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Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Laredo, Texas:
NetJets Citation crashes in Laredo
A Cessna Citation Latitude business jet owned by NetJets crashed on (highway) Loop 20 in Laredo while approaching Laredo International Airport on Tuesday (16th June), killing one person and injuring several others.
The aircraft was heading to Austin from San José del Cabo, Mexico, when it diverted toward Laredo.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend rapidly before bursting into flames on impact. Emergency crews and local residents helped rescue survivors from the wreckage. A vehicle on the highway was also struck by debris, causing additional injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun investigating the accident. Officials believe a mechanical problem may have contributed to the crash, but the exact cause remains unknown.
NetJets confirmed the crash involved one of its aircraft and stated it is cooperating with authorities.
Montreal:
Bombardier has announced the delivery of the first Global 8000 aircraft in Africa to BUA Group, a Nigerian-based multinational company with interests across cement, food, oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, ports and terminals, and real estate.
The aircraft will support BUA Group’s long-range travel requirements, enabling seamless non-stop connections from Lagos to key business destinations around the world, including Los Angeles, Perth, and Tokyo.
“The Global 8000 offers the range, speed, comfort, and reliability required to support our international business activities,” said Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group.
“For a group with international operations and commitments, the ability to reach more destinations non-stop while maintaining comfort and productivity on board is an important advantage.”
“The delivery of Africa’s first Global 8000 to BUA Group is a significant milestone for both organizations and a proud moment in the strong relationship we have built over the years,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier.
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Broomfield, Colorado:
Gogo's Galileo high performance connectivity system can now be installed on the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X.
Dassault Falcon Jet (DFJ) MRO has received Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) from both the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the Gogo Galileo HDX antenna.
“Connectivity has become a core element of the Falcon customer experience, particularly on long range missions flown by the Falcon 7X and 8X,” says Frederic Cadiou, Sales Support Director, Dassault MRO.
“The approval of Gogo Galileo on these aircraft provides our operators with a high performance, reliable additional solution that meets rising expectations for global coverage and speed, while aligning well with the Falcon platform’s efficiency and design philosophy.”
The Gogo Galileo system, powered by the Eutelsat OneWeb enterprise-grade low earth orbit (LEO) network, offers passengers and crew high-performance and reliable connectivity wherever they fly in the world.
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Fort Worth, Texas:
Otto Aerospace has announced a major regulatory milestone for its flagship Phantom 3500 program: closure of the G-1 Issue Paper, which establishes the aircraft's Certification Basis with the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR Part 23.
Finalization of the G-1 Issue Paper marks a major step in the Phantom 3500 program by clearly establishing the regulatory framework for type certification.
Otto became an FAA applicant for type certification in September 2025, strategically electing to use Part 23 to take advantage of the certification efficiencies introduced under Amendment 23-64. Closure of the G-1 reflects that strategy now in execution.
In parallel, Otto is actively engaged with the FAA East Certification Branch to close the G-2 Issue Paper defining the means of compliance for the Phantom 3500 certification program.
"This is a huge moment for the entire Otto Team and a really exciting milestone for the Phantom 3500," said Scott Drennan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otto Aerospace.
"Now that the certification basis is in place, the program moves into a higher gear on execution. We have alignment with the FAA on what we need to demonstrate, and that gives us real momentum as we move toward first flight and entry into service."
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Fort Worth, Texas:
Modern Aviation breaks ground on hangar complex at Meacham International Airport
Modern Aviation celebrated the groundbreaking of a new hangar complex at its Fort Worth (FTW) location at Meacham International Airport on June 3th, marking a significant investment in the market and reinforcing its commitment to supporting continued growth within the aviation community.
The development project will consist of two hangars on parcel 14C, totaling approximately 87,150 square feet of combined hangar and office space. The complex will include two 39,200-square-foot hangars, each paired with a 4,375-square-foot attached office.
Both hangars are designed to accommodate the largest business jets available today while enhancing operational efficiency and customer service offerings at the airport. The project is currently targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2027.
This expansion represents a major step forward in Modern Aviation’s continued investment in Fort Worth and underscores the company’s long-term commitment to Meacham International Airport. The new facilities are expected to support increased demand in the region while providing modern, high-quality infrastructure for tenants and customers.
WYVERN
Devon Mitchell
Aviation safety risk management and training solutions provider, WYVERN, has announced the appointment of Devon Mitchell as its new Vice President of Quality.
In this executive role, Mitchell will oversee renewal certifications for ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 while ensuring customer satisfaction for all of WYVERN's products and services.
