Despite a relatively flat year in 2013, BBA Aviation is continuing to aggressively build up its Signature Flight Support business to position it to capitalize on the market as it gradually grows.

Textron is hoping to close on its planned $1.4 billion acquisition of Beechcraft this month after receiving a key regulatory clearance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC agreed to an early termination of the requisite waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, paving the way for a first-quarter closing, Textron said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fractional aircraft share sales strengthened in 2013 for NetJets, leading the fractional ownership provider to a 7.5% increase in revenues and a 7% improvement in earnings, NetJets parent Berkshire Hathaway reports. NetJets’ increase in revenues was slightly behind other businesses in Berkshire Hathaway’s “other service” group, which also includes FlightSafety International, TTI, Business Wire and Dairy Queen, among others. The businesses reported in that group collective contributed to a 10% increase in revenues to $9 billion in 2013.

A strong fourth quarter in which Dassault delivered nearly half of all the Falcons shipped in 2013 led the French airframer to a 17% improvement in sales for the year. Dassault Aviation will report its full 2013 results on March 13, but in an interim report the company credits a jump in Falcon sales along with its unmanned combat air vehicle program for the increase in yearlong sales to €4.593 billion ($6.321 billion).

Citing concerns of the potential ramifications on the safety of the national airspace system, FAA is appealing a National Transportation Safety Board administrative law judge’s decision to dismiss a proposed civil penalty for unauthorized use of an unmanned aircraft system. The law judge’s determination puts the penalty on hold while the agency appeals the case to the full NTSB.

The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is continuing to explore all options to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO), including a possible new policy that would permit the city to lease airport property only to non-aviation entities such as art galleries and small shops.

The U.S. is close to completing the nationwide deployment of a satellite-based navigation network, which will be by far the largest such system in the world and a key foundation for the NextGen initiative.

The A330 may be big winner in avalanche of orders expected