FAA Approves STC for CitationJet Garmin Retrofit, U.S. GAO: National Airspace Comms Vulnerable to Spoofing, African Bizav Market Growth... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ | September 23, 2026 Wednesday FAA Approves STC for CitationJet Garmin Retrofit Garmin dealers, including Textron Aviation service centers, are now offering an integrated flight deck upgrade for the original Cessna CitationJet under an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) issued to Garmin. The STC applies to CitationJets serial numbers 525-0001 through -0359 and is similar to Garmin’s CJ1 and CJ2 upgrade. Featuring two G600 TXi touchscreen displays, the upgrade includes Garmin’s synthetic vision technology and HSI map on the primary flight display (PFD). One GI 275 standby flight instrument is included on the pilot’s side and a second is optional on the right side of the panel. Garmin added a new feature with this STC: pilot-side PFD and GI 275 availability when the aircraft’s emergency electrical bus is being used. The original engine instruments are replaced with Garmin’s TXi engine indication system (EIS), which includes EIS-generated or user-selected N1 targets for takeoff, go-around, and max continuous thrust settings. The system automatically computes N1 reference bugs, “which take into account engine and anti-ice status, as well as outside air temperature,” according to Garmin. CitationJet-specific situational awareness features include stabilized approach monitoring—with aural annunciations for speed, course, glidepath, and sink rate—and aural V-speed alerting during takeoff. With this upgrade, pilots can use FAA Data Comm, enabling pre-departure clearances—as well as en-route clearances, frequency changes, and other instructions—via text-based messaging. Read more U.S. GAO: National Airspace Comms Vulnerable to Spoofing The FAA lacks real-time tools to detect and combat spectrum-based cyberattacks—including spectrum interference, spoofing, and jamming—against aircraft communications in the National Airspace System (NAS), according to a new Government Accountability Office report. Without real-time tools, the FAA can investigate attacks only after they are reported, the GAO notes. Notably, the GAO found vulnerabilities in aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) and controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages, the text-based systems pilots, airlines, and air traffic controllers can use to exchange flight plans, clearances, and other operational information. Because the two systems generally lack encryption and authentication, the GAO said messages can be intercepted, spoofed, or blocked through denial-of-service attacks. “A malicious actor could transmit fraudulent clearance cancellations, possibly leading to flight delays or safety issues,” the report states. The GAO made nine recommendations to address vulnerabilities, including completing formal risk assessments for seven NAS systems; implementing continuous threat monitoring; and developing a plan to strengthen authentication and data protection of ACARS and CPDLC messages. The DOT concurred with all nine recommendations. “Without comprehensive risk and mitigation assessments, complete security documentation, and real-time monitoring capabilities, FAA may not have sufficient information to identify, prioritize, and respond to evolving spectrum-related threats,” the GAO said. Read more African Bizav Market Growth Lifts ExecuJet MRO Services Growth in business aircraft based in South Africa has validated ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa’s ongoing investment in its facility at Johannesburg Lanseria International Airport (FALA), the company said. Recent additions to the country’s aircraft registry include a Dassault Falcon 2000 and an Embraer Phenom 300. According to ExecuJet MRO Services regional senior v-p for Africa Vince Goncalves, limited airline service across the continent continues to drive business aviation expansion. Economic growth in some countries such as Nigeria and increasing personal wealth are other factors boosting demand. Over four decades, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider has expanded its portfolio to include factory-authorized support for business jets produced by its parent company, Dassault Aviation, as well as Embraer and Bombardier. It also provides support and parts for Textron Aviation aircraft, including Hawkers and King Airs, and also has some Gulfstream experience. Goncalves does not currently see a path for an MRO provider to expand with facilities in multiple African countries, since service growth remains highly localized. That said, the ExecuJet team at Lanseria is set up to respond to aircraft-on-ground situations, dispatching assistance to clients with aircraft grounded in other countries. ExecuJet MRO Services clients include the South African Air Force, which recently extended a contract to provide heavy maintenance and support for its government-transportation fleet of two Dassault Falcon 50s and a Falcon 900. Read more Tampa Airport Invests in Hurricane Flood-barrier Fencing No stranger to the calamitous effects of