The Scissortail Brief | September 23, 2026

Due to a rockin’ Sunday afternoon party with friends and family, then an early Monday golf tournament in this wicked Texas heat, I didn’t get this week’s brief out yesterday. C’est la vie, better late than never…

This week, charter broker OneFlight International paused all flight activity with more than $150 million in customer deposits exposed. A construction crew's fiber cut triggered an ATC meltdown that shut down Teterboro and four other Northeast airports. The FAA separately launched a new AI-assisted traffic management tool in Washington. Honda pushed its Echelon light jet certification back three full years. Flexjet took delivery of the first Praetor 600E. Signature Aviation bought its third FBO at Van Nuys. NBAA named interim leadership while Ed Bolen takes medical leave. We're also correcting an omission from last week: NBAA's 2026 Top 40 Under 40 class. Oh yeah, fuel. just. keeps. getting. more. and. more expensive.

Charter Broker OneFlight Pauses Flights, More Than $150 Million in Customer Funds Exposed

In one giant oh sh!t moment, OneFlight International, the Colorado-based charter broker behind the BAJit jet card known for its celebrity marketing featuring Robert Herjavec and John Elway, paused all flight activity September 15, telling customers the halt would run "for the next 30 days, or until further notice" while it evaluates its operations. Private Jet Card Comparisons, which first reported the pause, estimates that roughly $150 million in prepaid jet card balances and booked flight value is now exposed.

OneFlight doesn't own or operate its own fleet of aircraft. It's a broker that purchases flights from outside charter operators and resells them to customers, with jet card deposits starting at $100,000. Multiple charter operators say OneFlight owes them money for completed flights, with one reporting $250,000 outstanding, though others say they've been paid as recently as August. The company reported $232 million in revenue for 2025, up 90% year over year, but revenue isn't profit, and much of what a broker collects has to be passed along to the operators actually flying the trips.

The financial strain had been visible for weeks. In August, OneFlight told jet card holders it would impose an immediate 35% "economic surcharge" due to "extraordinary economic pressures currently affecting private aviation," then withdrew it hours later after backlash. On September 9, a company VP told employees that CEO Ferren Rajput was "actively addressing the financial and operations issues that developed under the previous CFO's leadership." That former CFO, Hanno Uys, was arrested in July on unrelated domestic-violence charges and remains in immigration detention.

If OneFlight fails outright, jet card customers would be unsecured creditors, the same position customers found themselves in during prior industry failures at JetSuite, Jet It, AeroVanti, Zetta Jet, Imagine Air and Verijet. At least one competing broker, Amalfi Jets, has already begun waiving its standard deposit for current and former OneFlight members through October 15.

Fiber Cut Triggers Northeast ATC Meltdown, Grounds Teterboro

A construction crew severed a fiber line in New Jersey on September 21, and the backup circuit at the same facility failed shortly after, triggering ground stops at Newark Liberty, Teterboro, Philadelphia International, JFK and LaGuardia. The failures hit the Philadelphia TRACON, which handles radar approach control for all five airports. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the facility lost its primary communications circuit; officials separately described the backup fiber line as compromised by the same construction work.

Newark saw no commercial arrivals from roughly 9:40 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. local time. Ground stops at JFK and LaGuardia stretched past 6 p.m. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced by early evening that the telecom lines had been repaired and operations were resuming, though he cautioned it would take additional time to clear the backlog of delayed flights across the corridor.

FAA Launches AI-Assisted Traffic Management Tool in Washington Area

The FAA and the Transportation Department launched SMART, an AI-powered air traffic management tool, at the three major airports serving Washington, D.C. on September 21, coincidentally the same day as the Northeast ATC outage but otherwise unrelated to it. SMART stands for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories. Initial deployment covers Reagan National, Washington Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall, with a gradual expansion to other parts of the country planned to follow.

