Embraer and Vibroair Flugservice GmbH & Co. KG signed a contract for two Phenom 300, one Legacy 500, and one Legacy 600 executive jets. The Legacy 600 is scheduled for delivery in 2009, and is already included in Embraer’s second quarter 2008 firm order backlog.

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) will place a bold foothold in South America with the announcement that Brazilian-based Líder Signatures S.A. has ordered 23 aircraft spanning the Hawker Beechcraft product line.

Lufthansa Technik presented niceview, a passenger flight information and moving map system, at the NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention. niceview provides worldwide high-resolution 3-D maps and virtual flight views as well as a multitude of informative screens.

Bombardier Aerospace revealed its new all-composite Learjet 85 aircraft interior to customers and special guests at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention and exhibition in Orlando.

Cessna Aircraft Company unveiled a new Citation Columbus concept mock-up reflecting progress to date and two years of research into customer preferences on the opening day of the National Business Aviation Association Meeting and Convention.

CAE is adding a second Bombardier CRJ full-flight simulator (FFS) to its Madrid training centre, doubling its CRJ platform capacity in the region. The simulator will be a CRJ200 Level D that will support the currently installed CRJ200/900 Level D FFS. It is scheduled to enter into service in early 2009.

Aircell announced that a U.S.-based Fortune 100 company will be the first to install Aircell Broadband services in the business aviation market. The installation will take place before the end of 2008 at Savannah Air Center aboard the customer’s Bombardier Global-series aircraft.

Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, announced the introduction of its newest super mid-size business jet. The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The aircraft is capable of traveling 3,400 nautical miles at 0.80 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of 0.85 Mach. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, the G250 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, where it can avoid air-traffic congestion and adverse weather.

StandardAero, a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) company, announced they will be the launch partner and generate the first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for  Honeywell’s DU-875 flight deck upgrade program for Falcon 900C and EX series aircraft. This upgrade program will replace the existing Honeywell Primus 2000 DU-870 cathode ray tube (CRT) displays with new Honeywell DU-875 liquid crystal displays (LCD).

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) announced the launch of its newest light business jet—the Hawker 450XP. Building from the world’s most successful fractional aircraft, the Hawker 400XP, the new Hawker 450XP will receive the most comprehensive product upgrade in light jet history. The four key upgrades include new engines that deliver 10 percent better fuel economy; the world’s most advanced infotainment system via the new Rockwell Collins Venue™ integrated Cabin Management System; new more luxurious interior – based on the interior of the 900XP and all new avionics – Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21™ integrated avionics which elevates the pilots’ awareness, knowledge and capabilities.

Midcoast Aviation’s new 146,000 sq ft narrow-body hangar — its largest ever — is now open for business. The hangar was completed within 14 months with a total investment of $18.5 million. As part of this expansion, the company will add at least 200 new employees within the first two years of operation.

Jet Aviation Hong Kong recently received its maintenance repair station approval from the Hong Civil Aviation Department (CAD). Established in 2001 as aircraft management and charter division for the Asia region, the facility expanded its operation to perform line maintenance for Hong Kong registered Bombardier, Cessna and Gulfstream aircraft and to provide AOG support services.

Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. announced today that it has launched an enhanced version of its free online aviation weather video broadcast, Aviation Weather Today, featuring more frequent posting times and the ability to watch individual chapters of the broadcast.

In anticipation of a busy NBAA next week, FlightSafety made numerous pre-event announcements,

Cessna Aircraft Company has launched a completely redesigned World Wide Web site incorporating new features designed to make it easier for customers to research aircraft capabilities, as well as for other audiences to explore the company, its products and career opportunities. The Web site address remains http://www.cessna.com/.