation deck in advance; applications for participation are due next Friday (September 25).

The judges are accomplished business executives: Stuart Illian, co-founder of Bluetail; Joe Hertzler, founder and former CEO of Avtrak; Brent Wiggins, AOG director of operations at Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems; Ryan Waguespack, owner of General Aviation Consultants; and Ben Walton, founder of Summit Aviation. They will question the business plans and provide suggestions. Announced shortly before the end of the session, the winner(s) will receive prizes that include professional mentorship, introductions to investor groups, and business services. 

The competition is the second that Alpha Wingman founders Andy and Lindsay Nixon have staged. They held their first in tandem with NBAA-BACE two years ago. It was so well received that NBAA officials and other industry executives asked them to stage it again, but this time at BACE itself. “We were excited that this idea is taking off with NBAA and BACE this year,” said Lindsay Nixon, Alpha Wingman’s director of strategy.

Gama Aviation is now providing handling and other FBO services at the RAF Northolt (EGWU) air base in London. The company announced today that it started operations on September 1, adding to its FBO network that also includes facilities at Glasgow, Scotland; Jersey in the Channel Islands; and Sharjah, UAE.

According to Gama, it will invest in improvements to the existing FBO, previously operated by Universal Aviation and known as the Northolt Jet Centre. These will include refurbishment of passenger lounges and dedicated crew areas.

RAF Northolt is open for aircraft arrivals and departures weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends. The airfield, which is 6 miles north of London Heathrow Airport (EGLL) and 15 miles west of the center of the UK capital, has a 5,552-foot runway with an instrument approach.

Gama, which is headquartered at Farnborough Airport (EGLF), is now completing the design for its planned new hangar and FBO at Jersey Airport (EGJJ), with these facilities expected to open in 2028. The company recently inaugurated its Gama Aviation Business Aviation Centre at Sharjah International Airport (OMSJ).

Incidents involving lithium batteries aboard airplanes have increased 15% in the last year, with power banks becoming the biggest source, according to David Wroth, v-p of standards, technology, and operations for the nonprofit safety organization UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE).

Wroth, who heads the organization’s Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP), provided an overview of the scope of the problem—and concrete steps that pilots could take—during the Air Line Pilots Association’s (ALPA) 70th Air Safety Forum in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

He noted that ULSE’s research has shown that the average passenger boards with four rechargeable devices. This means on a typical narrowbody flight, there could be 700 to 800 devices on board, while a widebody flight could carry 1,500. Recent analysis showed that power banks were the top cause of thermal runaway events in 2025 because nearly every passenger carries one and uses it in flight.

Having said this, Wroth noted that such incidents are rare given the volume of air traffic. But the number and rate of incidents continue to grow as more passengers bring more devices on board. As a result, the number of passenger aircraft thermal runaway events exceeded two per week in 2025 and continues to increase.

While most incidents are handled, Wroth warned that many cause operational issues and pilots “may be called upon to make the tough decision.”

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