ST Engineering Unveils Business Jet Thrust Reverser

ST Engineering is building upon its engine nacelle expertise with a new thrust reverser demonstrator that could be its first equipment for the business aviation sector. The Singapore-based company hopes its unique design will offer enhanced aerodynamic efficiency and acoustic performance in future aircraft applications.

The ground demonstrator unveiled at the Singapore Airshow is the result of 18 months of development, taking the concept through design, construction, and testing. Noah Hughes, advanced design engineer at ST Engineering, told AIN that thrust reverser design idiosyncrasies provide “an opportunity to take shortcomings of existing thrust reverser systems and provide improvements.”

Notable differences in the TRU demonstrator’s architecture include electric actuators along the unit’s side, rather than the traditional 12 and 6 o’clock positions. This negates the need for the associated bracketry, which is detrimental to aerodynamic performance, with the experimental system instead employing a unique hinge design, Hughes explained. A larger interior surface provides more area for acoustic treatment, helping mitigate noise, while a continuous seal facilitated by the novel setup also helps optimize efficiency.

Ground testing of the TRU proved that the design works as intended, Hughes confirmed, although he acknowledged difficulties in quantifying direct performance comparisons with existing systems. The next step would be to pair learnings validated from this demonstrator with a specific engine, with ST Engineering actively engaged in conversations with engine and airframe OEMs.

NTSB: Citation II Right-seat Pilot Not SIC-qualified

The right-seat occupant in the December 18 crash of a Cessna Citation II near Statesville, North Carolina, was not qualified to perform second-in-command duties, according to a preliminary NTSB accident report. The pilot and six passengers died in the crash.

Although the right-seat occupant held a valid pilot certificate, “review of the right-seat passenger’s logbook indicated that he had 175.3 total flight hours in single-engine land airplanes as of November 29, 2025...The right seat passenger was not qualified to perform second-in-command duties per Title 14 CFR part 61.55.”

Registered N257BW to a holding company belonging to Nascar driver Greg Biffle, the airplane was operating on a Part 91 personal flight when it departed Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) at about 10:06 a.m. under visual flight rules, bound for Sarasota, Florida.

During taxi, the pilot and two pilot-rated passengers noted that a thrust reverser indicator light for an unspecified engine was inoperative but agreed that the thrust reverser appeared to function normally. After departure, the airplane entered a climbing left turn. GPS data showed that it completed about a 180-degree turn at approximately 2,200 feet above msl before continuing to turn and descend. A transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency stated, “…We’re having some issues here.”

FAA airman records showed that the pilot’s CE-500 type rating carried a limitation requiring a second in command.

European Court To Hear Challenge to Environmental Ruling

The EU General Court is set to begin oral hearings into a lawsuit challenging the European Commission’s exclusion of business aviation from the so-called EU Taxonomy that determines which industries are approved as environmentally sustainable economic activities. On February 10, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) will give evidence in a case filed by Dassault Aviation in 2024 to argue that the ruling unfairly blocks investment in the sector.

Along with French aircraft manufacturer Daher, EBAA is backing Dassault’s lawsuit as what the Luxembourg-based court defines as “an intervener.” The plaintiffs are arguing that the European Commission disregarded factors such as the fuel efficiency of new business aircraft and progress in adopting sustainable aviation fuel when they excluded the sector from the EU Taxonomy, while including airlines.

“The purpose [of the EU Taxonomy] is to guide sustainable finance, and since business aviation is excluded, it makes everything more expensive in a very discriminatory way,” Róman Kok, EBAA’s director of public affairs and communications, told AIN. “The way they wrote it treats business aviation as binary—either fully green or not green—and this ignores our transitional [decarbonizing] technologies and fleet renewal, and doesn’t reflect how business aircraft are used in Europe.”

Bristow Secures Delivery Slots for Hybrid-electric EL9 Aircraft

Electra Aero has agreed to terms under which charter flight group Bristow secured the first delivery slot for its EL9 ultra short hybrid-electric aircraft. Under the deal, the helicopter group has made a pre-delivery payment deposit covering five EL9s, firming up an earlier letter of intent with options for another 45 of the nine-seaters on the same terms.

Bristow has indicated that it will operate the EL9s to provide “turnkey mobility solutions” for various corporate customers, as well as for high-end resorts, airlines, and government agencies. For several years, the Houston-based group has been diversifying its business activities, which have largely been based on support for the energy industry, including helicopter flights to and from offshore oil and gas platforms.

Carrying either passengers or up to 3,000 pounds of cargo, the aircraft will operate on routes of up to 330 nm and have a maximum ferry range of up to 1,100 nm with IFR reserves. Critically, the manufacturer says the EL9 will be able to operate from runways and landing strips as short as 150 feet.

The undisclosed amount paid by Bristow as a down payment is a double-digit percentage of the purchase price. The catalog price for the EL9 is $10 million, but Electra acknowledged that it has offered launch customers “significant” discounts on that rate.

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Indian Bizav Group Seeks Regulatory Rationalization

India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) is pushing for regulatory harmonization with global standards and reflecting the sector’s role in the national economy. At a conference in Hyderabad last week, the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) committed to supporting the group’s efforts.