Mitchell brings over three decades of robust, multi-sector experience spanning healthcare, defense, automotive, and the military. He has a proven track record as a strategic leader recognized for fostering strong stakeholder partnerships, delivering measurable performance enhancements, and maintaining rigid quality standards in high-stakes environments.
Prior to joining WYVERN, Mitchell served as an IT Vendor Manager and Global Sourcing Consultant at Humana Inc., where he managed massive vendor portfolios and spearheaded enterprise sourcing strategies.
His extensive career also includes significant leadership roles at Montaplast of North America and Raytheon Technologies. Notably, his early career features quality control and project management experience with global leaders such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Merck, alongside distinguished service in the United States Air Force.
He holds a Master of Science in Conflict Management from Sullivan University (Summa Cum Laude, 4.0 GPA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University.
Aero Asset
Céline Marchal
Aero Asset has announced the appointment of Céline Marchal as Vice President of Sales APAC. Based in Singapore, Marchal will lead Aero Asset’s regional growth across the Asia-Pacific market.
Marchal brings 25 years of helicopter industry experience, combining extensive international leadership expertise with deep industry knowledge and a strong understanding of operators, OEMs, and financial stakeholders active across the region.
In her role as Vice President of Sales, she will support the development of Aero Asset's operations across the Asia-Pacific market, overseeing business development, aircraft sales, acquisitions and advisory.
Emmanuel Dupuy, Aero Asset co-founder, said, “Markets across the region are evolving with operators, financiers, and industry stakeholders seeking greater transparency, deeper market intelligence, and a more institutional approach to asset strategy and aircraft transactions. The appointment reflects the company’s commitment to supporting this maturity through the promotion of its highly sophisticated, data-driven aircraft brokerage and advisory services."
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WINGX Global Market Tracker:
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In Week 24 (8th-14th June) global business jet activity rose 8% compared to the previous week (Week 23), rising 2% compared to Week 24 last year.
In the last four weeks, bizjet activity has trended only 1% ahead of comparable last year. Year to date (1st January-14th June), bizjet activity is 4% ahead of last year in terms of both departures and flight hours.
The latest upwards blip may be related to the SpaceX IPO on June 12th, which reportedly created 400 new centimillionaires. Week 24 also marks the first week of the FIFA World Cup tournament.
full report
London:
Air bp is celebrating 100 years serving the global aviation industry.
Since its creation in 1926, when aircraft were still made of wood and canvas, Air bp has remained central to the industry's most important milestones.
1980s: Air bp Germany- A NASA Boeing 747 carrying the prototype space shuttle Enterprise is fuelled by Air bp.
The scale of change is significant - from 2,582 gallons supplied in its second year of operations to the approximately 6.6 billion gallons used annually today. Air bp is now present at 600 airports across 40 countries.
From pioneering mobile refuelling units to the first commercial test flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Air bp’s history tracks the remarkable trajectory of flight.
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Kigali, Rwanda:
The African Business Aviation Association, AfBAA, has announced the launch of a landmark research project that aims to advance the understanding, perception, and knowledge of the sector across the African continent.
The first phase of the multi-phase initiative has already begun, with the initial results anticipated to be presented at the Aviation Africa event in Nairobi, Kenya, on 9-10 September 2026.
The research, conducted by independent behavioral economics and strategic marketing research consultancy Seefeld Group, is designed to deliver the most comprehensive, data-driven view of business aviation across the continent to date.
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Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany:
Following the successful first flight and Roll-Out of the demonstrator aircraft of the Do228 NXT series, German aircraft manufacturer General Atomics AeroTec Systems has announced the sale of the first Do228 NXT to its launch customer, an NGO engaged in humanitarian operations. The NGO prefers to remain anonymous due to operational reasons.
The agreement marks an important milestone for the Do228 NXT program and reflects confidence in the aircraft’s versatility, operational flexibility and suitability for demanding environments.
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The most successful interior projects do not begin with materials. They begin with listening. In business aviation, our customers - MROs, completion centres, refurbishment houses and designers - expect extraordinary results, as their customers expect extraordinary as well.
They all expect flawless craftsmanship, impeccable quality, on-time delivery and absolute reliability. But increasingly, our customers expect something else as well: a partner who truly understands what they are trying to achieve.
At F/LIST, we have learned that creating remarkable interiors is rarely about conceiving products. It is about understanding people.
