The Weekly of Business Aviation

The Weekly of Business Aviation polled leaders in the general and business aviation industry about what they think lies ahead in 2020 and the challenges they face. This is Part 2 of the two-part series.

Weeks into a rash of reported drone sightings in eastern Colorado and part of Nebraska, the FAA on Jan. 6 lacked an explanation for the reports or whether drones were actually involved.

Aerospace and defense Tier 1 giant Safran has sold off software and systems engineering unit Base2 Solutions.

Air-to-ground network developer SmartSky Networks said Jan. 6 that it has received $25 million in additional funding from investment manager BlackRock after deploying its ground system nationwide.

PrimeFlight Aviation Services, based in Sugar Land, Texas, has acquired Appearance Group.

Bombardier celebrated delivery of the first Global 6500 to HK Bellawings Jet Limited of Hong Kong.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) said it welcomes the Senate confirmations of Michael Graham and Thomas Chapman.

Industry Events Calendar

​​​​​​​A California-based startup developing autonomous electric crop-spraying aircraft has raised $11 million in seed funding.

​​​​​​​A California-based startup developing autonomous electric crop-spraying aircraft has raised $11 million in seed funding.

​​​​​​​Aerobond, a Springfield, Massachusetts, manufacturer of composite structures and assemblies for aerospace and defense OEMs and Tier 1s, has been acquired by WHI Global.

Interjet Airlines has introduced a travel membership program called Club2020.

Textron will not become a pure aerospace and defense (A&D) company in the near term.

Matthew De Foe has been promoted to manager of FlightSafety International’s Paris Le Bourget Learning Center.

Bombardier delivered a Learjet 75 light jet to Holand Automotive Group.

Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered its 600th Gulfstream G550

Embraer delivered the first Praetor 500 midsize business jet to its launch customer.

Cessna Citation Latitude

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVI airplanes.

Flirtey is preparing to begin routine food deliveries by drone within the largest industrial park in the U.S.

A new U.S. Army program will demo an intel-collecting system with three powerful sensing capabilities in one year and attempt to field the system on a new airborne surveillance fleet starting in five years.

French-based Latécoère will acquire Bombardier’s electrical wiring interconnection system assets.

After a 10-year notice, aircraft operators and owners begin 2020 with the FAA’s mandate for ADS-B equipage in effect.

Clemens Aviation, a family-owned charter, management and sales operation outside Wichita, is expanding into the Oklahoma business jet sales market.

The Weekly of Business Aviation polled leaders in the general and business aviation industry about their predictions for 2020.