Net Jets Europe / CS-CHK / BD 700-1A10 'Challenger 350'

Paul Bannwarth
 

Qatar Executive / A7-CGD / Gulfstream G 650ER

Paul Bannwarth
 

Skyservice Business Aviation / C-FWSH / Gulfstream G 280

Paul Bannwarth
 

Textron Aviation Announces Fleet Order From Luminair To Operate Nine Best-Selling Cessna Citation Latitude Midsize Business Jets, Supporting Charter Operations Across Europe

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (April 21, 2026) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced at AERO Friedrichshafen it has entered into a purchase agreement with LUMINAIR, a private jet operator in Europe, to operate nine Cessna Citation Latitude business jets. Renowned for its exceptional features, versatility, impressive range and operating economics, the best-selling midsize business jet was selected by LUMINAIR to support their increasing demand and enhance their mission flexibility.

“The Citation Latitude is exceptionally well suited to LUMINAIR customers travelling across Europe, offering a spacious and comfortable cabin experience along with the reliability they need to make regional missions feel effortless, day after day,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “The Latitude delivers seamless connections between Europe’s major cities, offering efficient travel options for passengers.”

With a stand-up, flat-floor cabin and ample space for up to nine passengers, the Citation Latitude stands as a preferred choice among customers for a wide range of operations, including corporate travel, personal travel, air ambulance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), utility transport, aerial survey, flight inspection, training and numerous other specialized missions. The Latitude can fly nonstop between destinations such as Edinburgh to Larnaca, Riga to Tenerife and Helsinki to San Sebastián. Deliveries to LUMINAIR are expected to begin this year.

“The introduction of the Citation Latitude marks an important milestone in our fleet strategy,” said Alexander Stevens, chief operating officer and founder of LUMINAIR. “We are scaling with purpose - expanding our capabilities while maintaining the steadfast commitment to safety and excellence our clients expect.”

Gulfstream Delivers 10Th G700 Aircraft To Qatar Executive

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it has delivered the 10th G700 aircraft to Qatar Executive, the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group. This delivery completes the order announced in October 2019 and marks the 25th Gulfstream aircraft delivered to Qatar Executive since the partnership commenced in 2015.

“Qatar Executive has been a valued and respected partner for more than a decade,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We were honored to have them as our international partner for the G700 launch and first delivery and appreciate their continued trust as we deliver yet another high-quality aircraft to their growing world-class fleet.”

For Qatar Executive, the delivery of this G700 is a key milestone in its continuous growth strategy, reinforcing its position as a leader in the global business aviation market while continuing to expand its capabilities and enhance the travel experience for its passengers.

The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, natural light from 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows and the industry’s lowest cabin altitude at the highest elevations. With a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935 and a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, the ultralong-range G700 has more than 90 city-pair speed records to date.

The performance capabilities of the G700 can be attributed to the combination of Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, Gulfstream-designed advanced aerodynamic wing and high-speed winglet introduced on the aircraft. The G700 is also outfitted with the award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System and dual head-up display featuring Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System (CVS) that unites Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS) in a single image, increasing pilot situational awareness and opening access to more airports.

Pilatus Breaks Ground on Delivery Center as well as Manufacturing and Engineering Facility in Colorado USA

Pilatus marked the official start of construction on a new state-of-the-art facility at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado. The new building will house a premium customer delivery center, where customers from all over the country can configure and personalize their PC-12 or PC-24. Additionally, Pilatus will significantly expand its existing engineering as well as passenger seat processing capabilities for the growing fleet.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together senior Pilatus executives and representatives from Jefferson County Government, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, and numerous local and regional stakeholders.

Markus Bucher, CEO of the Pilatus Group, emphasizes the importance of the investment: “This new facility with an investment of 50 million US dollars will allow Pilatus to expand local engineering capabilities by creating more than 50 new, highly paid jobs. Together, these functions will support Pilatus’ continued commitment to quality, innovation, and Swiss craftsmanship while ensuring an exceptional customer experience”.

Thomas Bosshard, CEO of the Pilatus subsidiary, Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd, added: “The United States is the most important market for Pilatus, and this investment underscores our commitment to a personalized and seamless customer experience throughout the ownership journey”.

Eco-Driven Building Design

Sustainability is a key element of the project and a core value for Pilatus. The new building has been designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and will incorporate photovoltaic panels to harness solar energy, reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible growth and environmentally conscious operations. By integrating sustainable energy solutions and high-efficiency design standards into the facility, Pilatus continues to prioritize long-term environmental stewardship as it expands its global footprint.
Large footprint in the US

Effective January 1, 2026, Pilatus consolidated its US subsidiaries into a single entity, Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd, creating a unified organization of approximately 400 employees with harmonized systems across all American operations. The company’s US footprint includes its headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado, as well as additional locations in Westminster (Maryland), Rock Hill (South Carolina), and Atlanta (Georgia).

PC-12 PRO Simulator Certified for Pilot Training

Progressive, Proven, Professional: the Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE), based on the Garmin G3000 PRIME, is at the heart of the brand-new PC-12 PRO. The accompanying flight simulators have now been certified, and are set to play a center stage role in the new pilot training program. The system is unique within this aircraft category, and sets new standards in terms of technology, efficiency and safety.

The new PC-12 PRO flight simulators mark a significant milestone in pilot training. Approved in accordance with the requirements of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they are now available for various training missions in Switzerland, and in the USA through SIMCOM.

The Europe-based simulator is EASA-approved as a Level 2 Flight Training Device, and as a Level II Flight Navigation Procedures Trainer Multi-Crew Cooperation. Under the FAA, the simulator is approved as a Level 6 Flight Training Device.

Serving as a systems trainer, the simulator allows crew members to familiarize themselves with the systems and functions of the PC-12 PRO’s brand-new smart cockpit, and to acquire proficiency in operating them in a realistic environment. It can also be used to train procedures and workflows, including the simulation of abnormal situations and challenging weather conditions. 

PROficient Training

Time in the simulator provides very effective, high-quality training, allowing pilots to practice complex or rare situations in a realistic environment with opportunity for repetition, further enhancing safe operation of the exceptionally safe, globally proven PC-12. At the same time, simulator training contributes to sustainability as it has less impact in terms of emissions.

The differences training required to transition from the PC-12 NG or NGX to the PC-12 PRO can be completed entirely in the simulator. All this results in training of the highest quality that is also more time and cost-effective.

The new PC-12 PRO simulator provides a highly efficient platform for learning to operate the brand-new Garmin G3000 avionics. “The instructors are true experts who push you to perform at your best,” says Captain Ralf Wendland of Austrian-based Kitzbühel Airways, who successfully completed the training.

David Liechti, a pilot and Team Leader Flight Training at Pilatus, added: “We are taking training to the next level with our new PC-12 PRO flight simulator and web-based training. The result is a training program which not only delivers the highest quality, but also actively contributes to improved flight safety”.

The first full-motion PC-12 PRO simulator is also currently in production and is planned to be available in 2028 at Fly7’s training center at Lausanne Airport (La Blécherette), Switzerland.