SMART combines airline schedules with data on weather, runway capacity and other operational factors to anticipate traffic patterns and flag potential conflicts before they develop, rather than reacting to congestion after it starts. The FAA describes the system as an enhancement within its broader Flow Management Data and Services initiative, intended to eventually replace the agency's legacy Traffic Flow Management System. Human controllers retain responsibility for aircraft separation and review SMART's recommendations; the tool doesn't take control of aircraft.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, at the announcement event: "We are not outsourcing aviation to AI." The FAA awarded a $875 million, 12-year contract for the system to Air Space Intelligence. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, whose airline hubs at Dulles, said in a statement: "If it works as we think it can, it will do more to reduce delays and cancellations than anything that's happened in decades." A broader nationwide rollout is projected for 2028, with the Washington-area deployment serving as the initial operating phase.

Honda Pushes Echelon Certification and Deliveries Back to 2031

Honda Aircraft announced September 15 that it has completed the first HondaJet Echelon wing structure, but the larger news was a substantial schedule change buried in the same announcement: first flight moves from 2026 to 2028, and type certification along with initial deliveries slides from 2028 to 2031.

Honda attributed the delay to Tier 1 supplier schedule changes and ongoing development work. The company says it's targeting mainline final assembly for early 2027 and that more than 70% of the parts required for first assembly are already on hand. Honda also reported more than 530 signed letters of intent for the Echelon, a figure worth reading carefully since an LOI isn't a firm order or a guaranteed delivery slot.

Flexjet Takes Delivery of the First Praetor 600E

Embraer delivered the first Praetor 600E to Flexjet September 18, with Flexjet expecting to receive 12 of the aircraft by year-end. The delivery is part of a February 2025 agreement covering 182 firm aircraft and 30 options, valued at up to $7 billion including services and support. This week's news is the first delivery under that existing agreement, not a new order.

The updated Praetor introduces redesigned seating, upgraded cabin-management features, and a 42-inch 4K OLED "Smart Window" capable of displaying video, conferencing content and external-camera views in place of a traditional cabin window in select positions. Embraer says the 600E received FAA, EASA and Brazilian certification in April.

Signature Aviation Buys Its Third FBO at Van Nuys

Signature Aviation completed its acquisition of Castle & Cooke Aviation Services at Van Nuys Airport September 15, bringing its total footprint at VNY to three locations. The acquired facility has been rebranded VNY North within Signature's network, which now spans more than 200 locations across 27 countries. The deal doesn't include Castle & Cooke's separate Honolulu FBO.

Signature CEO Tony Lefebvre: "Van Nuys is one of the most important business aviation markets in the world, and this acquisition strengthens our ability to serve guests in this critical gateway." Castle & Cooke's Tony Marlow said the company is confident Signature shares its commitment to service as the operation transitions.

NBAA Names Interim Leadership as Ed Bolen Takes Medical Leave

NBAA announced September 18 that Dan Hubbard will serve as interim chief operating officer and the association's day-to-day leader while President and CEO Ed Bolen takes leave for cancer treatment. Hubbard has been with NBAA for 22 years and has served as senior vice president for communications since 2008. NBAA said he'll oversee operations, including NBAA-BACE, with support from the existing leadership team.

NBAA also elevated Heidi Williams to senior vice president of operations, filling the role left open by Douglas Carr's retirement in July. Williams has been overseeing air traffic services, infrastructure and FAA coordination. Both changes come five weeks ahead of NBAA-BACE, October 20-22 in Las Vegas.

NBAA Named Its 2026 Top 40 Under 40

Mea maxima culpa… we were remiss last week in not covering NBAA's announcement of the 2026 Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40, which the association actually published September 8. It was an oversight that we didn’t cover it last week, so we’re giving it the full treatment here and the kudos these kids (tongue firmly placed in cheek. I’m 51) deverve.

NBAA selected the honorees from industry nominations reviewed by its Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) Council, organized across nine career categories: Airport Business, Broker/Sales, Business Management, Flight/Cabin Attendant, Innovation and Technology, Maintenance, Marketing, Pilot and Scheduler/Dispatcher. Business Management was the largest category with 11 honorees, followed by Maintenance with six and Pilot with five. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen: "These honorees represent a diverse mix of experience and talent and are already contributing to their communities and mentoring the next generation of business aviation professionals. They are rising stars who are meeting our industry's challenges and driving business aviation forward."

