James Wynbrandt
Contributor - Business Aviation

A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air & Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley & Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Latest from James Wynbrandt

Maintenance and Modifications

For VIP Interiors Comlux, the Future Starts at TwoTwenty

VIP airliner specialist Comlux is accelerating deliveries of the ACJ TwoTwenty, the newest Airbus Corporate Jet.
Comlux ACJ TwoTwenty interior
Aircraft

Gulfstream Sees G700 Certification by Year-end, G800 Soon After

Gulfstream expects the delayed G700 certification to come by year's end, with G800 to follow by six to nine months, president Mark Burns said at EBACE.
Gulfstream G700
Aircraft

Gulfstream’s G800 Makes Continental Debut

Gulfstream’s G800, forthcoming ultra-long range flagship, makes continental debut at EBACE, leading static display of every Gulfstream model in production.
Gulfstream G800
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Lufthansa Technik Shows Tomorrow’s Cabin Tech Today

Voice command, OLED screens, and green materials are coming to bizav interiors, German MRO Lufthansa Technik says at EBACE.
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Charter & Fractional

European Air Charter Providers Ready for a Busy Summer

Indicators point to strong travel demand, and the industry seems to be prepared for it.
Atlas Air Service
Cabin Interior and Electronics

OEMs, Aftermarket Go Green on Business Aircraft Cabins

The path to net zero puts new focus on sustainability and renewables in today’s aircraft interiors.
Bombardier Challenger 3500
Maintenance and Modifications

MRO Demand and Group Synergies Drive AMAC Forward

VIP aircraft specialist AMAC Aerospace reports strong demand for inspections and MRO services, as subsidiary firms and new Saudi office prosper.
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Cabin Interior and Electronics

Duncan Delivers Fully Refurbished Global Express

Duncan Delivers Refurbed Global Express
Cabin of Duncan Aviation updated 2001 Bombardier Global Express
Charter & Fractional

Jet Aviation Spotlights MRO, VIP Lift, Cabin Milestone

Swiss full-service provider Jet Aviation is showcasing expanded Middle East MRO capabilities and VIP charter and completion services at EBACE.
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Cabin Interior and Electronics

AvFab Wins STC for King Air Upgrade Kit

Aviation Fabricators received a supplemental type certificate for its Monarch sidewall kit for 300-series King Airs, mimicking new King Air 360s interiors.
300-series King Air cabin equipped with Monarch sidewall kit by Aviation Fabricators
Regulations and Government

FAA Easing Aeromedical Rules for Mental Health Issues

FAA Revising Mental Health Cert Rules for Pilots
Dr. Susan Northrup FAA
Safety

Kern Urges ‘Thinking Differently’ about Aviation Safety

Convergent Performance CEO Tony Kern said there is a need for rethinking aviation safety approaches and programs.
Tony Kern, Convergent Performance CEO
Regulations and Government

Former Bizjet Escrow Exec Guilty of Drug Trafficking

Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin was found guilty of money laundering, wire fraud, and two counts of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine.
Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin
Aircraft

60 Years of Falcons Define Business Jet Evolution

The anniversary of the first flight of Dassault’s Mystère 20 is a business aviation milestone.
Charles Lindbergh, fourth from right, views the prototype Mystère 20
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Comlux Delivers First Completed ACJ TwoTwenty

Swiss VIP aircraft services specialist Comlux delivered the first completed ACJ TwoTwenty to launch customer Five Hotels and Resorts.
Five Hotels and Resorts ACJ TwoTwenty on approach to landing
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Lantal Intros Green Digital Carpet Dyeing Tech

Lantal introduced a dyeing technology that promises significant savings of time, cost, and environmental footprint in the production of aircraft carpeting.
Lantal textiles digital deep-dyed fabric swatches

Covid Meets Business Aviation—A Post-Pandemic Review

Three years following the beginning of the Covid pandemic: How did we survive, what has changed, and what did we learn?
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Aircraft

Attendance Soars at 2023 King Air Gathering

Attendance was up by 70 percent and vendor count nearly doubled at the 2023 King Air Gathering, marking a new era for the annual event.
King Airs parked in a row on grass at an airfield during King Air Gathering 2023
Charter & Fractional

Wheels Up Introduces King Air Access Program

Wheels Up hopes that the new UP King Air access program will lock in more customers at a discounted price.
King Air 350 operated by Wheels Up on taxiway
Maintenance and Modifications

Lufthansa Technik Reports Record Earnings in 2022

Aircraft maintenance and completions firm Lufthansa Technik reported record earnings in 2022 and is bullish on VIP refurbishment work.
Lufthansa Technik VIP interior completions employee works on wood finish in the company's back shop
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Companies Answer the Call for Onboard Voice Command

Voice control is finally coming to business aircraft cockpits and cabins.
Garmin Telligence voice command system
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Wipaire Debuts Aurora Interiors for Cessna Caravans

Wipaire has introduced nine cabin designs for the Cessna 208 Caravan and Grand Caravan EX.
Canyon Aurora interior by Wipaire
Training and Workforce

JumpHub Intros Non-rev Perks for Part 135 Ops

No-cost JumpHub offers non-revenue benefits, such as access to empty leg flights, to Part 135 operators and flight crews.
JumpHub app displayed on iPhone
Aircraft

Low-time Retired Boeing BBJ 747-8 Scrapped

Boeing 747-8 scrapped at one of the world’s largest aircraft boneyards.
Boeing 747-8
Cabin Interior and Electronics

AeroVisto, Vartan Team on Bizjet Cabin Refurb Service

AeroVisto Group and Vartan Aviation Group have partnered on “360°CabinService,” providing à la carte interior work for cabin refurbishment projects.
Passenger onboard business jet with Aero Visto cabin interior
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Primadonna Intros New-design Cabin Bed System

Primadonna's PrimaLux FlexFrame bed for business jets fits between two single club or conference seats and is topped by a memory foam mattress.
Aircraft cabin with Primadonna's PrimaLux FlexFrame bed installed between seats
Aircraft

Citadel Meets 'Hot' VIP Airliner Refurb, MRO Demand

VIP Airliner completion and MRO specialist Citadel Aviation reports doubling business amidst a “hot” market for aftermarket upgrades and service.
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Charter Market Seeing Seismic Shift

Covid-driven demand from new charter users amidst a wave of consolidation is transforming the market.
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Aircraft

Bizliner-centric AMAC Expands Services and Subsidiaries

Switzerland’s AMAC enhances its VIP airliner services and portfolio of complementary subsidiaries, as completion of the first ACJ350 proceeds.
Cabin Interior and Electronics

NC Carpet To Distribute ABM Stitching Machines

NC Carpet Binding has partnered with ABM International to distribute CNC stitching equipment for fabricating business aircraft upholstery.
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