The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has selected James Viola, currently president and CEO of Vertical Aviation International (VAI), to succeed Pete Bunce at the helm of the association. As part of a transition plan, Viola will step into his new role as GAMA president and CEO in March after the conclusion of VAI’s biggest event of the year, Verticon, while Bunce will retire in April after leading the association for nearly 20 years. In the interim, both will work closely together.

Bunce had joined GAMA in April 2005 after retiring from a 26-year career with the U.S. Air Force, where he flew F-15s and A-10s; his last assignment was as the director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations liaison. While with GAMA, Bunce expanded the association's reach and was a fierce industry advocate on issues such user fees.

Viola brings a strong operational background as a helicopter pilot and regulator expertise as a former FAA official to his new role. Joining VAI in 2020, he succeeded Matt Zuccaro, who had been the long-serving president of what was then known as Helicopter Association International.

Before joining VAI, Viola was already well-known in the rotorcraft and general aviation sectors from his role as director of general aviation safety assurance for the FAA. He also served as the government representative on the International Helicopter Safety Team and the United States Helicopter Safety Team.

Naples Aviation, the municipally-owned and operated FBO at Florida’s Naples Airport (KAPF), accepted its first load of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) this week, making it the first such facility to carry continuous retail supplies of SAF—not just in the state, but in the entire Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.

The Avfuel-branded FBO received its delivery of blended SAF on Tuesday, marking the fuel provider’s first delivery of the renewable fuel from the Port Everglades terminal to an FBO.

In October, Avfuel announced a new supply agreement with fuel refiner Valero, which produces SAF using the HEFA process from used cooking oil, fats, and greases through its joint venture affiliate Diamond Green Diesel in Port Arthur, Texas.

“This is a huge step forward in scaling SAF distribution and adoption within the business aviation sector,” said Joel Hirst, Avfuel’s senior v-p of sales. “Avfuel is dedicated to making SAF more accessible throughout the United States, and deliveries like this one help further our commitment to supporting the business aviation industry in growing the use of SAF.”

Gulfstream has long received supplies of SAF at its Savannah headquarters for use in its flight testing and demonstration flights, while Embraer also has SAF deliveries to its U.S. facility in Melbourne, Florida, which are handled by the local Sheltair FBO.

Signature Aviation announced that its facilities in Miami and Palm Beach will begin offering SAF in January.

An Endeavor Business Intelligence survey spotlighted the rising interest in aviation maintenance technician (AMT) careers, with nearly 60% of respondents saying they would be “extremely likely” to recommend the field to young people. The aviation industry, which is facing a critical shortage of qualified technicians, stands to benefit from this positive perception. According to Boeing's 2024-2043 Pilot and Technician Outlook, 123,000 new mechanics and avionics professionals will be needed to meet projected demand.

The Perception of the Trades report reflects growing support for aviation maintenance as a career option and for trade careers generally. Overall, 79.5% of respondents indicated that they would recommend trade jobs for their children or family members, an increase from previous surveys. The findings for aviation maintenance stand out compared to other skilled trades, with automotive technician careers receiving just under 46% of “extremely likely” responses.

“After seeing the skilled trades perceived so negatively for several decades in comparison to four-year colleges and white-collar careers, it’s wonderful to see the trades in general, and AMTs in particular, finally being appreciated for the irreplaceable work they do and the stable and rewarding career paths they provide,” said Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics president and CEO Suzanne Markle.

However, the 2024 Pipeline Report by the Aviation Technical Education Council indicates that aviation maintenance schools like PIA operate at just 65% of capacity, leaving an estimated 12,000 training seats unfilled.

Aero-Dienst is teaming with AeroSource International to expand the maintenance, repair, and overhaul services it offers in India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The German business aircraft services group announced a partnership with the Bangalore-based aviation consultancy.

According to the companies, the alliance will focus on multiple services such as maintenance, cabin interior upgrades, paintwork, and component installation. AeroSource’s main role will be acting as an interface with India’s growing business aviation client base.

Established in 2000, AeroSource has been active in handling sales transactions for new and preowned aircraft. It is also active in areas such as arranging charter flights and airport consulting.

“India is a dynamic market with tremendous potential and AeroSource’s proven expertise makes them an ideal partner for our expansion efforts,” said Aero-Dienst managing director André Ebach.

Nuremburg-based Aero-Dienst also operates MRO bases at Vienna and Klagenfurt in Austria and at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, as well as a component repair shop at Landsberg am Lech in Germany. The company provides MRO services for business aircraft operators in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and recently announced an expansion of its aircraft-on-ground service.

Dallas-based aviation services provider Business Jet has completed two of the first Starlink installations on Gulfstream GIV aircraft following the supplemental type certificate (STC) approval in late August. This achievement is set to be followed by the certification installation on an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft this month.

The Gulfstream GIV installations feature the Starlink Aero Terminal, providing passengers with high-speed connectivity. During a recent flight, download speeds reached up to 295 Mbps, enabling simultaneous streaming of three high-definition movies without interruptions. The system delivers reliable connectivity from takeoff to touchdown, addressing the growing demand for in-flight productivity and entertainment.

According to Lina Sabbah, director of aircraft solutions and acquisitions at Business Jet, the addition of the GIV to the lineup of approved aircraft has been well-received by owners and operators. “We are proud to deliver tailored solutions to our clients, and this milestone supports this commitment,” she stated. Business Jet anticipates expanding its portfolio as more STCs are approved.

Currently, the company holds STCs for Gulfstream models GIV, GV, G450, G550, G650, and G650ER, as well as Bombardier Global models 5000, 6000, 6500, 7500, and Express/XRS. Additional certifications are expected by the end of the year for the Global 5500, with Bombardier's Challenger 300/350 models to follow in early 2025.

Business Jet recommends scheduling installations alongside annual inspections or major maintenance events to streamline the process.

Signature Aviation has started joint work with Eve Air Mobility to assess ground operations requirements for planned eVTOL air taxi services. On Wednesday, the U.S.-based FBO network signed a memorandum of understanding with the spin-off from Embraer, which is working to bring its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft into commercial service in 2027.

The agreement reached this week does not specifically commit Signature to establishing new infrastructure at its FBOs, but it will provide Eve with expertise on private terminal operations and other aspects of business aviation support. The two companies also signed a letter of intent covering possible use of Eve’s Vector urban air traffic management software.

“The announcement of our partnership with Eve adds to a transformative year for Signature, while also reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of aviation through our sustainability initiatives,” said Signature Aviation’s chief commercial officer, Derek DeCross. “We’re always looking ahead to create and deliver exceptional experiences for our guests, and working towards the most comprehensive ground infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft is a major part of that mission. This collaboration will bring together our experience, resources, and creativity to find the most effective path towards innovative, safe, and scalable ground operations for advanced air mobility.”

Signature is among several FBO groups exploring plans to support electric aircraft operations. Atlantic Aviation and Clay Lacy have signed agreements with other eVTOL aircraft manufacturers including Joby, Archer, and Beta Technologies.