This article is based on an official press release from ExecuJet MRO Services.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has officially certified ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia to perform line and base maintenance on Vietnam-registered Gulfstream G650ER business jets. This regulatory milestone allows the Malaysian facility to conduct heavy airframe maintenance and comprehensive engine services for the Rolls-Royce BR725 engines powering the aircraft.

According to an official press release from ExecuJet MRO Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, the approval covers line and heavy maintenance checks up to and including 4C or 48-month inspections. This development provides Vietnamese operators with crucial access to high-quality, in-region maintenance support without needing to fly their aircraft outside of Southeast Asia.

The certification arrives at a pivotal time for Vietnam’s rapidly expanding business aviation sector, which relies heavily on established regional hubs like Malaysia for complex maintenance due to a lack of dedicated domestic infrastructure for ultra-long-range jets.

Expanding Capabilities for the Gulfstream G650ER

Comprehensive Airframe and Engine Support

The CAAV certification significantly broadens the scope of services ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia can offer to Vietnamese operators. Based on the company’s press release, the approval encompasses not only extensive airframe checks but also detailed engine maintenance.

For the Rolls-Royce BR725 engines that power the Gulfstream G650ER, the facility is now authorized to perform scheduled inspections, repairs, and non-routine maintenance. Furthermore, technicians can handle the removal and replacement of engine accessories in strict accordance with manufacturer manuals and CAAV-approved data.

“This certification enhances our capability to support Gulfstream G650ER operators in Vietnam with high-quality, reliable maintenance services,”

The Strategic Importance of the Vietnamese Market

A High-Growth Aviation Sector

Vietnam represents a burgeoning frontier for business aviation. Industry research indicates that while the country of 100 million people currently operates a relatively small fleet of approximately 10 to 12 private jets, the sector’s growth rate is exceptionally high.

This surge is primarily fueled by Vietnam’s robust economic expansion across sectors such as manufacturing, real estate, and information technology. As domestic corporations and high-net-worth individuals increasingly utilize private flights to facilitate domestic and international expansion, the demand for ultra-long-range aircraft like the Gulfstream G650ER, capable of flying 7,500 nautical miles nonstop, has intensified.

“Vietnam is an important and fast-growing market for business aviation in Southeast Asia, supported by the country’s strong economic growth,”

Lim added in the company statement that Vietnamese companies are actively working to expand their business footprint both across the country and internationally, driving the need for reliable aviation assets.

Malaysia’s Role as a Regional MRO Hub

State-of-the-Art Infrastructure at Subang Airport

Because the Vietnamese business aviation market is still in its early developmental stages, it currently lacks the extensive, dedicated in-country Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) infrastructure required for complex ultra-long-range jets. Consequently, operators must look to established regional centers.

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is well-positioned to fill this gap. According to industry data, the company relocated in April 2024 to a brand-new, 149,500-square-foot purpose-built MRO facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) near Kuala Lumpur. As the largest business aviation maintenance facility at Subang Airport, it can accommodate up to 15 large business jets simultaneously.

The facility holds certifications from over 15 international regulators, including the US FAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). While ExecuJet has been a Dassault-owned facility since early 2019, it remains heavily certified to service Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft, underscoring its versatility in the region.

AirPro News analysis

We view this certification as a clear indicator of the symbiotic relationship developing within Southeast Asia’s aviation ecosystem. As emerging markets like Vietnam rapidly acquire high-end business jets to support their globalizing economies, established aviation hubs like Malaysia are stepping in to provide the necessary technical and regulatory support to keep those fleets airborne safely and efficiently.

Furthermore, this approval reinforces Malaysia’s strategic goal of positioning Subang Airport as a premier regional center for aerospace and business aviation MRO in the Asia-Pacific region. By securing CAAV approval, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia not only captures a lucrative slice of the Vietnamese market but also solidifies its reputation as a comprehensive, multi-platform service provider in Southeast Asia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What aircraft does the new CAAV certification cover?

