Tariffs Force Pilatus Aircraft To Pause U.S. Deliveries

Pilatus Aircraft is temporarily pausing deliveries of PC-12 turboprop singles and PC-24 twinjets to the U.S., due to high tariffs—39%—recently imposed on Swiss imports to the U.S. According to Pilatus, “The new trade tariff imposed by the U.S. authorities puts Pilatus at a significant competitive disadvantage. In the short term, the tariff will lead to a temporary halt in PC-12 and PC-24 deliveries to the U.S. Existing relationships with our U.S. customers and provision of services will continue seamlessly and in full.”

According to Switzerland Global Enterprise, “With the amendment of the Executive Order on Reciprocal Customs Duties of July 31, 2025, the reciprocal customs duty for Swiss-origin goods for imports from Aug. 7, 2025, was increased to 39% (previously 31%). This duty is applied on top of the current Most Favoured Nation. In each case, the country of origin of the goods and not the country of departure is decisive.

“For goods with a U.S. component of at least 20%, the additional tariff is applied only to the value excluding the U.S. component,” it added.

Presumably, this would exempt some of the applicability of tariffs on PC-12s and PC-24s, which both have avionics made by U.S. manufacturers (Honeywell and Garmin) and, in the case of the PC-24, engines (Williams International), assuming those components comprise more than 20% of the value of each aircraft.

Bristow and Beta Testing e-Aircraft Routes in Norway

Helicopter operator Bristow Norway and Beta Technologies have started operational tests in Norway with the latter’s Alia CX300 electric airplane. Trials started on Friday and will last several months using a “test arena” approved by the country’s civil aviation authority and air traffic management agency Avinor.

The conventional takeoff and landing CX300 arrived in Stavanger, Norway, last week at the end of a 3,800-nm journey from Beta’s headquarters in Vermont. En route, the aircraft made stops in Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Denmark, as well as an appearance at the Paris Air Show in June.

For the test flights, Bristow pilots are evaluating possible commercial routes that could include a connection between Stavanger and Bergen. Between the energy industry hubs, the distance is just over 86 nm, but the drive time is almost five hours. Beta pilots are providing training for their counterparts via Bristow, a launch customer for the five-passenger CX300. It has also shown interest in Beta’s A250 eVTOL, which is expected to enter service about a year after the airplane version.

According to Bristow executive v-p and chief transformation officer Dave Stepanek, “The information we learn through the test arena program will provide valuable operational insights that could help operators, manufacturers, and regulators better understand how best to move forward towards commercial operations.”

LABACE Marks 20 Years with Strong Sales, Attendance

The 20th edition of LABACE drew 14,157 visitors to São Paulo Campo de Marte Airport last week, exceeding expectations for Latin America’s largest business aviation trade show. Organized by the Brazilian General Aviation Association (ABAG), the event featured 54 static-display aircraft and more than 150 exhibitors.

According to the association, Brazil remains one of the world’s largest business aviation markets, with diverse operations, a robust airport and air navigation network, and a skilled workforce supported by established training centers. However, ABAG cautioned that several factors threaten the sector’s competitiveness. It cited specific concerns, including the government general tax rates, a selective tax on imports of aircraft and parts, potential U.S. tariff impacts and reciprocal measures, ESG‑related operational limits, and shortages of specialized technical labor.

Crowds filled the LABACE exhibit halls and aircraft display, with exhibitors reporting brisk activity and high-quality traffic from business owners, operators, executives, and industry stakeholders. ABAG projects that preliminary deals exceeding $150 million in aircraft, equipment, and services will be finalized in the coming weeks, with an equivalent amount expected by year-end from show-driven business.

ABAG’s latest data point to a strong first half of 2025 for Brazil’s business aviation sector, with segment air traffic up 32% year over year, the highest volume since 2020. ABAG forecasts that the sector will reach one million flights in Brazil by year-end.

Barnes Aerospace Buys ATI’s East Hartford Operations

Barnes Aerospace is building a stronger presence in key aerospace and defense market segments with the acquisition of the East Hartford Operations (EHO) division of ATI Forged Products. EHO manufactures flight-safety-critical rotating hardware such as rotor hubs, rotorcraft components, and turbine engine discs.

Located near Barnes Aerospace’s East Granby, Connecticut facilities, EHO will complement its new owner’s turbine engine component supply and MRO operations for commercial and defense markets. This includes providing “high-value solutions to major OEMs, MROs, and airlines,” according to Barnes Aerospace. The EHO acquisition adds 80 skilled employees to the Barnes workforce.

“EHO represents a strong strategic and complementary fit that aligns closely with our growth priorities,” said George Whittier, CEO of Barnes Aerospace. “With the addition of EHO, we are well-positioned to strengthen our presence in critical aerospace product and market segments, broaden our reach into the defense market, and enhance our capabilities in rotorcraft components. EHO shares our core commitment to delivering exceptional service to our customers and brings long-standing relationships with industry leaders that will expand our customer base and deepen existing key partnerships.”

