Category: BizJet

FlightSafety International Appoints Eric Hinson as Chief Executive Officer

FlightSafety International announced the appointment of Eric Hinson as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Hinson will succeed former president Barbara Telek who recently announced her retirement.

Hinson’s appointment marks a return to FlightSafety. He served as an executive vice president from 2009 to 2012 before leaving to be the president and CEO of Simcom International, Inc.

Hinson started his aviation career as a naval aviator flying tactical aircraft in training, fleet, and operational test squadrons. Today, he is an active ATP-rated pilot with more than 5,000 total flight hours. He brings a unique operational perspective to the position—one that blends executive leadership with firsthand experience.

In addition to FlightSafety and Simcom, Hinson has served in a variety of senior leadership positions at leading aviation companies, including Honeywell, Gulfstream, and Piaggio Aerospace. He also served as a board member of the General Aviation Manufacturer Association (GAMA) from 2013 to 2024 and Chairman in 2023.

“I am thrilled to return to FlightSafety International at a transformative time for the business and the aviation industry,” said Hinson. “Together, we will continue driving innovation, enhancing operational excellence, and delivering world-class safety experiences for our customers.”

Hinson received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Anderson School at UCLA and a bachelor’s degree from Lewis and Clark College.

Rautenstrauch Named President and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.; Scholl to Assume New Role as Bell CCO

Textron announced that Jörg Rautenstrauch has been named president and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., effective January 4, 2026. Rautenstrauch will continue to serve in his role as president and CEO of Kautex and the Textron Industrial segment.

Rautenstrauch will succeed Rob Scholl, who has been named chief commercial officer of Bell to replace Danny Maldonado who, as previously announced, was appointed as Bell’s president and CEO, effective January 4, 2026.

Rautenstrauch joined Textron in 2011. He was named president and CEO of Kautex in 2016, and in 2020, was appointed president and CEO of the Textron Industrial segment.

“Jörg has been an outstanding leader for Kautex and possesses a deep understanding of our TSV business,” said Scott C. Donnelly, Textron chairman and CEO. “His leadership will allow us to effectively execute on our business plans and meet the demands of our customers.”

In joining Bell as chief commercial officer, Scholl brings more than 19 years of experience across Textron businesses. Since 2023, he has led Textron Specialized Vehicles and, prior to this role, built Textron eAviation as a business segment as president and CEO. At Textron Aviation, Scholl held a series of senior sales and marketing roles, including senior vice president, Global Sales & Flight Operations; vice president, Parts & Programs; and vice president, Marketing.

Commenting on Scholl’s appointment, Lisa Atherton, Bell president and CEO and the incoming Textron president and CEO as of January 4, 2026, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Rob to Bell as our new chief commercial officer. Rob is a respected leader across the Aviation industry and Textron and he is well positioned to continue achieving success across our commercial sales, aftermarket and customer service programs.”

Butler National Anounces Opening of Parts Fabrication Facility

Butler National Corporation announces the opening and ribbon-cutting for the new 33,000-square-foot parts fabrication facility of its subsidiary, Avcon Industries, Inc., at the Newton City-County Airport in Newton, Kansas. Avcon’s continued growth has necessitated the expansion of its fabrication operations in Newton, Kansas. Avcon commenced operations in 1970 with a focus on modifying airplanes for special purposes. More than fifty years later, Avcon’s special mission aircraft modification capabilities have significantly grown. As result of growth, Avcon acquired the adjacent facility to the south of the Avcon campus at Newton City-County Airport. With the new facility, Avcon has purchased expanded multi-axis large envelope machining centers in addition to relocating existing CNC equipment. Avcon has also acquired a waterjet and a large envelope CNC press brake. The Avcon facility is AS9100 compliant.

Marcus Abendroth, president of Avcon, commented, “We are excited to open and deploy our expanded fabrication facility. When Avcon previously worked on three to four airplane modification projects at a time, the former approximately 5,000 square-foot fab shop was sufficient. However, with our 2023 expansion to New Century, Kansas, and an increase in modification kit sales, Avcon has had to outsource a significant amount of parts fabrication. With the new building, added CNC machines, and new fabrication equipment, Avcon is well-positioned to bring manufacturing back in-house. This new facility will enhance Avcon’s aircraft modification capabilities and margins.”