The certification allows ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia to perform line and base maintenance on Vietnam-registered Gulfstream G650ER aircraft.

What specific maintenance tasks are approved?

The approval covers line and heavy maintenance checks up to 4C or 48-month inspections, as well as comprehensive engine services for the Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, including scheduled inspections, repairs, and accessory replacements.

Where is ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia located?

The company operates out of a 149,500-square-foot purpose-built MRO facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sources: ExecuJet MRO Services

This article is based on an official press release from GE Aerospace.

In early April 2026, a highly specialized Boeing 747-400 touched down at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). According to an official press release from GE Aerospace, the massive flying laboratory arrived to celebrate the company’s second anniversary as an independent, publicly traded entity.

Taking up residence inside a 100,000-square-foot hangar at CVG, the aircraft opened its doors to the company’s workforce. The press release notes that 1,300 GE Aerospace employees were granted access to tour the plane on April 7 and 8, offering them a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the company’s engine testing operations. The visit concluded on April 9 with a low-altitude flyover of the GE Aerospace campus in Evendale, Ohio.

For a company that relies on rigorous real-world testing to certify commercial engines, the 747 Flying Test Bed is an invaluable asset. We have reviewed the details of the aircraft’s visit, its technical capabilities, and its recent operational history to understand the significance of this corporate milestone.

A Flying Laboratory with a Fresh Look

The Aircraft’s History and Livery

The current Flying Test Bed is a Boeing 747-400 that was previously operated by Japan Airlines before GE acquired it in 2010. According to the company’s statements, it replaced an older Boeing 747-100, formerly owned by Pan Am, which served as a test bed for 24 years before being retired in 2018 to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

To align with GE Aerospace’s recent launch as an independent brand, the Flight Test Operations (FTO) team updated the plane’s exterior. The new design features a pristine white fuselage bisected diagonally, with the tail painted in a striking “Atmosphere Blue” and the iconic GE Monogram trademark showcased on the rudder.

“Everyone [at FTO] is really energized by the new look,” said Jon Ohman, Chief Test Pilot for GE Aerospace, in the company’s release.

Ohman, a former Marine fighter pilot, is part of a highly trained team that operates the modified aircraft under extreme conditions out of the FTO center in Victorville, California, located on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

Inside the Airborne Test Bed

Engineering and Redundancy

Before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifies a new commercial aircraft engine, it must undergo rigorous testing in real-world conditions. GE Aerospace achieves this by attaching the new test engine to the wing of the 747, replacing one of the aircraft’s four standard CF6 engines.

This configuration is designed with safety and operational stability in mind. The remaining three CF6 engines provide massive redundancy during test flights.

Having three additional CF6 engines on the wing “means three other sources of electrical power, three other sources of thrust, three other sources to drive the hydraulic systems. There’s lots and lots of redundancy,” explained Nathan Kamps, Principal Test Flight Engineer, according to the press release.

Data Collection at Altitude

The interior of the 747 is far from a standard commercial jet. The press release details that most coach-class seats on the main deck have been removed to make room for heavy-duty computer racks and individual engineering workstations. Only one forward galley and a couple of lavatories remain on board.

During a typical test flight, the aircraft carries a crew of 8 to 20 people. The test director sits with the two pilots in the cockpit on the upper deck. As the aircraft flies, onboard computers gather massive amounts of data, up to a terabyte per flight. This data is subsequently sent back to the Evendale headquarters for post-processing and analysis.

Advancing Sustainable Aviation

The CODEX Project and RISE Program

Beyond testing for speed and power, the Flying Test Bed is actively contributing to the future of sustainable, lower-emission aviation. In 2024, the aircraft played a crucial role in the Contrail Optical Depth Experiment (CODEX) project in partnership with NASA.

According to GE Aerospace, these flights studied contrail formation, the ribbons of ice formed when jets fly through cold, humid air, to deepen the aviation industry’s understanding of emissions. The data gathered from the CODEX tests is now helping establish a baseline for future engine testing under GE’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program.