hurricane-related flooding, Florida’s Tampa International Airport (KTPA) is finalizing a nearly $2 million project to protect crucial electrical vault buildings from floodwater during major storms. The system erects a 9-foot-tall temporary perimeter fence that helps keep water out. Situated next to KTPA’s aircraft rescue and firefighting facility near the center of the field, the structures house the airfield’s lighting system. They are susceptible to water damage that could render the airport unavailable for nighttime disaster relief operations and result in costly repairs. The flood-protection system includes the AquaFence barrier, which consists of 150 separate panels made of steel, aluminum, and laminated plywood, with UV-resistant and waterproof plastic membranes and gaskets that seal water out; a foundation of anchors embedded in the concrete for installation of the fence in advance of severe weather; and electrical and drainage improvements. The AquaFence—which will stay in storage until needed—is intended to insulate against storm surge, but newly installed pumps will divert heavy rainfall out of the protected area. While this year’s hurricane season has broken an 85-year-old record for the longest span without a hurricane on the U.S. East Coast, KTPA said it’s only a matter of time before the new system will need to be used. Sponsor Content: DAS Aviation Inside a Gulfstream G5 Thrust Reverser Overhaul Take a closer look at what it takes to prepare a Gulfstream G5 thrust reverser for paint at DAS Aviation. Jacob Reeves, Nacelle Supervisor, walks through the overhaul process, from inspection and component replacement through the multiple stages of primer that create a paint-ready finish. Read more JetSmarter Investors Demand Records amid Vista IPO Report Five companies that trace their JetSmarter investments to its 2014 Round A financing have sued shareholder vehicle JSH Partners, seeking records tracing their original equity into JSH’s current Vista-related holdings. The verified complaint for inspection of books and records, filed September 10 in the Delaware Court of Chancery, comes as business aviation group Vista Global Holding is reportedly weighing a European initial public offering (IPO). Vista acquired JetSmarter in 2019. The complaint alleges JSH never responded to a July 10 demand for records it was obligated to answer by July 17 under Section 18-305 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. Plaintiffs KZ Capital General Trading, Septaria Family Trust, Septaria Ventures, Vorona Investments, and Darius K Consulting claim their historical JetSmarter positions total at least $25.75 million. The demand was served on JSH’s manager, Blue Maverick Holdings. “The records are the beginning, not the end,” said Dmitry Romantsov, who represents the plaintiff entities. “We need to understand who had the authority to make these decisions, how our interests were calculated, what happened to the securities we originally purchased, and whether the rights of the original investors were respected along the way.” Vista has not yet responded to AIN’s request for comment, and attempts to reach anyone at JSH and Blue Maverick were unsuccessful. Read more Duffy: U.S. Needs Another $30B To Fund ATC, Airports The Trump administration is upping its National Airspace System modernization funding request, seeking a further $30 billion to boost airport infrastructure in addition to improving the air traffic control (ATC) system, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Aero Club of Washington members yesterday. Originally, the administration requested about $30 billion and initially received $12.5 billion of that from Congress last year. Duffy and FAA officials have called the $12.5 billion a “down payment” to rapidly implement a “brand-new air traffic control system,” using this funding to upgrade communications and replace radios, radars, and other infrastructure. However, Duffy said officials are seeking $30 billion more on top of the $12.5 billion—pushing the total to $42.5 billion. About $10 billion of this additional funding would “defend the architecture of our telecom” and pay for a common automation platform. Another $10 billion would go to beautify airport terminals, and the remaining third would be to upgrade air traffic control towers. “If we don’t do it now, when are we going to do it?” he said. “This is a moment in time where we can truly completely revolutionize the systems that we use, the efficiency that we drive, in the NAS.” Duffy’s funding request immediately drew industry support. The Modern Skies Coalition, a spectrum of ATC stakeholders, issued a statement encouraging congressional action on the request. Read more APS Unveils Pilatus Aircraft Family Upset Recovery Course Arizona-based advanced flight training provider Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) has introduced an upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) curriculum focused on operators of the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24. Given PC-12 turboprop single and PC-24 light twinjet capabilities, pilots routinely operate these aircraft across a broad range