AvionTEq Announces 2025 Year-End Inventory Reduction Event: Exclusive Discounts, Trade-In Offers, and Complimentary Gifts

AvionTEq, a leading global supplier of new and refurbished avionics test equipment, is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 Year-End Inventory Reduction Event. This limited-time promotion features exclusive savings, special trade-in credits, and a complimentary gift with select purchases — available through December 31, 2025, or while supplies last.

As part of the promotion, clients can choose one free premium gift with eligible purchases: an Apple iPad (9th Gen), Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), or Amaztim T3 Ultra smartwatch — offering added value to every qualifying order.

Featured Avionics Test Equipment

AvionTEq’s year-end event includes a wide selection of new and refurbished avionics test sets from leading manufacturers such as Laversab, Viavi, Barfield, Tel Instrument, and BAE Systems. Featured equipment includes:

  • FDS FDS40-0301 HHMPI for CVR, FDR, SSFDR (New)
  • CCX T-RX RP+ Radio & Pulse NAV/COMM Transponder Multifunction Test Set (New)
  • Laversab ARTS-7000 NAV/COMM Test Set (New)
  • Tel Instrument TIC SDR-Omni Multifunction All-in-One Avionics Test Set (New)
  • Barfield DPS450 Pitot Static Test Set (Refurbished)
  • Laversab 6600-NG Air Data Test Set (New)
  • Laversab 6300 Air Data Test Set (Refurbished)
  • Vitrek / MTI Instruments PBS-4100+ Gen4 Portable Vibration & Balancing System (New)
  • Viavi / Aeroflex IFR6000 Multifunction Transponder Test Set (Refurbished)
  • Viavi / Aeroflex IFR4000 NAV COMM Test Set (Refurbished)
  • Viavi / Aeroflex PSD90-1C AC/DC Fuel Capacitance Test Set (Refurbished)
  • Viavi / Aeroflex 8800SX Digital Radio Test Set (Refurbished)
  • L3Harris 17TES0043 Portable Interface (PI) for FDR, CVR, CVDR FA2100 (Refurbished)
  • Viavi / Aeroflex IFR RD-301 Weather Radar Test Set (Refurbished)
  • BAE Systems Controls LRT Loop Resistance Tester (New / Refurbished)
  • Firstmark Aerospace 2591553-903 Standby Compass Calibrator (New)

Trade-In Program: Upgrade and Save

AvionTEq is also offering a trade-in program to help clients upgrade outdated avionics test equipment. Qualified participants can receive credit toward newer models such as the T-RX RP+, SDR-OMNI, or ARTS-7000.

To participate, submit the following details to sales@avionteq.net:

  • Photos of the unit while powered up
  • Serial number and last calibration date
  • List of included accessories
  • Desired upgrade model

AvionTEq’s team will review the submission and provide a personalized trade-in quote.

Exclusive Bundle Offer: FDS HHMPI & Readout Package

Clients purchasing FDS HHMPI kits can enjoy early access to FDS SRVIVR25 kits and receive additional value — including a complimentary gift and a $500 rebate when bundled with Readout Services.

Availability and Ordering Information

All promotional offers are valid until December 31, 2025, or while supplies last. Clients are encouraged to contact their AvionTEq representative to confirm pricing, availability, and shipping details.

SKF Presents a Novel Bearing Steel Designed to Enable the Next Generation of Eeroengine Technology

SKF says it is re-imagining intelligent and clean rotation with the development of an innovative temperature-resistant, corrosion-tolerant steel for aeroengine bearings called ARCTIC15.

With the Aerospace industry striving to reach net zero emissions by 2050, next generation jet engine designs are evolving toward architectures which require rolling bearings capable of higher power density and speeds beyond the current design rules.

SKF’s customers are designing new engines that aim to cut fuel use by 20 to 25%*, which also reduces emissions. To support these new designs, SKF says its new steel will enable bearing solutions that can support the development of new architectures of engines for aviation.

“As aviation moves toward designing engines that aim to cut fuel consumption by up to 25%, reducing emissions significantly, SKF is innovating to match that ambition. Our new steel alloy ARCTIC15 is engineered as a breakthrough material to allow for smaller, more compact bearing solutions that handle higher loads, unlocking new engine architectures and driving efficiency across the entire lifecycle, with repairability as a key driver. This novel steel enables faster development cycles and supports industry sustainability goals for the future,” said Gregory A Zimmerman, director of aerospace business unit at SKF. 

