This week's brief touches the NTSB's final report on the Hop-A-Jet Challenger 604 crash near Naples (corrosion in both CF34 engines' variable geometry systems, driven by years of salt-air exposure), plus a breakdown of what $8.63-per-gallon national average FBO Jet-A is doing to Part 91 and Part 135 operations, an update on the DOT's ATC modernization progress out of the Modern Skies Summit, and Starlink coming to the Citation Ascend.

This week's Scissortail Brief is out, and it's a full one.

The ALERT Act passed the House. The FAA replaced its 40-year-old NOTAM system. EBACE 2026 was canceled. American Airlines entered the private jet market through a TLC Jet partnership that has real implications for fractional and card operators. Masters week traffic came in below forecast. And Jet-A prices are up more than $2.00 per gallon year-over-year, which means trip planning looks different than it did six months ago.

If you operate, own, or advise in business aviation, there's something in here for you.

A more active week in business aviation. FAA hiring efforts move forward, new EU passenger requirements take effect, and updated safety guidance puts more focus on approach risk. Add in firm aircraft demand and elevated fuel costs, and there’s plenty driving how operators are planning and flying right now.

The first week of April brought a mix of FAA rulemaking, fleet activity, and steady movement in the aircraft market. The FAA introduced proposed updates to Part 141 training rules, operators worked GPS interference procedures into daily planning, and the Global 8000 began entering service with NetJets. At the same time, aircraft transactions stayed active across multiple segments, and Jet-A pricing continued to vary widely depending on where you were buying.

This week in business aviation was anchored by NBAA’s record-setting Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Cleveland, where 3,500 attendees focused on the realities of running flight operations today. At the same time, the FAA issued a new Piaggio airworthiness directive and updated GPS interference guidance, Bombardier delivered the first Global 8000 to NetJets, and Jet-A prices continued to show wide variation at the truck across the country.

New AI capabilities are enabling operators to analyze flight data continuously rather than only after events, helping identify patterns in approach stability, energy management, and overall operational performance. As tools like ForeFlight begin to surface trends automatically, flight departments are gaining earlier visibility into risk and more actionable insight into how their aircraft are flown every day.

This week in business aviation included continued activity in Washington as industry leaders engaged lawmakers, along with updates that directly affect how operators plan and fly. The FAA extended key operational flexibility for smaller aircraft, HPN announced upcoming runway closures, and Jet-A prices moved higher due to Middle East instability. At the same time, early developments in AI-driven safety tools are beginning to shape how flight departments use data across their operations.

This week's Scissortail Brief covers Dassault's Falcon 10X rollout in Bordeaux, the FAA's selection of eight eVTOL operators for a 26-state pilot program with a Texas corridor connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Joby Aviation's first conforming aircraft flight test, the Airbus ACH140 debut at VERTICON, Senate movement on the next NTSB member, an industry pushback on proposed altimeter mandates, where Jet-A retail prices stand nationally as Middle East conflict continues repricing the fuel market, and the launch of business aviation's first credentialed sales career pathway.

The top of the business jet market now has three serious contenders: the Gulfstream G800, Bombardier Global 8000, and Dassault Falcon 10X. Each aircraft pushes the boundaries of range, speed, cabin environment, and operational capability, but they arrive at those results in very different ways. This analysis breaks down the specifications, performance envelopes, and real operational differences that buyers should consider when evaluating the new generation of ultra long range flagship aircraft.

Dassault has officially unveiled the Falcon 10X, its new ultra long range flagship designed to compete directly with the Bombardier Global 8000 and Gulfstream G800. With a 7,500 nm range, Mach 0.925 top speed, and the largest cabin cross section in business aviation, the aircraft represents a major step forward for the Falcon line. In this Scissortail Knowledge Hub piece, we break down the aircraft’s specifications, pricing, delivery timeline, and the engineering choices that set the 10X apart in the top tier of the business jet market.

