ACJ Says Family Offices Drive Private Aviation Growth

Family offices are seeking private aviation travel options to support their increasingly global profile, according to new research commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets. According to the report, almost 70% of family offices surveyed have established operations in multiple jurisdictions.

Researchers questioned senior executives managing a combined $303 billion in assets, with 96% of respondents saying their use of private aircraft has increased over the past two years. Looking toward the next two years, 85% said they expect their use of private aircraft to increase by a further 50% to 100%.

Among the most commonly identified drivers of expanded business aircraft use is that family members the offices serve are living abroad full or part time. Of the family office executives interviewed, 89% reported saving between two and three hours per trip by using private aviation instead of scheduled airlines, with 92% saying this mode of transportation makes them at least 25% more productive.

According to Airbus Corporate Jets, which markets VIP versions of Airbus narrow- and widebody airliners, 43% of survey respondents said they expect to boost their use of large jets by between 50% and 70%. Some 55% said they plan to increase trips in midsize business jets, and 32% anticipate increased demand for light jets—all by similar margins.

Gulf Bizav Pushes Ahead after Iran War Disruption

When U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 set off retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and closed airspace throughout much of the region, aviation medical and security services provider MedAire evacuated its Dubai office. Seven months later, the company is not only back in the office but widening its regional footprint.

When MedAire evacuated its Dubai office, it shifted the operation as its specialists remained alongside clients. “Business aviation is essential to the Middle East’s connectivity, especially when routes, schedules, and assumptions are changing by the hour,” said Peter Tuggey, MedAire’s managing director of aviation for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

The company now ranks the region among its busiest. “The Middle East has become one of MedAire’s most active and important regions, and the needs of aviation clients here are growing in both scale and complexity,” said Reely Rajan, MedAire’s director for India, the Middle East, and Africa. “We have expanded our footprint beyond Dubai into Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and India so that more of our expertise sits closer to the people and operations it supports.”

Founded in 1985, MedAire connects cabin crews and business aviation teams with medical experts on the ground to help in emergencies. More than 6,800 business and private aircraft rely on its services to protect passengers and crew, MedAire said.

Wyvern Pushing Safety as Hot Topic during NBAA-BACE

Aviation audit and risk management firm Wyvern is highlighting the National Safety Forum as part of an array of activities it has planned to keep safety conversations at the forefront during NBAA-BACE 2026, which opens in Las Vegas in two weeks. Wyvern COO Andy Day, the incoming chair of the NBAA Safety Committee, is helping guide the association’s National Safety Forum activities threaded throughout the week. The forum will host a series of sessions focused on topics such as safety management systems, managing risk, fatigue management, and fitness to fly.

In one such session, Wyvern flight leader coach Todd Buczek is joining a panel to discuss returning an aircraft to service after maintenance work. This panel will delve into how flight departments know when an aircraft is ready to fly.

“Maintenance changes an aircraft’s condition, and gaps between the people who did the work and the people who will fly it can turn small oversights into real risk,” Wyvern warned. “Todd will share how clear handoffs, disciplined communication, and shared accountability close those gaps, along with steps attendees can put into practice as soon as they return to their operations.”

Beyond the National Safety Forum activities, Wyvern assistant v-p of operations Kris Stewart will demonstrate the company’s improved quality and safety management system platform, which helps operators manage risk and quality.

Charter Operators Grapple with Mexico’s FDR Requirements

Some air charter operators flying small and midsize business jets into Mexico have been unable to receive blanket approval for multiple landings because their aircraft are not equipped with flight data recorders (FDRs). The FAA doesn’t require FDRs in these aircraft, but they are required by Mexico’s federal civil aviation agency (AFAC) regulations.

Over the past two years, Mexico has been cracking down on enforcing requirements for air charter aircraft “with 10 or more passenger seats, or an mtow of 12,500 pounds or more to be equipped with an FDR” to obtain blanket approval. According to the manager of regulatory services for trip support at World Fuel, the crackdown has even been applied to some operators that lack the required FDRs but have an AFAC air operator certificate and blanket permit under grandfathered agreements.

