Wheels Up, the membership-based private aviation company founded last summer, remains “slightly ahead of plans” with 150 members signing on in its first few months of operation and finishing the year with nine aircraft in service, says founder and CEO Kenny Dichter. “We’re just getting started,” says Dichter, who believes the company is on pace to top 250 members shortly. “We are already flying missions and are aggressively building our fleet.”

Gulfstream, in the midst of a long-term expansion plan that has almost doubled its employment in Georgia over the past seven years, is adding a 406,000-sq.-ft. Product Support Distribution Center near its Savannah headquarters. The facility, slated to open in 2015, is to house the company’s worldwide material distribution departments that are currently spread out over several warehouse buildings near Gulfstream’s main campus.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) latest round of general aviation safety alerts continues the concerted effort of the agency, along with FAA and industry stakeholders, to address a general aviation accident rate that has refused to decline in recent years.

U.S. business aircraft were involved in more accidents and more fatal accidents overall, even as the number of business jet accidents dropped in 2013, according to preliminary data released by safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. U.S. business jets and business turboprops combined for 49 accidents in 2013, up slightly from the 48 accidents in 2012. Fatal accidents more than doubled, from 11 in 2012 to 23 in 2013.

FAA was expected to file its response Jan. 10 to a lawsuit filed by the city of Santa Monica, Calif., seeking control over the destiny of Santa Monica Airport (SMO). If successful, the lawsuit could clear the city to close the general aviation airport in 2015.

Peter Fleiss, who has steered the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) for the past 14 years, is retiring effective Jan. 20. Former Flying Magazine Publisher Dick Koenig, who has served on the CAN board, will succeed Fleiss. Fleiss will take on the title of director emeritus and work with Koenig during the transition.

Boeing tight-lipped on composite site plans as razor-slim vote secures 777X work at Everett.

Engine makers look for new turboprop opening as India seeks regional aircraft proposals.