Bombardier received FAA certification on Nov. 14 for the first of the new Learjets, the Learjet 75, clearing the way for deliveries to formally begin. Bombardier on Oct. 17 held a ceremonial celebration for the delivery of the initial Learjet 75s – ceremonial because the aircraft was not yet certified. Bombardier had hoped to arrive at last month’s National Business Aviation Association annual convention with FAA approval in hand, but that was pushed back by the government shutdown.

The City of Santa Monica, Calif., is claiming that FAA is violating its constitutional rights by insisting that it continue operating Santa Monica Airport (SMO), saying U.S. interests in the airport ended in 1953. The city on Oct. 31 filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in an attempt to gain control over the future of SMO, a step that would allow the city to close the airport.

Nearly a month after the 16-day government shutdown ended, FAA has made strides in working through its Aircraft and Airmen Registry backlogs and has agreed to provide some operational leeway with oversight and training deadlines. But the agency is still catching up on an already strained certification workload.

The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing maintenance, medical records, pilot flying history and air traffic control records as part of its resumed investigation into the Sept. 29 crash of a Cessna Citation 525A (CJ2+) at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California, killing all four aboard.

Million Air continues to expand its network of fixed-base operations (FBOs) through new franchised additions and has plans under way to invest millions into its new facilities. But at the same time, CEO Roger Woolsey stresses that the company remains firmly focused on the FBO business – not the mergers and acquisition business.

NetJets expanded its network of customer-exclusive terminals with the grand opening Nov. 6 of a facility at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in Florida. The 10,000-sq.-ft. terminal, built and operated by Signature Flight Support, is the sixth NetJets-exclusive facility in the U.S. with specific amenities tailored to the fractional ownership provider’s specifications.

Piper Aircraft is continuing to post improving quarterly deliveries and revenue, as its trainer sales further strengthen. Piper’s third-quarter deliveries were up slightly: it delivered 41 aircraft valued at $37.2 million, up from 40 aircraft valued at $35.2 million a year ago. But through three quarters, deliveries have improved 9% to 127 aircraft, compared with 116 during the same period last year. Revenue during the period grew 6.5% from $106.9 million in 2012 to $113.9 million this year.

Airline alliances are slow to pool the aftermarket needs of their members.