For such performance increase, the first step is made by replacing steel rolling elements with ceramic rolling elements. The second step comes by pairing ceramic rolling elements with an advanced aeroengine bearing steel with higher load and temperature capacity than existing steels. These distinctive properties open the door to new engine architectures with enhanced efficiency.

“With cross-functional collaboration and sustainability-driven programs aligned with global mega-trends and industry needs, we are actively driving the climate transition. As both a supplier and customer, we transform deep insights into smart, practical solutions that reduce friction, cut emissions, and extend equipment life—helping industries move toward more sustainable operations,” says Hans Landin, president, specialized industrial solutions.

The new patented steel technology will be commercially available and shared by SKF at the Patent Bay. A new platform open to companies that aim to accelerate technologies with the potential to advance sustainability, by making selected patents freely available to others. 

The following sparked the developmentof ARCTIC15

  • SKFs Aerospace team has been developing and successfully testing an innovative case-carburized stainless steel for aero-engine bearings for nearly a decade, ever since SKF’s customers began designing next-generation engines focused on reducing fuel consumption — driven by the EU-funded Clean Sky initiative

HEAVEN | Clean Aviation

  • Extensive material and tribological testing, ranging from elemental analysis to full-scale trials, has validated the performance capabilities of the developed bearing material technologies
  • SKF Aerospace factories have manufactured demonstrator and full-scale bearing prototypes combining this advanced steel with ceramic balls, validating their endurance and resistance to severe operating conditions — including scenarios where oil supply is discontinued.
  • An actual ground test demonstration will be performed early 2026 as part of the Technology Readiness Levels process with one of the industry’s leading aeroengine original equipment manufacturers (OEM).

Former StandardAero Regional Sales Manager Steve Lunde Receives Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award

Steve Lunde, former regional sales manager for the Western U.S. on the business aviation team at StandardAero was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award earlier this year. The award was presented on June 17, 2025, during a ceremony held at StandardAero’s Van Nuys, California facility, surrounded by friends, family and colleagues from across the country.

The prestigious recognition commemorates Lunde’s remarkable achievement of maintaining an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License for more than 50 years — reflecting his lifelong passion, technical expertise and exceptional service within the aviation industry. After decades of meaningful contributions to StandardAero and the business aviation community, Lunde has since retired from his role but remains actively involved.

“I have now been an A&P Technician for over 50 years. What a great ride. I’ve worked on everything from a C-150 to a Boeing BBJ. I can’t tell you how rewarding it has been. What a great industry we work in,” Lunde said.

Lunde’s passion for aviation began at just four years old, inspired by childhood summer trips to Hawaii. This early fascination developed into a dynamic career after he earned his A&P License in 1975, working on 737s and C130s.

He later advanced to the role of director of sales at Gulfstream Aerospace, where he was directly involved in former Gulfstream owner Allen Paulson’s world record-setting G400 project. His career ultimately led him to Dallas Airmotive, which later became StandardAero, where he carved out a legacy as a trusted leader and friend. In his most recent role, Lunde served as regional sales manager within StandardAero’s Rolls-Royce Engine Program, embodying true dedication to both customer success and industry excellence, StandardAero said.

“It’s everything. It’s what my whole life has been,” he said when asked about the meaning of receiving the Charles Taylor Award.

Reflecting on Steve’s decades-long impact, Michael McCauley, senior director of the Rolls-Royce program at StandardAero, shared: “The Charles Taylor Award is a great example of Steve’s dedication to the industry… for over five decades. You don’t have the knowledge that Steve has and share the knowledge that Steve has without the character and respect of others to do so.”

“Congratulations once again to Steve on earning this esteemed recognition and for an incredible career in aviation—one that we are grateful to continue supporting through his new role as a customer,” the company said in a press release.

Cessna Citation Ascend Achieves FAA Certification

The Cessna Citation Ascend, designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation, achieved a major milestone Wednesday, November 5, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded type certification for the aircraft, with entry into service expected later this year. The aircraft boasts an entirely new cockpit, improved performance and luxurious flat floor cabin, giving customers versatility and flexibility to accomplish their mission. Two flight test articles completed more than 1,000 flight hours and numerous certification tests to achieve FAA certification.

“The Citation Ascend’s successful flight test program reflects our teams’ expertise in obtaining FAA certification while designing and delivering the best aviation experience for our customers,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, engineering & programs. “We sought our customers’ feedback, and the result is a business jet that offers customers the latest innovations in performance, productivity and efficiency.”