Behind every completion or refurbishment is a vision. Sometimes it is clearly defined. Sometimes it exists only as a feeling, an inspiration or a fleeting idea that is difficult to put into words. Our role is to help bring clarity to that vision and transform it into something tangible - to make what was deemed impossible a reality.
That process begins with trust.
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Napa, California:
Atlantic Aviation has announced the completion of its new state-of-the-art FBO executive terminal and hangar facility at Napa County Airport and commemorated the milestone with a grand opening celebration on June 4th.
The newly completed development transforms Atlantic’s presence at the airport and includes a 9,500-square-foot executive terminal facility, a 39,000-square-foot hangar, and an additional 3,100 square feet of shop and office space.
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Manassas, Virginia:
Concept pairs a double-bubble lifting fuselage and electric tail fans to explore competitive gains for aircraft with 100+ passengers.
Electra has unveiled a new conceptual aircraft design for next-generation airliners developed as part of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 program.
The study explores how targeted electrification, advanced aerodynamics, and integrated airframe-propulsion design can transform the efficiency and competitiveness of aircraft with 100+ passengers by mid-century.
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Berlin, Germany:
Aero-Dienst GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC SE), is adding a second Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft to its fleet.
The aircraft will be configured for dedicated Aero-Dienst medevac operations and will support ADAC’s global patient repatriation and air ambulance services.
This latest addition builds on the strong partnership between Bombardier Defense and Aero-Dienst/ADAC, further strengthening their shared commitment to delivering world-class medical transport solutions.
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Prague, Czechia:
Textron celebrates 15 years in Prague
Textron Aviation is celebrating 15 years of supporting customers at its Prague Service Center, a key location within the company’s global service network.
Located at Prague International Airport, the service center was established to meet the evolving needs of operators across Europe, where approximately 1,700 turbine aircraft are supported within the region. With company-owned service centers in Prague, Zurich, Paris, Valencia and Düsseldorf, the network provides factory-direct support close to where customers operate.
The Center spans approximately 6,100 square feet and provides scheduled maintenance, interior upgrades and select modifications, helping customers maintain performance and reliability throughout the lifecycle of their aircraft. With a team of certified technicians, the facility delivers responsive, factory-direct support tailored to operators across the region.
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London:
Flexjet has announced the acquisition of London-based aircraft brokerage and advisory firm, The Jet Business.
The deal extends Flexjet’s capabilities in whole private aircraft sales, procurement and advisory services and brings together its existing FXSolutions brokerage entity and The Jet Business under a single global platform.
The business will continue to operate under The Jet Business brand while benefiting from the expanded resources, infrastructure and global reach of the Flexjet ecosystem.
Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci (left) with Steve Varsano.
The Jet Business’ London-based team adds to Flexjet’s growing European footprint, including its sales centre in London’s Mayfair as well as its Tactical Control Centre at Farnborough Airport - where a new Flexjet private terminal will open later this summer, the first of its kind in Europe and the company’s largest infrastructure project outside of the US.
The transaction supports Flexjet’s accelerating international expansion strategy which, alongside its 340+ global fleet of ultramodern private aircraft, includes continued investment in infrastructure, training, private terminals, maintenance capabilities and customer experience initiatives across North America, Europe and beyond.
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Donauwörth, Germany:
Avincis, Europe’s largest emergency aerial services operator, and Airbus Helicopters have signed a contract for up to 15 H145 helicopters.
The new aircraft will be deployed across Avincis’ extensive network, strengthening its operational presence in the Nordics, Italy, and Spain for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services and other mission segments like offshore transportation.
“The H145 is the ideal platform for our mission-critical operations, providing the reliability and performance required to save lives and protect communities in the most challenging environments," said John Boag, CEO of Avincis Group.
"By expanding our fleet with up to 15 additional H145s, we are ensuring that our crews have the very best technology at their disposal to continue delivering world-class aerial emergency services and specialized offshore transportation across our European territories. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Airbus as we modernise our fleet for the future.”
Avincis is one of the world’s leading Aerial Emergency Services operators, providing critical aviation services to the civil sector to save lives, safeguard communities and protect the environment.
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Brussels:
ExecuJet MRO Services Europe has completed a major project on a Dassault Falcon 7X that included installing a Starlink system and antennae, performing an avionics upgrade, an engine change, exterior repainting and a cabin refurbishment.
The customer chose ExecuJet’s Kortrijk facility in Belgium, because it was the first company in the world to install the Starlink satcom system on a Falcon 8X, says ExecuJet MRO Services’ regional VP for Europe, Matthijs Hutsebaut.
