West Star Aviation Hosts Kids for STEM Field Trip

On April 11, West Star Aviation welcomed 115 second-grade students from Lewis Elementary School for an interactive field trip at its Solon, Ohio facility, highlighting the role of aviation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

“Creating awareness about aviation careers at an early age is essential,” said Jack DiCello, West Star team member and field trip host. “This kind of community engagement helps build long-term connections between our industry, our customers, and the future leaders of our field.”

The event featured hands-on activities, including a tour of the aircraft maintenance shop, where students observed aircraft components undergoing repair. Through this up-close look, students gained insight into how classroom science and engineering apply to real-world aviation.

Interactive stations included a paper airplane design contest focused on testing and quality assurance, a safety demonstration introducing key aviation procedures, and a LEGO build table promoting creative problem-solving. Students also used M&M candies to explain how data informs aviation operations.

“This was the most educational, informative, and exciting field trip of my 30-plus-year career,” said veteran teacher Randy Davis.

These outreach efforts support early engagement in aerospace careers. According to the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), the industry faces a projected shortfall of more than 30,000 certified mechanics by 2031. Initiatives like Choose Aerospace work with ATEC to address this by partnering with schools and introducing aviation-focused curriculum to younger students.

AINsight: Culture Is Your Competitive Advantage

Years ago, I visited two nearly identical flight departments—similar fleets, comparable resources, equal pay scales. Yet their outcomes couldn’t have been more different.

One team thrived, driven by open dialogue, mutual respect, and transparent leadership. Mistakes became learning opportunities, and turnover was minimal. The other department, despite competitive compensation, constantly struggled. Internal tension, fear of admitting errors, and underlying resentment undermined their operational excellence.

The contrast was striking, and the lesson clear: compensation attracts talent, but culture decides whether it stays.

Throughout my career in business aviation, I’ve repeatedly witnessed how culture defines long-term success. In our safety-critical industry, culture isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s your most potent competitive advantage.

Thousands of Pilots Join GA Safety Campaign

In response to recent general aviation accidents in New York and Florida, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute is urging pilots to renew their focus on safety. While investigations into both accidents are still underway, they have drawn attention across the aviation community.

Despite the headlines, general aviation accident rates continue to trend downward. An AOPA Air Safety Institute analysis of NTSB data shows a 21% decline in total accidents and a 16% drop in fatalities compared to the same period in 2024.

“Our hearts are with the families affected by these accidents,” said Mike Ginter, AOPA Air Safety Institute senior vice president. “It’s important not to speculate about causes until investigations are complete, but also to review current safety data and practices.”

More than 5,000 pilots have already joined the National Pause for General Aviation Safety, a six-month campaign launched April 1 by AOPA, the FAA, and 22 partner organizations. The initiative promotes ongoing training, risk awareness, and a stronger safety culture across all general aviation segments.

“Aviation safety is under a microscope, and for good reason,” Ginter said. “This campaign reminds us that while aviation is safer than ever, we must remain focused.”

Ethiopian Airlines Launches VIP Charter Flight Division

Ethiopian Airlines is launching a private charter flight division and recently took delivery of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to begin operations. Mesfin Tasew, who is CEO of the airline—Africa’s largest—told AIN that the company had established the new Ethiopian Executive business unit after seeing rising demand for head-of-state and VIP flights using its existing airliners.

According to the carrier, the 737 Max-based BBJ will be configured with between 19 and 32 seats for various charter missions booked for individuals or groups. Tasew said the company is now evaluating other business aircraft as it looks to expand this part of its fleet.

Ethiopian Airlines operates 156 airliners, including a mix of Boeing 787s, 777s, and 737 Max narrowbodies, as well as some Airbus A350 widebodies. It has operated commercial flights for 79 years and has established a strong hub operation from its base in East Africa.

The Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, is a center for governmental activity as home to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as several other international agencies and organizations. As such, it has the third-largest concentration of diplomatic missions after New York and Geneva.

The airline’s CEO believes that the carrier’s main hub at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is strategically positioned between the Middle East and Africa.

Oxford Airport Outsources Handling, Security to Unifi

Ground handling and security services at London Oxford Airport (EGTK) will be conducted by aviation services group Unifi under new contracts announced on Wednesday. Unifi is responsible for ramp operations and fueling as of April 15, and from May 1, it will also be in charge of all aspects of security at the UK airport.

This is the first time privately-owned London Oxford Airport has put an external company in charge of security and ramp operations. Unifi will be responsible for year-round security cover, including ID center management, access control, passenger screening, and visitor and delivery coordination.

The contracts were awarded to the U.S.-based group’s Unifi Aviation UK subsidiary, which already owns Up & Away, an aircraft cleaning and detailing business that serves operators at Oxford and other British airports. It is Unifi’s first contract in the business aviation sector, building on its experience with scheduled airline operations at 220 airports, including 20 sites in the UK.

Unifi is recruiting 35 staff for ramp handling and security operations as it takes over responsibility from the airport’s owner. Ramp services will be branded as London Oxford Airport powered by Unifi.

“We are pleased to welcome Unifi as our first ever outsourced ground handling partner since launching executive aviation activity with [UK-regulated] security compliance for passengers and baggage in 2008,” said Kris Black, London Oxford Airport’s operations director.

U.S. SAF Market To Hit $7 Billion by 2030

A new report predicts the U.S. sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market will grow to a value of $6.97 billion by the end of the decade. The study by management consultancy MarketsandMarkets appraised the value of the SAF market last year at under a billion dollars.

There are several processes for SAF production, including biofuels (using organic feedstocks, such as waste fats and oils), power-to-liquid (utilizing renewable electricity to produce SAF from synthesized “green” hydrogen and atmospheric carbon dioxide), and gas-to-liquid (converting natural gas to SAF).

Advancements in biofuel technologies and the fuel’s scalability in production are expected to support the increasing demand for SAF in the U.S. While biofuels have thus far dominated the market, the forecast indicates that the power-to-liquid segment is predicted to grow at the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030.

Conventional jet fuel contains aromatic compounds that help fuel system gaskets swell and prevent leakage, while synthetic fuels such as SAF do not. Modern aircraft and engines were designed to account for the lack of aromatics. As it is, SAF is presently only approved for use in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel. Yet the study predicts that the above-50% blend (once approved) will account for the fastest-growing CAGR in the U.S. SAF market, with increased regulatory support and subsidies for higher blends driving the growth.

Photo of the Week

Simply stunning sunset. While dropping a load of passengers off at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Mike Richards captured the reflected sunset on his company's Learjet 45 with a Falcon jet silhouetted in the background. "I’m addicted to photography, and it goes so well with flying," said Richards, who is chief pilot for Wisconsin-based International Air Charters. He shot this excellent photo with his iPhone 15 Pro. Thank you for sharing, Mike!

Keep them coming. If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.