Luma Technologies’ Lumatech TM 45-station integrated LED caution warning display will be standard equipment on Nextant Aerospace’s King Air G90XT, which is scheduled for certification later this year. “Nextant and Luma have enjoyed a good working relationship since the beginning of the 400XTi program,” says Luma president Bruce Maxwell. “It’s a natural extension for them to carry the 400XTi’s reliable LED technology over to the G90XT.

Following a “fast and furious” 10 months from launch, Wheels Up’s membership program has expanded into three U.S. regions with a fleet of nearly 20 King Airs, and company founder Kenny Dichter expects to reach into other U.S. regions this year and Europe in early 2015. Dichter, the founder of the Marquis Jet membership program, formally unveiled plans for Wheels Up August 1 with an order for 105 King Air 350i and a vision of building a membership-based company that provide services for any private air travel need.

Honeywell has named the first business aviation customer for its JetWave Wi-Fi connectivity system employing Jet ConneX, the Inmarsat Global Xpress–powered service. Honeywell has an MoU with Haitec Aircraft Maintenance to deliver the system for two ACJ319s operated by Tyrolean Jet Services, a Haitec customer. “Once it comes online in the first half of 2015, it will deliver passengers and operators fast, global inflight Wi-Fi across land and sea,” Honeywell says.

Pilatus Aircraft opened its order book here yesterday for the PC-24 utility jet, and by the end of the first day of EBACE had announced sales of 76. Every sale was proudly proclaimed on a scoreboard, and often named the customer as well. Launch customers included: Falcon Aviation Services, UAE: two PC-24s; Jetfly, Luxembourg: four aircraft; PlaneSense, USA: six PC-24s; Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Western Operations): three plus an option for a fourth; and U-Haul International, USA: two.

EBAA CEO Fabio Gamba is upbeat that this year’s EBACE is reflecting signs that the business aviation market in European may be stabilizing. “It’s been a tough period,” he says, but he told Tuesday’s opening ceremony that “indicators point to 2014 being a year of positive rebound.” EBAA, working with NBAA here, is “trying to be proactive” in anticipation of an improving market, with more educational sessions and announcements on access, infrastructure, runway use, flight and duty time and more.

Flying by the seat of your pants has a new meaning at Lufthansa Technik, which yesterday unveiled a new concept for the main passenger-cabin interface – the chair.

Why buy when you can lease? Why tie up $50 million in a jet – a depreciating asset – when you can lease the jet, dress it as your own, fly it as your own, yet not have it on your balance sheet? Those are the questions being asked here by Colin Steven, formerly of Embraer, who is launching Veling Tayara with partners including former Embraer Executive Jets president Ernie Edwards. “In today’s environment, there are smarter ways to invest your capital than in a depreciating asset,” the company says.

A futuristic interior for a VIP helicopter is being unveiled here this week by AgustaWestland. A mockup of the design for the AW169, by fashion studio Lanzavecchia+Wai, can be seen at EBACE. After working with the most famous and prestigious fashion houses, such as Versace and Lagerfeld, on the GrandNew and AW139 helicopters, AgustaWestland decided to do something different and avant garde for the AW169, which is to be certified this year.