World Fuel is working with a U.S. charter operator that has two Bombardier Challenger 350s and eight Learjet 60s. World Fuel told AIN, “AFAC will issue the blanket permit with the two Challengers but will not grant the Lear 60s the permit since the Learjets do not have (and are not [FAA] required to have) an FDR.”

Representatives from World Fuel and other industry partners have been reaching out to AFAC officials to attempt to alleviate the problem. Meanwhile, operators whose aircraft are adversely affected by this regulation can apply for an exception to the AFAC FDR requirement. However, the process is laborious, time-consuming, and “not very viable for operators,” according to World Fuel.

Sponsor Content: West Star Aviation

West Star Aviation Names Connor Mottice Regional Sales Manager for Ohio Valley Region

West Star Aviation is pleased to announce the appointment of Connor Mottice as Regional Sales Manager for the Ohio Valley region, serving customers across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Eastern Canada.

Ontic Opens Dedicated Tewkesbury UK MRO Facility

Aftermarket parts manufacturer Ontic has opened a dedicated MRO facility in Tewkesbury, UK, to support aircraft operators worldwide. Ontic specializes in manufacturing and repairing parts and components under license to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and it is the holder of proprietary data, tooling, and test equipment so it can perform repairs that meet OEM standards.

At the 72,000-sq-ft Tewkesbury facility, Ontic employs 200 engineers, technicians, customer service representatives, and supply-chain and logistics experts. The facility includes dedicated IT systems, pneumatic and hydraulic infrastructure, an avionics shop and clean room meeting ISO7 standards, nondestructive testing equipment and qualification, a machine shop, and a darkroom. The facility holds UK CAA and EASA Part 145 approvals, including FAA under CAA oversight, and BSI AS9100 quality system certification. China CAAC approval is expected in the fourth quarter this year.

“The opening of our Tewkesbury MRO facility marks a step-change in how we support our customers,” said COO Brian Sartain. “By consolidating all our UK aftermarket expertise in one dedicated site, we are investing in the people, capability, and infrastructure to consistently deliver a faster, more responsive, and more transparent service. Alongside our new Miramar facility in the U.S., this is a significant milestone in our commitment to keeping established fleets flying safely for decades to come.”

NBAA Drawing Students to BACE with Collegiate Connect

NBAA’s Collegiate Connect program is returning to NBAA-BACE as the association continues its drive to attract new talent into the business aviation workforce. To be held October 22, the final day of the 2026 NBAA annual convention and exhibition, Collegiate Connect will provide an opportunity for students to learn about different career paths in the industry and meet with industry professionals.

Free for college students, faculty, and chaperones, the event opens with a welcome from the NBAA leadership team and Xyla Foxlin, a mechatronics engineer, pilot, and content creator who founded the nonprofit Beauty and the Bolt and advocates for women in STEM.

A panel discussion will follow featuring recent graduates who will share how they prepared for the industry while in school. They will provide details on their coursework, clubs, internships, and extracurricular activities. The next panel, “Career Possibilities in Business Aviation: Beyond the Obvious,” will explore the various pathways into the industry. Participants include both new and experienced professionals from flight operations, maintenance, and business functions. Students will then take a networking tour that connects them with professionals in the career category of their choice: airport business, business management, broker/sales, flight/cabin attendant, innovation and technology, maintenance, marketing, pilot, and scheduler/dispatcher.

The day wraps up at the NBAA-BACE Career Zone, where students can connect with the NBAA team, speak with recruiters, and get headshot photos taken.

Charter and Go Touts ConnieAI, Pricing Tools

Aviation software provider Charter and Go will demonstrate ConnieAI, an artificial intelligence tool that helps automate quoting from incoming customer inquiries, later this month at NBAA-BACE 2026. At its show booth, the company will highlight a platform that connects sales, customer management, crew, scheduling, and dispatch workflows for Part 91 operators, Part 135 charter operators, Part 121 airlines, and charter brokers. The platform also supports loyalty and voucher programs, jet cards, and customer credits.

