Business aviation charter and management group ASL has agreed to cooperate with start-up Vaeridion’s plans to bring a nine-passenger electric aircraft to market by 2030. The European companies announced their collaboration on Thursday, saying that ASL will provide input on operational aspects of the program, as well as network connections and knowledge of the private aviation sector.

So far, Munich-based Vaeridion has released few details about the all-electric aircraft it refers to as the Microliner. Early images show a design that looks like a high-wing version of the Pilatus PC-12 single turboprop, with the company indicating that a glider-inspired long wingspan will support a battery-powered range of up to 500 kilometers (272 nm).

Vaeridion sees the Microliner as being part of the emerging regional air mobility sector in which smaller, lower- or zero-carbon aircraft will be deployed to connect smaller cities. The company pointed out that 80 percent of Germans live within 20 kilometers of an airfield.

In May 2023, ASL converted an earlier memorandum of understanding by placing deposits for six of the four-passenger Pioneer Edition of Lilium’s eVTOL aircraft. In 2020, the Belgium-based company launched a program called the Responsible Initiative for Sustainable Environment, through which it intends to reduce the carbon footprint of a fleet that currently consists of jet and turboprop aircraft. 

Recently, an industry friend called to talk about possibly looking for a new job. He told me that he’s had a great experience working with his company and supporting its owner, but he expressed regret that the job and its expectations are in flux.

The owner is changing up the game by saying he wants to make more money flying charter. It’s a large jet staffed by two pilots, and they fly a fairly full schedule already. The boss expects to add more charter hours, but he doesn’t want to add headcount. With this sort of plan, the whole value proposition of the job changes.

What typically happens in these cases? As they must spend more time away from home and/or perform at higher levels—but do not experience relief in terms of schedule or compensation—that's often when people vote with their feet and walk.

And, in the current business aviation environment, it's pretty easy to walk out of one job and into another.

Malaysian authorities have begun an investigation into Thursday’s crash of a Beechcraft Premier I private jet that resulted in the death of 10 people. The U.S.-registered (N28JV) aircraft came down on the Guthrie Highway near Bandar Elmina in Selangor state.

Speaking to Malaysian reporters on Friday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the cockpit voice recorder had been recovered Thursday evening and sent to the country’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau for analysis.

The 2004-build aircraft, operated by Jetvalet, took off from Langkawi International Airport at 2:08 p.m. local time, en route to Selangor’s Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. Its first communication with Subang air traffic controllers was at 2:47 p.m, followed by landing clearance at 2:48 p.m.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, the tower detected smoke from the crash site at 2:51 p.m.; however, no emergency call was made from the aircraft. Eyewitnesses told local media they had heard a loud explosion and that the aircraft caught fire.

The accident claimed the lives of two crewmembers and six passengers plus a car driver and a motorcyclist on the expressway. According to local police, Johari Harun, an elected official in Pahang state, was among those killed.

The Port Authority of San Antonio is soliciting proposals to establish an FBO at Kelly Field (KSKF), a joint-use military and industrial airport four miles southwest of San Antonio. Despite having an 11,500-foot-long runway—the longest in the region—the airport does not have an FBO.

Port San Antonio’s request for proposal calls for an operator to develop a modern facility “co-located with airport operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and facilities to enable advanced air mobility and general aviation aircraft operations.”

The terminal will occupy up to 10,000 sq ft of exclusive-use space in the consolidated facility, which is expected to be completed in 2025. Mandatory FBO services will include aircraft fueling, maintenance, and repairs; passenger, crew, and aircraft ground services and support; and aircraft ramp and hangar parking.

Requirements include the construction of at least 20,000 sq ft of hangar space with a 28-foot-high door to shelter transient aircraft. In addition, the operator will need to build its own fuel farm.

The Port proposes an initial lease term of 20 years for a minimum $10 million investment, with the option of up to 30 years for additional infrastructure development. Interested firms must submit proposals no later than 2 p.m. CDT on Sept. 15.

MD Helicopters (MDH) received a contract from an unnamed Middle Eastern customer to provide six Cayuse Warrior Plus Attack/Scout aircraft with precision weapons capability and six MD530F glass-cockpit upgrades. The 12 aircraft will support counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations by providing area security, tactical reconnaissance, convoy escort, and drug interdiction throughout the country.

The armed MD530F aircraft will receive glass-cockpit upgrades at MDH in Mesa, Arizona. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2024 for all 12 aircraft and the deal includes initial provisions, spares, and pilot and maintainer training. The Plus version features mission enhancements that include the precision weapons system, improved avionics, and armor.

“We are honored for the trust ally forces have put in us to provide safe, reliable assets for their security missions,” said Brad Pederson, MDH president and CEO. “We are excited to showcase the capabilities of this purpose-built, best-value solution.”

Elevate Aviation Group (EAG) has changed the name of its Salt Lake City-based Keystone MRO division to Elevate MRO as the parent company looks to expand the maintenance side of its business to the East Coast.

Elevate acquired Keystone Aviation from TAC Air early last year. Along with Keystone's charter and management business, the acquisition gave Elevate a foothold in the MRO market, adding operations in Salt Lake City and Scottsdale, Arizona. Company officials said the move allowed Elevate to provide more certainty to its managed clients and open avenues for new business.

“Our MRO professionals have delivered decades of high-quality support, with expertise on over 40 unique aircraft types from 11 different manufacturers,” said EAG president Randy McKinney. “We pride ourselves on a diverse range of client support. This includes 24/7 AOG and parts support to any location, service center status with key partners, and exceptional care for our managed, program, and transient clients."

Upon the acquisition in January 2022, Elevate's managed fleet ranked as the 15th largest in the U.S., consisting of an array of aircraft types ranging from Embraer Phenom light jets to large-cabin models.  

Diamond Aircraft’s carbon-fiber diesel-powered DA50 RG has been flying a tour of 28 cities in the U.S. since early May. Starting on the East Coast, the tour will make its remaining stops in Texas, Denver, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, followed by the West Coast and ending in Seattle on October 1. Diamond dealers Lifestyle Aviation, Premier Aircraft Sales, and Steel Aviation are conducting the tour.

The $1.15 million DA50 RG received FAA certification in late July at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where Diamond made the first U.S. delivery. 

Powered by a 300-hp turbocharged Continental CD-300 with Fadec, the DA50 RG burns jet-A at the rate of 8 gph at max range power at 18,000 feet (45 percent power) and 10.3 gph at 12,000 feet (60 percent power). Maximum speed is 181 ktas at 16,000 feet and cruise speed 172 ktas at 14,000 feet. The maximum range with VFR fuel reserves is 754 nm.

With a mtow of 4,407 pounds, the DA50 RG can carry five occupants; the rear seats are a 60/40 split-folding three-seat bench. Payload with maximum fuel load of 326 pounds is 884 pounds.

Avionics are Garmin’s G1000 NXi with GFC 700 autopilot and Electronic Stability & Protection. A GCU 476 alphanumeric keypad is optional. 

A CAV Systems TKS ice-protection system, certified for flight into known icing conditions, is also optional.