Jet Aviation's FBO at Zurich International airport in cooperation with its Munich and Basel facilities handled 592 movements and 1,320 passengers during the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, from 17-20 January.

Etihad Airways Engineering and Lantal Textiles have launched the first flammability test laboratory in the Middle East. Located at Abu Dhabi International airport, it will serve VIP operators, MRO organisations, design and production companies and cabin interior suppliers.

Spike Aerospace is redoubling its efforts to develop the world's first quiet supersonic jet. The first flight of a subsonic prototype is scheduled for late summer 2017, while a supersonic demonstrator is anticipated by the end of 2018.

Lufthansa Technik has developed its first radome for Ka-band connectivity. STC approval for installation on BBJ and BBJ2s was granted by EASA in December.

TAG Aviation's FBOs at Geneva and Sion have been awarded IS-BAH Stage 1 by IBAC in recognition of its rigorous safety and ground handling standards.

Global FBO Consult has been approved as an International Standards Support Services Affiliate (I3SA) to the IS-BAH programme, and is now offering its support services worldwide after forming a dedicated team for Africa and the Middle East.

Gulfstream is putting together an extensive schedule of customer support events for 2017. Having held a pilot forum on 18 January, it is also organising operator forums in Geneva and London later this year.

The Isle of Man aircraft registry has been named Best Global Aviation Registry in World Commerce Review Magazine's 2017 awards. IOMAR is the sixth largest international business jet register in the world.

AMAC Aerospace has been awarded four new maintenance contracts on small and mid-size business jets. The company has also signed an Airbus A319 contract and is currently performing a 60-month check on a Global Express.

RUAG Aviation in Munich has optimised the downtime required for a Bombardier Challenger CL604 by completing a 192-month MRO inspection and full cabin refurbishment in under 10 weeks.

Airbus Helicopters delivered 418 rotorcraft in 2016, a five per cent increase compared with 2015, and logged gross orders for 388 helicopters compared with 383 in 2015.