According to Charter and Go, ConnieAI is designed to gather missing trip information and accelerate the sales process. COO Pamela Huff said, “AI becomes significantly more valuable when it understands the business it is supporting.”

Planned demonstrations include aircraft recommendation models designed to help sales teams decide which opportunities to pursue first, based on how likely each is to convert; dynamic pricing and revenue management tools that bring operational and commercial considerations into pricing decisions; and multi-quote features that let teams put several aircraft or trip options into a single proposal.

“Operators and brokers today are being asked to do more with the same resources while customers expect faster responses, greater transparency, and a more personalized experience,” said Charter and Go co-founder and CEO Christian Huff.

The company is scheduling demonstrations during the show for organizations interested in discussing their technology environment, operational challenges, revenue management strategies, or automation opportunities.

Volare Aviation Refurbishment Transforms Challenger 604

A challenging matte paint finish was the final step in Volare Aviation’s refurbishment of a 2000 model Bombardier Challenger 604, capping a job that included an avionics upgrade and full cabin interior redo. Volare head of design Jake Ostridge led the team that designed and completed the business jet’s refurbishment.

“This aircraft looks completely different to everything out there,” he said. “Normally when you see a business jet, they are white with a colored stripe, which is great, but they all look the same to me. The matte green really stands out and looks more luxurious, especially in this satin finish. You walk up and you go, ‘Oh wow, this is different!’”

The 604’s owner was ready with a concept for the design, so the Volare team produced mood boards, color palettes, and material combinations to help narrow down the final configuration. In meeting the owner’s desires, Volare’s designers were able to make the 604’s cabin look more spacious and increase the passenger capacity. At the rear of the cabin, a four-place conference-seating configuration helps provide a more sociable environment.

In the flight deck, Volare technicians upgraded the 604 to the Collins Pro Line Fusion suite. A Starlink satcom system gives passengers access to high-speed connectivity in the cabin, while their audio experience is enhanced by a Bang & Olufsen system connected to four Beosound Emerge speakers and a dedicated subwoofer.

AVIATION SAFETY QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What happens to an aircraft’s true airspeed as altitude increases while indicated airspeed remains constant?

A. True airspeed decreases.
B. True airspeed remains the same.
C. True airspeed increases.
D. True airspeed becomes zero.

Take The Quiz

AIN Lunch: Matching Pax Wants to Connectivity Realities

An AIN-organized lunch on Wednesday, October 21, at NBAA-BACE will explore one of the most important questions facing business aviation today: do we really understand what principals expect from in-flight connectivity? Drawing on one of business aviation's most comprehensive connectivity surveys, and one of the first to compare perspectives from both industry professionals and aircraft principals, this session reveals where assumptions and reality diverge, and what that means for the future of connectivity in the air. Co-sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace and Viasat.

Lunch

RECENT ACCIDENT/INCIDENT REPORTS

October 4, 2026
Near Los Mesquites, Mexico

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Accident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: XB-BAR
MAKE/MODEL: Cessna Citation I/SP

October 4, 2026
Portland, Oregon United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Incident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: N82SB
MAKE/MODEL: Pilatus PC-12

October 3, 2026
Bedford, Massachusetts United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Incident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: N774DK
MAKE/MODEL: Pilatus PC-12

October 3, 2026
Off Nantucket, Massachusetts United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Accident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: C-GRJP
MAKE/MODEL: IAI Astra SPX

September 30, 2026
Avalon, California United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Accident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: N313RX
MAKE/MODEL: Airbus Helicopters EC135P2+

September 30, 2026
Marondera, Zimbabwe

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Fatal Accident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: Z-PED
MAKE/MODEL: Bell 430

September 30, 2026
Snyder, Texas United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Incident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: HI1127
MAKE/MODEL: Cessna Citation CJ3

September 29, 2026
Auburn, California United States

REPORT TYPE: Preliminary
INCIDENT TYPE: Incident
ACCIDENT REGISTRATION #: N816KD
MAKE/MODEL: Eclipse 500

AINalerts: October 2026

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