of missions and conditions. APS’ Pilatus Family UPRT Program—building on the company’s decade-plus of supporting the Pilatus pilot community, including partnership with the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association—will provide pilots of those aircraft with a training solution designed to prepare them to recognize, prevent, and recover from unexpected airplane upsets before they escalate into loss of control in-flight, one of the leading causes of aviation fatalities. According to APS, the course combines academics, all-attitude on-aircraft training, advanced simulation, and type-specific virtual reality to develop transferable upset prevention and recovery skills tailored to the operating environments and missions of PC-12 and PC-24 pilots. “Pilatus aircraft give pilots tremendous capability and operational flexibility, requiring training that reflects the way these aircraft are actually flown,” said APS CEO Paul Ransbury. “Our Pilatus program prepares pilots for the unexpected, building the skills and resilience to prevent an airplane upset from becoming a catastrophic loss of control.” Central Flying Invites Customers To View Mx Status Little Rock, Arkansas-based Central Flying Service has added MX Tailwinds, a maintenance visibility platform, to its redesigned website, allowing customers to access information on maintenance requirements along with the team that maintains their aircraft. MX Tailwinds integrates with Central Flying’s Corridor maintenance management software and other company software platforms such as Sage and Microsoft Teams. According to Central Flying, MX Tailwinds provides “a single, continuously updated picture” of the aircraft’s status— including due items, estimated costs, and what maintenance is coming—“before it disrupts a planned trip.” MX Tailwinds is accessible via the web, a mobile app, scheduled reports, or text updates. Central Flying’s maintenance analysts monitor aircraft activity and upcoming requirements in MX Tailwinds and can contact customers when a decision about a maintenance action is needed. “An owner, a pilot, and a manager can look at the same airplane and need three different answers,” said Central Flying president and CEO Phil Jordan. “Because MX Tailwinds runs on the same data our technicians use, each of them gets their answer, and it’s always current.” According to Central Flying Service, these answers serve aircraft owners to help them track costs and timing of maintenance events; operators who are planning trips when the aircraft is available; pilots who need to review the tech log before a flight; and directors of maintenance who coordinate the work. Read more RECENT AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES AD NUMBER: FAA 2026-18-10 MFTR: Bell MODEL(S): Bell 505 Requires verifying the tail cone assembly part number and, if necessary, replacing the incorrect tail cone assembly identification plate with a new identification plate containing the correct part number, as well as updating the maintenance logbook or equivalent record. Prompted by reports that the identification plate affixed to certain tail cone assemblies contains an incorrect part number that may not accurately convey the life limit. PUBLISHED: September 17, 2026 EFFECTIVE: October 22, 2026 AD NUMBER: EASA 2026-0184 MFTR: Airbus Helicopters MODEL(S): H160B Supersedes but retains the requirements of EASA AD 2026-0104, which introduced a pilot limitation requiring hands-on flying when using the assisted takeoff mode in one-engine-inoperative conditions after the takeoff decision point. Updated AD requires a Helionix software modification that includes a new aircraft management computer partition. Prompted by a reported occurrence of unintended loss of altitude during Helionix software development flight tests with an engineering software version aimed at improving the Category A procedure. During a takeoff with the automatic flight control system in assisted takeoff mode and simulating an engine failure, the crew observed that the aircraft’s behavior during continued takeoff was not consistent with that seen with the certified Helionix v9.1 software and could potentially lead to loss of control. PUBLISHED: September 22, 2026 EFFECTIVE: October 6, 2026 AD NUMBER: EASA 2026-0179 MFTR: Airbus Helicopters MODEL(S): EC175B Requires replacement of the tail rotor blades before reaching a new reduced service life limit of 9 000 flight hours, instead of the initially certified 10 000 flight hours. Prompted by a new assessment of the flight loads, based on the analyses of recent flight test results, requiring amending the blade fatigue life. Exceedance of the lower service life limit may lead to the rupture of one or more of the tail rotor blades, which could result in loss of control. PUBLISHED: September 18, 2026 EFFECTIVE: October 2, 2026 AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity, and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter. View email in browser. Advertise Manage subscription preferences Add as a preferred source AINalerts is a publication of AIN Media Group, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. | | --- |