“It was a new customer for us, but they were confident in our abilities because of our reputation of installing Starlink efficiently, and because we’re a one-stop-shop that can make the most of the downtime to complete a significant amount of additional work,” he says.
ExecuJet upgraded the 7X’s avionics system from EASy II to EASy IV. “This is arguably the most challenging upgrade because of the amount of new wiring needed to be installed due to the complexity of EASy IV over the EASy II,” says ExecuJet Europe’s lead engineer, Bram Depuydt.
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Hong Kong:
Metrojet welcomes first Global 8000 to managed fleet
Metrojet Limited has announced the arrival of Asia’s first Bombardier Global 8000 aircraft into its managed fleet.
Distinguished by its cutting-edge performance and unparalleled cabin experience, the aircraft represents a new era of long-range private travel and not only signals a broadening of the Company’s expertise but also underscores Metrojet’s versatility in managing aircraft from the world’s leading manufacturers.
“This milestone is a defining moment for Metrojet,” said Mr Dave Yip, CEO of Metrojet.
“The arrival of the Global 8000 demonstrates our ability to deliver world-class management solutions for the most sophisticated aircraft in the industry.
"We are already seeing growing interest from other Bombardier owners, and with our established Bombardier maintenance capabilities, we are confident in providing them with the same excellence and assurance that has long defined Metrojet.”
Singapore:
Bombardier has announced plans to expand its Singapore Service Centre at JTC’s Seletar Aerospace Park with the addition of a newly built nearby facility of approximately 250,000 square feet (~ 23,000 m2).
Complementing the company’s existing Service Centre, the new facility represents a total planned investment of approximately $100m SGD by a local developer. This facility reinforces Bombardier’s strategy to expand its services footprint while enhancing customers’ access to exceptional service and support across Asia-Pacific (APAC).
Construction at the site is planned to begin in the second half of 2026, with the start of operations at the new facility anticipated for H2 2028. Once operational, the facility is expected to offer a broad range of services, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modifications, avionics installations, and 24/7 aircraft-on-ground (AOG) support.
The facility is also intended to support aircraft recompletion activities, including paint and interior finishing.
It will also feature a Component Repair and Overhaul (CR&O) workshop, further enhancing Bombardier’s CR&O capabilities in APAC and reinforcing its commitment to offering full-service solutions and industry-leading turnaround times.
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Friedrichshafen:
AERO 2027 aims to build on the great success of AERO 2026 with an enhanced programme for business aviation, organisers Fairnamic have confirmed.
For the second year running, AERO was Europe’s largest trade show for business aviation. Some 50 business jets and turboprops showcased, with 400-plus international exhibitors participating from the sector, versus its 2025 edition. The number of Show visitors swelled to 37,000.
In addition to debutantes and numerous new innovations, aircraft orders announced on-site totalled an estimated US$500m.
The latest, Platoon Aviation’s order for up to 16 Cessna Longitudes, was concluded at AERO, pending legal formalities, which followed just weeks later.
Tobias Bretzel, Show Director of AERO at Fairnamic GmbH, said: “We’re delighted with the positive response and pro-active feedback from customers, who helped shape the trade show with us. Further developing AERO generally and the AERO Business Aviation Show Hub, in collaboration with our industry partners, is our top priority.“
Two and a half day business aviation show
Reflecting exhibitor and visitor feedback, the Business Aviation Show Hub; dedicated bizav Hall A1 and the Dome will run over two and a half days, during April 14-16, 2027.
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GA-ATS unveils the Do228 NXT to the World
Vertical Aerospace full-scale prototype completes first piloted flight
Airbus secures H160 and H145 helicopter order from Romania
Aston University secures £3.9m to boost aerospace engineering and cybersecurity skills
NBAA champions new FAA mental wellness policy supporting counseling
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Bombardier and ELIE SAAB have unveiled a bold new chapter in business aviation: a bespoke cabin design for the Global 8000 aircraft that redefines the onboard experience through the lens of haute couture.
This landmark, first-of-its-kind collaboration brings together Bombardier’s industry-leading engineering and performance with ELIE SAAB’s timeless design expertise, elevating the world’s fastest business jet’s cabin into a refined living environment where precision, comfort and timeless elegance converge.
The unveiling took place at Bombardier’s Aviator Lounge, the company’s curated, immersive flagship in Monaco during the Formula 1 Grand Prix, placing the project at the intersection of performance, design and refined living.
This collaboration reflects a natural alignment between two globally renowned brands, united by a shared commitment to serving a discerning global clientele with uncompromising standards of quality, precision, and sophistication.
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