Week 36 - Business Aviation Review

The last week of August 2026 mixed a major product milestone, an OEM leadership handover, and a high-profile infrastructure deal.

On 25 August, Embraer announced triple certification of the Phenom 300EV from Brazil’s ANAC, the FAA, and EASA. The aircraft is the first light jet—and the largest business jet so far—certified with Garmin Emergency Autoland, which can select an airport, talk to ATC, and land automatically if the pilot is incapacitated. Range is now 2,055 nm with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves; payload is higher and the cabin includes factory Gogo Galileo connectivity. Deliveries start in 2028. The Phenom 300 family remains the world’s best-selling light jet.

The same week Textron Aviation confirmed a planned succession. Ron Draper, president and CEO for eight years, will retire. Brian Rohloff, a 29-year company veteran who most recently ran global customer support, becomes president and CEO on 31 August. Draper stays through year-end as senior advisor. The move comes as Textron Aviation works through a large backlog and new Citation variants.

Infrastructure news was equally loud. Apollo funds took a significant stake in Atlantic Aviation while KKR remains a major shareholder, valuing the 100-plus-location FBO network at nearly $10 billion. Atlantic also began work on a new Nashville FBO. Sky X opened a new terminal in Louisiana, and Infinity Aviation acquired FlightServ’s FBO at Trenton-Mercer Airport, expanding New York-area hangar and terminal capacity.

Taken together, the week showed the sector’s two tracks: manufacturers adding safety and performance to proven types, and private capital still betting on the ground infrastructure that keeps business aviation flying.