AirPro News analysis

We view the recent visit of the Flying Test Bed to Cincinnati as a highly symbolic milestone for GE Aerospace. By bringing the California-based test aircraft to its Ohio manufacturing and corporate headquarters, the company effectively bridges the gap between theoretical engineering and real-world aviation safety.

Allowing 1,300 employees to physically walk through the aircraft serves as a powerful morale booster, connecting the daily work of engineers in Ohio with the extreme-condition testing executed by pilots in the Mojave Desert. Furthermore, the aircraft’s involvement in the 2024 NASA CODEX project underscores a critical industry shift: engine testing is no longer solely about thrust and reliability, but increasingly about environmental impact and emissions reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the GE Aerospace Flying Test Bed?
It is a modified Boeing 747-400 used as an airborne laboratory to test new commercial aircraft engines in real-world conditions before they receive FAA certification.

Why did the aircraft visit Cincinnati?
The aircraft visited the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in early April 2026 to celebrate GE Aerospace’s second anniversary as an independent, publicly traded company, allowing 1,300 employees to tour the plane.

What happens to the data collected during test flights?
The aircraft’s onboard computers can collect up to a terabyte of data per flight. This information is transmitted back to GE Aerospace’s headquarters in Evendale, Ohio, for detailed post-processing and engineering analysis.

Sources

• GE Aerospace

This article is based on an official press release from Hexagon AB.

Hexagon AB has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Waygate Technologies from Baker Hughes in a transaction valued at approximately $1.45 billion. The Acquisitions marks a significant expansion for the metrology and measurement specialist, moving its capabilities deeper into the non-destructive testing (NDT) market.

According to the official press release, the deal will integrate Waygate’s inspection technologies with Hexagon’s existing precision measurement hardware and software. This move extends Hexagon’s quality assurance reach from surface-level component inspection to interior geometry analysis.

We note that this acquisition broadens Hexagon’s footprint beyond the traditional production floor, opening new opportunities in the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) sectors across aerospace, automotive, energy, and industrial Manufacturing.

Expanding Manufacturing Intelligence

Waygate Technologies, headquartered in Germany, operates across 25 locations worldwide and employs approximately 1,500 people. The company is recognized as a global market leader in computed tomography (CT), radiography, and remote visual inspection (RVI).

In its press release, Hexagon stated that Waygate generated around $630 million in revenue during fiscal year 2025, with an operating margin of 10 percent. Specifically, the radiography and RVI platforms accounted for approximately $330 million of that revenue, operating at a 16 percent margin. Hexagon plans to classify these high-performing segments as profitability and growth assets within its operating model.

Strategic Vision and Integration

The integration of Waygate into Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) division is viewed by the company as a natural evolution of its core competencies. By combining Waygate’s NDT expertise with Hexagon’s software and global infrastructure, the combined entity aims to offer comprehensive quality control throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Hexagon’s leadership emphasized the complementary nature of the two businesses.

“This acquisition is a natural and exciting evolution of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Strategy,” said Anders Svensson, President and CEO of Hexagon, in the company’s press release.

AirPro News analysis

We view this $1.45 billion acquisition as a strategic maneuver by Hexagon to capture a larger share of the aerospace and industrial MRO markets. By bringing non-destructive testing in-house, Hexagon can offer a more unified hardware and software ecosystem to manufacturers who increasingly require end-to-end quality assurance.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026 subject to customary regulatory approvals, also presents a clear pathway for margin improvement. Hexagon’s stated plans to apply its operating model to Waygate suggest that we may see manufacturing optimization and localization strategies implemented in the medium term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of the Hexagon and Waygate Technologies deal?

The transaction is valued at approximately $1.45 billion.

When is the acquisition expected to close?

The deal is expected to close during the second half of 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

What does Waygate Technologies do?

Waygate Technologies is a leading provider of non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions, specializing in computed tomography (CT), radiography, and remote visual inspection (RVI) for various industrial sectors.

Sources: Hexagon AB