With more than 1,000 Cessna Citation 560XL series aircraft delivered since 2000, owners and operators appreciate the aircraft for its unparalleled combination of performance, comfort, ease of operation, range of mission capabilities and favorable operating efficiencies.

Equipping customers with Garmin G5000 avionics featuring the latest software, the cockpit includes:

  • Autothrottle technology to reduce pilot workload and provide flight-envelope protection
  • Three large, 14-inch ultra high-resolution displays with split-screen capabilities
  • Standard dual flight management systems
  • Synthetic vision tech to render obstacles like mountains or terrain
  • Cockpit voice and data satellite transceiver to make satellite calls from the cockpit
  • Garmin advanced weather detection and avoidance technology
  • Second Iridium data radio and controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) to support customers with more direct routing between North America and Europe (optional)

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines deliver fuel efficiency and increased thrust to the aircraft. The Ascend gives customers a maximum speed of 441 ktas (817 km/h), a maximum range of 1,940 nm (3,593 km) and a 900 lb (408 kg) full fuel payload.

An unattended Honeywell RE100 [XL] Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) with self-management and added bleed leak detection allows pilots to prepare for every flight efficiently, including heating and cooling the cabin with less fuel and less noise.

OSM Aviation Academy Signs LOI for 25 IFR-Certified Tecnam P-Mentor Aircraft

Tecnam Aircraft announced that OSM Aviation Academy (OSMAA) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of 25 fully equipped IFR-certified Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft, with options for an additional five units.

With this new LOI, OSM Aviation Academy will enhance its training fleet and capacity, ensuring that future pilots benefit from the most advanced training aircraft available today. The Tecnam P-Mentor fleet will not only strengthen the Academy’s European operations but also support its expansion into new markets, including the United States, where demand for efficient, sustainable, and IFR-capable training aircraft continues to grow.

The Tecnam P-Mentor is the latest two-seat IFR trainer from Tecnam, offering unmatched efficiency, advanced avionics, and a fully EASA-certified IFR and PBN platform. Designed to comply with all the latest EASA requirements, the P-Mentor combines outstanding performance, low fuel consumption, and safety, making it the ideal aircraft for modern flight training operations.

“We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Tecnam as we continue to scale our training operations,” said Martin Floor, CEO of OSM Aviation Academy. “The P-Mentor’s efficiency, safety, and IFR capabilities make it the perfect aircraft for training the next generation of Airline Ready pilots.”

Driven by increasing demand for OSM Aviation Academy’s Airline Ready cadet program, this strategic partnership represents a significant step toward expanding the Academy’s global flight training capacity.

“The aircraft order forms part of a broader group strategy to establish a strong presence in the United States to support OSM’s flight training operations, while creating a platform for further expansion across both the U.S. and European markets,” said Hans Kyrre Hultgren, executive director of OSM Aviation Academy.

Walter Da Costa, Tecnam’s chief sales officer, commented: “We are delighted to support OSM Aviation Academy’s continued growth and commitment to excellence in pilot training. The P-Mentor embodies Tecnam’s mission to deliver innovative, reliable, and sustainable training solutions to the world’s leading flight schools.”

With this new LOI, OSM Aviation Academy will enhance its training fleet and capacity, ensuring that future pilots benefit from the most advanced training aircraft available today.

Veryon Showcases Groundbreaking AI-Powered Technology at Predictive Aircraft Maintenance Dublin 2025 Conference

Veryon will showcase its AI-powered predictive maintenance technology, Veryon AIRE, at the Predictive Aircraft Maintenance Conference, taking place November 11–12 in Dublin, Ireland.

Airlines and MROs continue to face pressure to reduce downtime, optimize labor, and improve safety. By harnessing the industry’s largest de-identified dataset and delivering insights relevant to each operator’s context, Veryon provides earlier visibility into emerging issues. The result is fewer surprises, faster action, and stronger control over fleet health and maintenance planning.

Veryon AIRE is the analytics engine behind Veryon Diagnostics, an integrated AI platform that mines logbook data and references aircraft manuals to streamline troubleshooting and improve fix outcomes. With Veryon AIRE, operators can expect:

• Smarter, Faster Fixes: It recommends most likely fixes to boost first-time fix rates and enables technicians to ask publication-specific questions and jump directly to troubleshooting steps.

