Honeywell has named the first business aviation customer for its JetWave Wi-Fi connectivity system employing Jet ConneX, the Inmarsat Global Xpress–powered service. Honeywell has an MoU with Haitec Aircraft Maintenance to deliver the system for two ACJ319s operated by Tyrolean Jet Services, a Haitec customer. “Once it comes online in the first half of 2015, it will deliver passengers and operators fast, global inflight Wi-Fi across land and sea,” Honeywell says.

Pilatus Aircraft opened its order book here yesterday for the PC-24 utility jet, and by the end of the first day of EBACE had announced sales of 76. Every sale was proudly proclaimed on a scoreboard, and often named the customer as well. Launch customers included: Falcon Aviation Services, UAE: two PC-24s; Jetfly, Luxembourg: four aircraft; PlaneSense, USA: six PC-24s; Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Western Operations): three plus an option for a fourth; and U-Haul International, USA: two.

EBAA CEO Fabio Gamba is upbeat that this year’s EBACE is reflecting signs that the business aviation market in European may be stabilizing. “It’s been a tough period,” he says, but he told Tuesday’s opening ceremony that “indicators point to 2014 being a year of positive rebound.” EBAA, working with NBAA here, is “trying to be proactive” in anticipation of an improving market, with more educational sessions and announcements on access, infrastructure, runway use, flight and duty time and more.

Flying by the seat of your pants has a new meaning at Lufthansa Technik, which yesterday unveiled a new concept for the main passenger-cabin interface – the chair.

Why buy when you can lease? Why tie up $50 million in a jet – a depreciating asset – when you can lease the jet, dress it as your own, fly it as your own, yet not have it on your balance sheet? Those are the questions being asked here by Colin Steven, formerly of Embraer, who is launching Veling Tayara with partners including former Embraer Executive Jets president Ernie Edwards. “In today’s environment, there are smarter ways to invest your capital than in a depreciating asset,” the company says.

A futuristic interior for a VIP helicopter is being unveiled here this week by AgustaWestland. A mockup of the design for the AW169, by fashion studio Lanzavecchia+Wai, can be seen at EBACE. After working with the most famous and prestigious fashion houses, such as Versace and Lagerfeld, on the GrandNew and AW139 helicopters, AgustaWestland decided to do something different and avant garde for the AW169, which is to be certified this year.

Rolls-Royce’s CorporateCare engine maintenance program is growing by leaps and bounds and is making a real difference to aircraft resale values, says Stephen Friedrich, VP, Sales and Marketing, Civil Small and Medium Engines. “We now have 1,500-plus aircraft signed up, and more than 70% of all new Rolls-Royce deliveries are enrolled,” he says. “We’re no longer seeing market acceptance but market demand.” Indeed, the sign-up rate exceeds the number of new deliveries as used aircraft five, 10 or even 20 years old are enrolled.

“We wanted to match the values of AgustaWestland, and felt that helicopter interiors were not a mirror of their outsides,” says Francesca Lanzavecchia of design studio Lanzavecchia+Wai, whose unique Stream design concept for an AW169 passenger cabin is displayed in model form at the manufacturer’s Booth 6629.