JSfirm.com, an aviation job advertisement website, completes its annual Business Aviation Survey, with 275 Part 91 and 135 operators participating this year. In comparison to 2016, flight hours have increased (+4%) and fewer companies report being impacted by the pilot shortage (-8%).

Star Jets International, LLC (www.starjetsintl.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advanced Defense Technologies, Inc. (OTC:ADCF) announces that it has made arrangements to now accept Bitcoin as a payment mechanism for its private jet services.

ACR Electronics, Inc., a provider of safety and survival technologies, confirms that Drew Marine UK Holdings Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire SKYTRAC, a full-service, data-driven solutions provider for the global aviation industry. SKYTRAC will report into ACR Electronics, Inc.

Av8 MRO announces its expansion of service capabilities on Hawker aircraft by providing TKS panel repair and overhaul in-house. With a combination of existing OEM repairs and newly developed DER repairs, Av8 MRO is able to both repair and overhaul Hawker 125 series TKS panels. All TKS panels can be either repaired or exchanged for overhauled units, including dented panels.

Av8 MRO announces a new division within the company, Av8 PMA, which specializes in engineering, certification and manufacturing of specialized replacement parts under its FAA-PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) for aircraft operators, parts distributors and certified repair stations.

West Star Aviation unveils the newly redesigned West Star mobile app, now available on Android devices. The app originally hit Apple devices in early 2016.

West Star Aviation announces Scott McDonald as its East South Central regional sales manager. As an RSM for West Star Aviation, McDonald will be responsible for sales activities for West Star's Southern territory, including South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and western Tennessee.

West Star Aviation announces an update on the construction of a 48,380-square-foot paint facility at its Chattanooga, TN, location with an anticipated completion date for September 2018. The new Chattanooga paint facility that recently broke ground will be large enough to house aircraft up to and including Embraer Lineage 1000. It will also feature an additional strip and prep facility.

West Star Aviation announces James (Jim) Woodliff as its South Central regional sales manager. As RSM, Jim will be responsible for sales activities in Texas and Oklahoma while also building and maintaining customer relationships.

West Star Aviation announces its Chattanooga, TN, facility (CHA) has entered into agreement with Embraer to receive Authorized Service Center approval for all Legacy models in 4th quarter 2017, with the Lineage 1000 and Lineage 1000E and Phenom 100 & Phenom 300 aircraft in 2018. The state-of-the-art Chattanooga facility will offer interior refurbishment, avionics, avionics installation and repair, inspections and parts services.