• Intelligent Fleet Management: It automates routine work, reduces maintenance expenses, and optimizes critical maintenance tasks and inventory management

• Enhanced Reliability: It surfaces chronic patterns, rogue components and short-life parts, and trend degradation early, before they escalate into unexpected AOGs.

Join us for “The Predictive Edge: How AI Is Powering the Next Generation of Aircraft Reliability” on Monday, November 11, at 11:20. Dave Purfurst, Global Director of Solutions Consulting at Veryon, will explore how operators can turn overwhelming volumes of aircraft data into smarter decisions, faster troubleshooting, and measurable improvements in uptime. As fleets generate more data than ever before, Dave will share how AI is shifting maintenance from reactive to predictive and how Veryon AIRE, the analytics engine behind Veryon Diagnostics, is helping operators boost first-time fixrates, reduce chronic defects, simplify compliance, and scale expertise across shrinking teams to maximize aircraft availability and reliability.

Solving Aviation’s Data Problem with AI

Many operators struggle with fragmented data that weakens predictive accuracy.

“Our platform unifies historical reliability patterns, rapid defect analysis, and AI-guided troubleshooting into a single view,” said Kris Volrath, senior vice president of product at Veryon. “This not only allows maintenance teams to act early and plan proactively, but a validated-by-experts approach also ensures AI-driven recommendations are understood, trusted, and applied with safety at the forefront.”

Veryon will highlight how its unified tools work together to create a closed information loop that helps operators see issues sooner, take action faster, and proceed with confidence:

• Veryon Defect Analysis: An AI-powered tool that identifies and clusters recurring defects and prevents issues before they ground an aircraft. Reduces repeat defects by 33%, unscheduled removals by 20%, and delays/cancellations by 10%.

• Veryon Reliability: An AI-enabled module that forecasts component failures, maximizes aircraft availability, and supports proactive maintenance strategies.

• Veryon Guided Troubleshooting: An intelligence-powered guide that delivers predictive fix recommendations based on real-world outcomes from thousands of aircraft events. Cuts troubleshooting time by up to 50% and increases first-time fix rates by more than 5% with step-by-step guidance.

• Veryon Tracking+: A cloud-based platform for fleet, maintenance, inventory, and flight operations, trusted by over 150 operators managing more than 2,000 aircraft.

Veryon Announces Acquisition of EBIS

Veryon, a provider of information services and software solutions for the aviation industry, announced the acquisition of EBIS from Tronair. With this acquisition, Veryon is expanding its aviation maintenance solutions by adding comprehensive ground support equipment (GSE) asset management capabilities, along with a next-generation maintenance management solution used by Part 145 repair stations, FBOs, charter operators, airlines, and other maintenance providers in North America and around the world.

Many aviation maintenance providers still operate with outdated, disconnected systems that make it difficult to manage assets both on the ground and in the air. The addition of EBIS to the Veryon family creates a single, intelligent platform that unites every aspect of maintenance and asset management to improve efficiency, uptime, and visibility across the operation.

“Veryon recognizes that aircraft maintenance complexity has increased and that ground handling assets have been overlooked. MROs have limited software choices today and are asking for greater ease-of-use, intelligence, and automation to modernize their operations,” said Kris Volrath, Veryon’s senior vice president of product. “By adding EBIS to our industry-leading product portfolio, Veryon addresses these market gaps and creates an even more compelling value proposition by reducing complexity and costs for MROs and operators.”

With the addition of EBIS products to its portfolio, Veryon is redefining the maintenance technology landscape with a next-generation experience for commercial, general, and business aviation operators and MROs. With EBIS for MRO, maintenance providers, service centers, and FBOs can operate more efficiently and stay better connected to the operators they serve by seamlessly integrating with Veryon Tracking for real-time aircraft maintenance workflows and insights. The addition of EBIS Ground Support Equipment (GSE) extends these capabilities to ground assets, enabling organizations to manage and maintain their entire fleet—from aircraft to equipment—within a single, connected ecosystem.

“EBIS’ mission, from its inception, has been to empower aviation maintenance teams with approachable digital solutions that transform their organizations,” said Santosh Nachu, EBIS’ general manager. “We are excited to accelerate this mission by joining Veryon and leveraging its vast aviation maintenance data, AI-driven capabilities, and scaled organizational strength.”