Business aviation is getting its first structured pathway into sales. AvSales Talent and Texarkana College have launched the Aviation Professional Sales Certificate Program, a six-week credentialed training course designed to prepare the next generation of aviation sales professionals. Beginning March 23, 2026, the program introduces a three-phase career pathway—education, supervised practicum experience, and industry placement—creating the kind of professional development infrastructure aviation has long had for pilots and technicians, but never for the revenue-driving side of the business.

The past week in business aviation brought the industry's largest VTOL aviation gathering to Atlanta, a strategic expansion into Brazil’s rapidly growing private aviation market, and continued pressure on operators from MRO capacity constraints and skilled labor shortages. VERTICON 2026 drew more than 15,000 professionals to discuss the future of rotorcraft and advanced air mobility, while FlyHouse announced a partnership with TAM Aviacao Executiva to bring modern charter technology to Latin America’s second-largest general aviation market. At the same time, operators are navigating elevated Jet-A prices tied to geopolitical tensions and monitoring cross-border security developments in western Mexico that briefly affected access to key airports.

A historic blizzard, a major Middle East escalation, a charter certificate revocation, and the FAA pulling its own operator list offline. It was a full week for business aviation. This week's Scissortail Brief has the rundown, including current Jet-A prices by region and what operators with international exposure should be thinking about right now.

When the FAA pulls a charter operator's certificate, the aircraft owners on that certificate don't get a warning either. In this piece, we break down what happened with StarFlite Aviation in Houston, walk through what the Part 135 training requirements actually are and what it means when they're allegedly falsified at the management level, and talk about what every aircraft owner should be asking their charter operator right now. If your aircraft is placed on a certificate, the compliance posture of that operation is your problem too, whether you knew it or not. This one is worth reading before you need it.

Rising military activity involving the U.S. and Israel has added another variable to international aviation planning. For U.S. business aviation, the potential impact appears concentrated on long range missions that operate into or across the Middle East, where airspace restrictions, fuel volatility, and insurance considerations could influence routing and cost. Pure U.S.–Europe flying is likely to remain largely insulated from a routing standpoint, though indirect effects are possible. As with most geopolitical events, the practical implications will depend on duration, scope, and how regulators and markets respond.

Clayton recently attended the NBAA Opa-locka Regional Forum on behalf of Air Transit Solutions, a Part 135 operator and Scissortail client, with a clear focus: strengthen key vendor relationships and get hands-on with aircraft his clientele is considering for purchase. From meaningful ramp conversations to firsthand cabin evaluations, the event provided valuable insight into both the current market and the practical realities of fleet growth.

The third week of February brought a mix of steady industry movement and unexpected operational developments across U.S. business aviation. Alongside aircraft program updates, earnings reports, regulatory activity, safety guidance, infrastructure investment, and market indicators, operators also navigated a security situation in western Mexico that affected airport access at Puerto Vallarta (MMPR), Guadalajara (MMGL), and Tepic (MMEP). While Mexican airspace remains open, reported cartel blockades have impacted ground access to certain airports, requiring close coordination for cross-border flights.

This week in U.S. business aviation brought major fleet expansion commitments, steady year-over-year activity gains, new FAA operational guidance, early movement on certification reform in Washington, surprise airspace restrictions, and continued rollout of digital planning and cost analysis tools. Together, the developments reflect a market defined by stable demand, evolving oversight, and increasing operational sophistication across charter, fractional, and corporate flight operations.

From FAA funding and new cockpit voice recorder requirements to Super Bowl airspace restrictions and early findings in the Citation II accident investigation, the first week of February brought a steady stream of developments for business aviation. The Scissortail Brief pulls together the key regulatory, operational, and industry updates from Feb. 1 through Feb. 8 so operators can stay informed without chasing every headline.

Business aircraft financing in 2026 is active, selective, and far more disciplined than it was just a few years ago. This Knowledge Hub column breaks down who’s lending, how deals are getting underwritten, and what terms and rates actually look like in today’s market, with a clear-eyed look at where capital is flowing and what buyers need to have lined up to get transactions across the finish line.