IBAC director general Kurt Edwards told AIN that the ICAO-affiliated organization will work closely with BAOA to accelerate India’s adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, as well as ADS-B and GNSS navigation systems. He said that rationalized rules could unlock industry growth to allow business aviation to scale up safely and sustainably.

In particular, IBAC is making the case for modernizing India’s approach to fractional ownership. After four years of negotiations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has drafted a long‑awaited revised policy on this business model.

According to BAOA managing director R.K. Bali, the regulations are due to be released in April and take effect from June. The reforms introduce a dedicated fractional aircraft operator designation with defined ownership structures, rationalized taxation, and stronger and more transparent oversight.

BAOA’s lobbying has led to the creation of a helicopter unit within the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This is expected to provide more focused support for operators responding to government-backed initiatives to boost applications such as medical evacuation and regional connectivity, with a new budget taking effect from February 1, supporting 120 subsidized routes.

Aero Asset Reports Helo Sales Drop, Climb in Value

The global preowned single-engine helicopter market saw a decrease in retail sales last year, according to sales and market intelligence firm Aero Asset, but their value climbed year over year (YOY).

For-sale supply dropped 26% last year, according to Aero Asset’s 2025 Annual Heli Market Trends Single-Engine edition, “while median transaction prices rose 5%.” Sales drop was 7%, value increase was 6%, and the absorption rate dropped to eight months by the end of the year. In 2025, the total number of preowned helicopters sold was 169 units worth $412 million. Supply for sale was down significantly at 111 units valued at $285 million—down 26% and 23%, respectively.

Sellers retained some pricing power last year, with median transaction prices up 5% and average days on market down 12%, the lowest level in five years, Aero Asset said. “Aircraft continued to transact close to asking price, with sold prices averaging 9% below ask.”

Activity was strongest in North America, which accounted for 56% of all single-engine helicopter sales, while Europe posted YOY growth at 8%, “the only region to post year-over-year growth in retail transactions.”

“Transaction volume softened in 2025, but tightening supply drove price growth,” said Valerie Pereira, v-p of market research. “The sharp contraction in supply pushed absorption rate lower, underscoring a continued demand for well-positioned single-engine assets.”

Santa Monica Voters Show Support To Keep Airport Open

A survey of voters in Santa Monica, California, revealed that a majority support the city’s airport (KSMO) and prefer to keep it open, rather than closing it on Dec. 31, 2028. The city of Santa Monica signed a consent decree with the FAA in 2017, allowing the city to close the airport.

The survey was conducted by FM3 Research and funded by Spirit of Santa Monica, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to preserving and enhancing the innovation spirit of Santa Monica while fostering future generations of thinkers, builders, and community leaders through education, events, and engagement.” FM3 Research conducted 632 interviews of registered voters via telephone calls and online.

According to the survey, “67% of Santa Monica voters support keeping the airport open in some form, compared with 25% who favor closing it as soon as possible, with 8% undecided. Support for keeping the airport open spans every neighborhood and demographic group in the city, including voters living within one mile of the airport.”

“The survey found that Santa Monica voters value the airport and support keeping it open in a way that preserves options for the city,” said Ben Marcus, co-founder and president of Spirit of Santa Monica. “As the city faces a once-in-a-generation decision about a 227-acre site, voters are signaling clearly that they do not want to rush toward irreversible decisions driven by a vocal minority to close the airport.”

Heritage Aviation Ramps Up Light Helicopter Capability

With one H130 already in operation, India’s Heritage Aviation, predominantly an Airbus H125 operator, signed a contract for a new H130 at Wings India on January 30, with delivery scheduled for September.

The wider cabin, lower noise profile, and Fenestron tail rotor of the H130 position Heritage to offer a premium passenger experience, according to Rohit Mathur, founder and CEO of Heritage Aviation. “The new H130 will help expand our regional connectivity footprint, including Northeast India, which remains largely untapped for private helicopter operations.”

India’s H130 fleet remains small and concentrated among a few charter operators. Global Vectra Helicorp has a few EC130T2/H130s for VIP and tourism missions, while Chipsan Aviation also deploys the type in higher‑end charter operations. A handful of privately owned and charter H130s round out the market, placing the national fleet at roughly six to eight aircraft.

Heritage Aviation is one of India’s largest private helicopter operators, with an estimated 10 Airbus H125 AStars used to fly pilgrims to tiny towns tucked in the Himalayas at 3,590 meters (11,800 feet), where reliability and climb performance are critical. The fleet is built primarily around pilgrimage, charter, and aerial‑work operations.

India’s first private‑sector H125 final assembly line in Karnataka, operated by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems, will assemble, test, and deliver the first India‑built H125 in early 2027.

AVIATION SAFETY QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is the meaning of Required Navigation Performance 1 (RNP-1)?

A. Required accuracy of ±1 nm 95% of the time.
B. Required accuracy of ±1 nm 100% of the time.
C. Required accuracy of ±1 meter 95% of the time.
D. Required accuracy of 100% for 95% of the time.

Take The Quiz

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