AAV News in Brief 13 September 2026

JCB Aero wins Boeing Part 145 maintenance approval: JCB Aero announced the extension of its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities following the receipt of a new Part 145 maintenance approval for Boeing aircraft. Located in Auch, near Toulouse, we launched our MRO operations in October 2024 and have since completed numerous maintenance projects on Airbus aircraft. With the Boeing approval received in August 2026, the company is able to extend these services to Boeing operators. The approval covers Base and Line Maintenance on Boeing B737 aircraft, including the B737-600, B737-700, B737-800 and B737-900 variants. Sébastien Kubler, Chief Operating Officer at JCB Aero, said: “Receiving this Boeing approval marks an important milestone in the development of JCB Aero’s MRO activities. Adding the Boeing 737 family to our existing Airbus capabilities enables us to serve a wider range of customers and further strengthens our position as a flexible and responsive MRO partner. This achievement is also a great recognition of the commitment and expertise of our teams.” Epic Flight Academy adds Tecnam aircraft to fleet: Tecnam said Epic Flight Academy has expanded its fleet with the acquisition of two Tecnam P2006Ttwin-engine aircraft. Founded in 1999 and operating out of multiple locations, Epic Flight Academy is currently recognised as the largest Part 141 flight school in the United States, supporting a robust roster of approximately 600 active flight students. The integration of the two new Tecnam P2006T aircraft will immediately bolster the academy’s multi-engine training capacity. The Tecnam P2006T offers Epic’s students an advanced, highly efficient alternative for their multi-engine ratings. Designed with unparalleled aerodynamics and a state-of-the-art glass cockpit, the aircraft provides an ultra-modern training environment. Furthermore, the P2006T introduces an airframe that is highly appealing to Epic’s diverse demographic of international students, perfectly bridging the gap between basic training and commercial airline operations. “We are continually looking for ways to make flight training more affordable while maintaining the modern, technologically advanced fleet our students have come to expect from us,” said Josh Rawlins, COO of Epic Flight Academy. National Jet Express strengthens fleet with new Embraer E190: National Jet Express (NJE) announced the addition of its ninth Embraer E190 aircraft, VH-8EC, which will enter service on 19 September 2026 and will be based in Perth. It follows the entry into service of NJE’s 13th Q400, VH-8QE, in June and will increase NJE’s FIFO passenger fleet to 22 aircraft, comprising 13 De Havilland Q400 turboprops and 9 Embraer E190 jets. “The arrival of our 9th E190 will partially assuage the ever-increasing demand for NJE’s FIFO services in WA, SA and QLD. We will bring in our 10th E190 in another month to meet this demand and will continue to grow our fleet over the next 12 months. With our E190 and Q400 fleets operated and maintained in-house, we are well positioned to provide safe and reliable services to both our existing customers and future growth opportunities across Australia,” said Robin Furber, Executive Director, National Jet Express. Ontic expands portfolio with acquisition of SIRS Navigation: Ontic, a leading manufacturer to the world’s civil and military aircraft, has announced its acquisition of SIRS Navigation, a business specialising in the design and manufacture of high quality, precision standby magnetic compasses for the global aviation industry. Based in Kent, England, SIRS Navigation has designed, manufactured, and supported high-quality magnetic compasses for over 60 years. Recognised as a leading manufacturer of standby aviation compasses, the company’s products are installed on virtually every major commercial and business aviation platform, spanning fixed-wing and rotorcraft, with tens of thousands of units in service worldwide. The company supplies compasses into OEM production lines and provides replacement units directly to operators and distributors across the aftermarket. It also operates a comprehensive 24/7 global product support network to ensure fast resolution of logistical and technical issues for operators worldwide. Its compass designs, originally acquired from GE Aerospace, have been continuously improved in-house, to develop a lightweight, efficient compass that is the global market leader in its field. SIRS Navigation offers custom design capability to meet individual customer and platform requirements. BOC Aviation signs purchase, lease deals with Avianca: BOC Aviation announced that it has agreed to purchase 12 Airbus A320NEO aircraft from Airbus for long-term lease to existing customer Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. Avianca (“Avianca”). The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2029 and will all be powered by CFM LEAP 1A engines. “We are delighted to build on our strong relationship to support Avianca’s growing business,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation. “As aircraft production ramps up, pre delivery payment financing is becoming increasingly important for our airline customers.  Our access to significant liquidity enables us to support our customers with transactions of this nature and add to our fleet of latest technology A320NEOs.” “We are pleased to expand our relationship with BOC Aviation through this transaction, which supports Abra’s long-term fleet strategy and growth across the region,” said Francisco Raddatz, Chief Procurement Officer of Abra Group, parent company of Avianca. “Access to modern, fuel-efficient aircraft is critical to strengthening connectivity, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring we are well positioned to serve the evolving needs of our customers in Latin America.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]