News from NBAA-BACE
The new models—the Cessna Citation M2 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3, and CJ4 Gen3—were announced at the company’s static display at Henderson Executive Airport during the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition. The Gen3 version of each aircraft will include Garmin Emergency Autoland, and the Citation CJ4 Gen3 additionally features the new Garmin G3000 Prime integrated avionics suite. The CJ4 Gen3 achieved its first flight in early October and is expected to enter service in 2026. The M2 Gen3 and CJ3 Gen3 are expected to enter service in 2027. All three new aircraft will include Runway Occupancy Awareness, which provides visibility of runway obstacles and potential runway incursions, and Advanced 3D SafeTaxi, which displays runways, FBOs, and hangars to make airport navigation easier.
Blackhawk Aerospace announced that it successfully completed baseline flight testing for its Daher TBM 700 series supplemental type certificate program on September 20, “marking a major milestone with the first flight of a TBM 700 equipped with the higher-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine.” The testbed aircraft’s newly installed engine has 1,825 equivalent shaft horsepower, an increase from 1,583 on the stock engine. Operators can anticipate faster climb and cruise speeds as a result. “This first-flight milestone represents a key advancement in our STC program, bringing increased power, performance, and sustainability to TBM 700 owners,” said Edwin Black, president of Blackhawk Aerospace.
Business jet makers are catching up with backlogs, and owners expect to fly more often in 2025. Honeywell’s new business aviation forecast calls for stable demand and long-term growth. Honeywell’s thirty-third Global Business Aviation Outlook forecasts delivery of 8,500 new business jets between 2025 and 2033 worth $280 billion—little changed from the prior two years’ forecasts.
Daher’s Kodiak 100 single-engine turboprop on floats is now eligible for Hartzell’s five-blade composite propeller. Daher announced the propeller and an app update at NBAA. Introduced by Daher in 2023, the propeller’s new pitch latch function enables float-equipped aircraft to be easily maneuvered on water with greater control and safety because the propeller can be set in a fine pitch position during engine startup and shutdown. Daher also announced the seventh version of its Me & My TBM cloud-based application for TBM owners and operators. Among various improvements, the app now offers broad access to aircraft technical information and support. 
aopa.org/nbaa