The full list, per NBAA's own recipient page:

·       Lindsay Allmon, Vice President of Marketing, The Blackhawk Group

·       Jake Ansbach, Director of Maintenance, Otter Air Services LLC

·       Susan Anne Aucoin, Flight Operations Manager, Dell Technologies

·       Michael Barber, Managing Director & VP, Sales Operations, jetAVIVA

·       Adam Barron, Director of Maintenance, ACI Jet

·       Chad Decker, President and Director of Aviation, The Whitewind Company

·       Brandon Doramus, General Manager, Service Center, Textron Aviation

·       Eloy Freitas, CAM, Vice President, Safety, Quality, Clay Lacy Aviation

·       Bridget Gonchar, VP, Airport Relations & Strategic Programs, Signature Aviation

·       Eloa Guillotin, Co-founder & CEO, Beyond Aero

·       Ashley Hanson, Unmanned Aviation Systems Manager, Deere & Company

·       Cameron Harris, Director, Parts Sales, Textron Aviation

·       Melanie Hight, Chief Pilot and Director of Safety, OpenAir

·       Jennifer Hoffman, Chief Operating Officer, Azure Flight Support

·       Jamie Ingall, CAM, Director of Aviation, Part 91/135 Flight Operation

·       Amy Karnikian, Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP

·       Joanna Kiel, Director of Business Development, Embraer

·       Erick Lanier, FBO General Manager, Tri-Cities Airport

·       Tom Leone, Manager of Airframe Services, Duncan Aviation

·       Mitch Lutze-Morris, Chief Inspector, Fargo Jet Center

·       Peter Makredes, President & Owner, Sol Aerial Surveys

·       KJ McCarter, CPA, Aviation Tax Advisor, Aviation Tax Consultants

·       Charli Miro, Cabin Attendant, Part 91 Flight Operation

·       Carolina Moreira, Digital Marketing Manager, MedAire Inc.

·       Audrey Myers, FBO Safety Standards, Innovations, & SMS, Atlantic Aviation

·       Bobby Perez, CAM, Vice President of Charter Services, Clay Lacy Aviation

·       Eric Ramsey, Executive Vice President, Aerospace, Higginbotham

·       Sarah Rith, Community Engagement Manager, Prime Air, Amazon

·       Charles Roberts, Chief Pilot, ENG Aviation

·       Ryan Rudolph, Strategy & Operations, BARK Air

·       Lindsey Savko, Corporate Flight Attendant and Registered Nurse, LinRose Worldwide LLC

·       Michael Smith, CAM, Captain (Gulfstream G650, Bombardier Learjet 75, Beechcraft King Air B200GT), Adam Aviation Ltd.

·       Melissa Tarkett, Senior FBO Account Executive, World Fuel Services

·       Ysabella Tetley, Director, Client & Airport Services, Henriksen Jet Center

·       Emily Tobler, Sustainability Program Manager, 4AIR

·       Veta Traxler, Senior Interior & Paint Designer, West Star Aviation

·       Michael Vanacore-Netz, President & Chief Executive Officer, Global Air Charters Inc.

·       Clayton Walters, Specialist, Competitive Intelligence, Wheels Up

·       Noah Yarborough, Regional Vice President, North America, Signum Aviation

Two names on this year's list are especially near and dear to me: Eric Ramsey, Executive Vice President, Aerospace at Higginbotham, and Ysabella Tetley, Director of Client and Airport Services at Henriksen Jet Center, supporting both Houston Executive Airport and Austin Executive Airport. Both are board members at the South Texas Business Aviation Association, where they join Majo Perdomo, class of 2025, and where Ramsey serves as Secretary. Tetley's own path into the industry started when a former Henriksen Jet Center leader recruited her out of customer service; she's since worked her way up from customer service representative to her current director role. Congratulations to both, and to the full 2026 class.

