50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Essential news for 21 Jul 2025

Flexjet raises $800 million equity investment from investment group led by L Catterton

Flexjet has closed an $800 million equity investment from a consortium of strategic investors led by leading global consumer-focused investment firm L Catterton, with participation from affiliates of KSL Capital Partners, LLC and the J. Safra Group. The investment, which marks the largest equity investment in the history of private aviation, will support Flexjet’s continuing v...

Hartzell earns FAA Type Certificate for First Part 35 electric engine propeller, designed and tested with BETA Technologies

Hartzell Propeller has received FAA Part 35 Type Certification for the first propeller designed specifically for advanced air mobility aircraft. The company worked with BETA Technologies to achieve this landmark, conducting all testing of its propeller on BETA’s proprietary electric propulsion systems, which are designed and manufactured in-house by BETA. This signifies the maturity, certifi...

Monday`s summary

McCauley Propeller Systems C780 propeller now factory standard for new Beechcraft King Air 360 customers

McCauley Propeller Systems announced its C780 propeller, which had previously been optional for factory installation, is now standard for all new commercial customers of the Beechcraft King Air 360. The first King Air 360 equipped with the propeller recently rolled out of production at Textron Aviation’s factory in Wichita, Kansas. Jason Hull, vice president and general manager, McCauley...

EVA Air launches new co-branded UATP pre-paid payment program

EVA Air is taking corporate travel to new heights with the launch of its new co-branded prepaid UATP card, issued in partnership with UATP, the global network simplifying payment. Designed exclusively for corporate clients, this innovative payment program empowers businesses to streamline travel payments, unlock tiered rewards, and take advantage of greater flexibility and transparency. EVA Air...

Tecnam names Cutter Aviation as authorized dealer for Arizona and California

Tecnam appointed Cutter Aviation as its Authorized Dealer for Arizona and California. This strategic partnership further strengthens Tecnam’s growing presence in North America, providing enhanced access to aircraft sales, support, and maintenance throughout the Southwest region. As a well-established name in general aviation since 1928, Cutter Aviation will now offer the complete line o...

Safran announces the acquisition of flight control and actuation activities from Collins Aerospace

Safran announced the closing of the acquisition of Collins Aerospace’s flight control and actuation activities which are mission critical systems for commercial and military aircraft, and helicopters. With this transaction, Safran becomes a global leader in flight control and actuation systems and is well-positioned for next-generation platforms. The acquired business employs appro...

Condor is further expanding its long-haul fleet

Condor has placed an order for four more long-haul A330-900neo aircraft with Airbus. The Supervisory Board already approved the order this week. Currently, Condor is already operating 18 A330neo aircraft with three more expected by the end of 2027. Thus, this summer Condor will be flying its long-haul routes exclusively with brand-new aircraft that offer guests maximum comfort above the clouds. Wi...

Garmin introduced its largest TXi touchscreen flight display yet

Garmin announced the new 12.1-inch display size in the TXi family of flight displays for piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft. The new display joins the existing 10.6-inch, 7-inch portrait and 7-inch landscape TXi flight displays. This additional display size increases the already versatile lineup of TXi upgrade possibilities, which deliver advanced PFD/MFD/EIS capabilities and provide an all...

Chapman Freeborn delivers critical aircraft parts from Paris to Athens in under 24 hours

Chapman Freeborn has arranged an urgent delivery of critical aircraft parts from Paris to Athens in under 24 hours. Despite the complexity of the task, the aircraft in question not only received the necessary parts on time but also departed ahead of schedule. In May 2025, the team at Chapman Freeborn received an urgent task of delivering crucial parts from Paris Vatry Airport (XCR) to At...