Whittier added, “This acquisition reinforces our commitment to making strategic investments in talent, capabilities, technologies, and systems that will allow us to better serve customer needs, maximize growth, and enhance our position as a leader in the rapidly evolving aerospace and defense supply chains.”

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Oklahoma Airport Debuts New FBO Terminal

Oklahoma’s Miami Regional Airport (KMIO) has inaugurated the new terminal for its municipally-operated FBO. The cost of the $3.28 million project, which began last year, was split roughly evenly between the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), the FAA, and the city of Miami.

It included a 4,000-sq-ft terminal with a passenger lobby, pilot lounge, showers, 16-seat conference room, landside porte-cochère, and outdoor observation patio. The new facility replaces the earlier 1970s-era terminal, which is attached to a 4,800-sq-ft hangar and will be repurposed as tenant offices.

“This new building is more than a showpiece; it is the new front door to Miami and the greater northeast Oklahoma region,” said ODAA director Grayson Ardies, adding that the facility is the result of community cooperation. “ODAA will continue to champion pro-growth aviation projects like this in Miami and at the other 107 airports around the state.”

NBAA Disputes NYT Video Calling for FAA Funding Changes

NBAA said a New York Times (NYT) editorial video that calls on Congress to change the FAA’s funding structure is misleading. Posted yesterday from the NYT editorial board, the video, “If You Fly Economy, You’re Paying for Someone Else to Fly Private,” notes that on the same route that passengers on a typical airliner would pay $2,300, private jet passengers would pay $60.

The editorial likened that to a parking garage where a driver of a typical car would pay $20, but only 25 cents for a luxury vehicle. It further noted that private jets cost the system $1 billion, account for 7% of the traffic, and only contribute 0.6% to the system.

Most of the major aviation organizations—including Airlines for America—have been pushing Congress for additional funding for the air traffic control system but also have been in rare agreement that they have no appetite for another major funding debate.

In response to the video, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen wrote NYT editors that the editorial “puts forward a false narrative about what general aviation, including business aviation, pays within our National Airspace System.”

Bolen points out that the system was built around airlines and the major cost driver of ATC is the airline hub-and-spoke system that concentrates traffic. “Contrary to the video’s unfounded allegation, the burden each aircraft places on the system varies greatly,” he maintained.

Go Rentals Names New COO and CFO for Expansion

Go Rentals, a car rental provider serving private aviation clients, appointed Shawn O’Brien COO and Martin Elliott CFO to support business expansion.

O’Brien joins Go Rentals after more than a decade at management consulting firm Bain & Company, where he advised organizations on strategic growth and operational improvements. He previously served as a strategic advisor to Go Rentals for two years, contributing to revenue management system development and the company’s partnership expansion with Signature Aviation.

As COO, O’Brien will oversee Go Rentals’ operational functions and revenue-generating activities while working with CEO Kaye Gitibin and co-founder Kavous Gitibin to execute strategy.

Elliott arrives from his position as CFO at global apparel brand Spanx, where he managed the company’s profitable growth initiatives. At Go Rentals, he will direct financial operations, drive cash flow expansion, and identify growth opportunities. “I was drawn to Go Rentals by the remarkable leadership team and the impressive growth trajectory of this extraordinary company,” Elliott said.

Embraer Adds Authorized Service Center in Chile

Embraer has named Aerocardal as an authorized service center in Chile. Based at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Aerocardal will provide line maintenance services for the Embraer Phenom 300, including unscheduled maintenance, AOG support, and drop-ins for customers operating in the country.

“Embraer continues to quickly accelerate the strategic positioning of its authorized service center network, and we are pleased to now partner with Aerocardal in Chile. They are based in a strategic hub and have provided excellent service to their customers over the last decades,” said Frank Stevens, v-p of MRO services for Embraer Services & Support. “We hope to have a successful partnership with Aerocardal and keep expanding Embraer’s capacity, capability, and MRO footprint in Latin America and worldwide.”

In addition to Latin America, Embraer recently doubled its executive jets MRO capacity in the U.S. with new maintenance lines in Dallas, Cleveland, and Sanford, Florida. The company has nine owned service centers dedicated to its executive jets.

AVIATION SAFETY QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is the runway visual range (RVR) tendency for the following METAR? LFBD 300930Z AUTO 36005KT 320V020 9999 1300 R23/1700D R05/P2300 R29/1300D RA FEW017/// BKN022/// BKN029/// //////TCU 22/18 Q1022 TEMPO 4000 SHRA BKN008 BKN015TCU?

A. The RVR is improving on the westerly runways.
B. The RVR is decreasing on Runways 23 and 29.
C. This information is only available in the TAF, which is not given.
D. The RVR is 015TCU, indicating the risk of convection activity.

Take The Quiz

CALS Europe 2025—Applications Now Open

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