Fuel: Prices Climb Again

The national average for Jet-A stood at $8.14 per gallon as of September 22, according to GlobalAir, across 3,165 reporting FBOs. The Central region remained lowest at $7.31. Alaska remained highest at $9.60. SAF averaged $10.46 nationally, and 100LL averaged $7.65, with Alaska again highest at $11.74 and the Central region lowest at $6.96.

The Aviation Research Group's monthly survey of more than 200 FBOs put the September national average at $8.49, up 18 cents from August and up $1.96 from a year ago. The Southwest region saw the largest monthly increase, up 28 cents; the Western Pacific region saw the smallest, up 7 cents, though it remains the most expensive region at $9.16.

IATA's Fuel Price Monitor showed the global refinery-level average jumping 7.4% week over week to $194.90 per barrel. Both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remain contested, and there's still no resolution in sight on either front.

Weather: Heavy Rain Threat for West Texas, Heat Lingers Elsewhere

The following is sourced from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, current as of the evening of September 21 into the morning of September 22.

WPC has a Moderate Risk (level 3 of 4) of excessive rainfall in effect today for southern New Mexico, with a Slight Risk covering a broader area of the state, plus a Slight Risk over the Central Appalachians, centered mostly over West Virginia and southwestern Virginia. The New Mexico threat is the more significant of the two: an upper-level trough approaching from the west is strengthening the upper-level jet, deep southerly flow is transporting tropical moisture northward, and embedded shortwave energy is advancing out of Mexico. Precipitable water values are forecast to approach mid-to-late-September record levels, supporting heavy rainfall rates and scattered flash flooding across much of New Mexico and far southwest Texas, including the sensitive burn scar areas of the Sacramento Mountains.

That New Mexico threat escalates Wednesday, when WPC has upgraded the risk to Moderate across a larger portion of eastern New Mexico as the heavy rainfall threat potentially peaks, with a well-defined shortwave lifting northward and PW values remaining near record levels for the date. The Central Appalachians threat continues into Wednesday as well, with a Slight Risk over northern and central Virginia and northern North Carolina.

Farther out, WPC's Day 4-5 discussion (Thursday-Friday) carries a Slight Risk across New Mexico, southeast Arizona and the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, with moisture and shortwave energy lifting into the Central Plains raising the threat for isolated flash flooding as far northeast as Nebraska. A developing coastal low in the Atlantic could bring heavy rain to southeastern New England by Friday, though the track remains uncertain.

North and Central Texas are largely outside the sharpest near-term risk, which is concentrated in New Mexico and the immediate Texas Panhandle/far southwest Texas border area rather than the state's major population centers. The Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 day outlook, valid September 22-26, favors above-normal temperatures across nearly the entire Lower 48, with the highest odds concentrated from the South into the Southeast, and favors above-normal rainfall along the Eastern Seaboard and the Southwest specifically.

That's The Brief

The Week in One Sentence: Charter broker OneFlight International paused all flight activity with more than $150 million in customer deposits exposed, a construction-related fiber cut and backup circuit failure at Philadelphia TRACON triggered ground stops at Teterboro, Newark, Philadelphia, JFK and LaGuardia, the FAA separately launched its AI-assisted SMART traffic management tool at three Washington-area airports under an $875 million contract with Air Space Intelligence, Honda pushed HondaJet Echelon certification and deliveries back three years to 2031, Flexjet took delivery of the first Praetor 600E under its existing 182-aircraft order, Signature Aviation acquired its third FBO at Van Nuys, NBAA named interim leadership while Ed Bolen takes medical leave for cancer treatment, we corrected last week's omission of NBAA's 2026 Top 40 Under 40 class including STXBAA board members Eric Ramsey and Ysabella Tetley, FBO Jet-A climbed to $8.14 nationally, and WPC issued a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall for southern and eastern New Mexico through Wednesday, with lesser risk extending into the Texas Panhandle and Central Appalachians.