(PRNewswire) On February 25, Captain Jon Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, issued a communication to the nearly 10,000 pilots represented by the association. In his communication he provided additional context and perspective on the self-described "State of Operational Emergency" declared by the airline. In his communication, Captain Weaks reaffirmed the safety of the airline, the confidence the pilot union has in AMFA mechanics to keep our aircraft in airworthy condition, and the joint commitment by SWAPA Pilots and AMFA mechanics to always protect the passengers. SWAPA Pilots are responsible for flying safely from point A to point B or not at all. 

Oriens Aviation announces it has signed an agreement with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd to extend its exclusive UK and Ireland Authorized Pilatus Center at London Biggin Hill Airport to the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet, effective immediately.  In readiness, it is ramping up tooling and sending engineers to Stans, Switzerland for training to add the twin-engined jet to its Part 145 MRO approvals. It expects to achieve this by the end of the third quarter.   

King Aerospace Commercial Corporation says it was on track to complete work on 20 Boeing aircraft in 2018. Instead, it completed 29. Scope included routine maintenance, avionics, paint and interior modifications for Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), Boeing 737s and Boeing 757s. 

Inflite The Jet Centre, part of the Inflite group of companies, based at London Stansted Airport, announces the acquisition of Bombardier Challenger and Global Express specialist Excellence Aviation Services. The purchase includes Excellence Aviation Services Ltd, its Part 145 organization and CAMO, as well as Excellence Aviation Ltd, its Part NCC aircraft management business.   

ExecuJet, part of the Luxaviation Group, is celebrating the appointment of Niclas von Planta, vice president of ExecuJet Europe, as the new president of the Swiss Business Aviation Association (SBAA).

West Star Aviation announces that its Chattanooga (CHA) facility has been named an Authorized Service Center for Embraer Lineage 1000 and 1000E, continuing to enhance the Chattanooga location as a one-stop shop for Embraer customers.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announces it has made significant enhancements to its already extensive customer support resources in Europe and Asia, including the addition of hangar space for maintenance at Europe’s busiest business-aviation airport, Paris-Le Bourget.

In a major boost for airline accident investigations, Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Curtiss-Wright Corp., partner to develop an entirely new way for airlines to monitor and analyze flight data. Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright will use real-time connectivity to reinvent the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — commonly referred to as “black boxes" — for the commercial airline, cargo transport and business jet markets.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. receives a 2019 Business Intelligence Group (BIG) Innovation Award for the advanced technology introduced on the high-performing Gulfstream G500. The Business Intelligence Group seeks out and rewards those with vision, creativity and persistence.

Duncan Aviation announces that an 18-year veteran of the company, Adam Beach, has accepted the position of sales representative for the Paint and Interior Sales team at its new Provo, UT, facility.