FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker will step down from his role leading the agency next month, coinciding with the inauguration of President-elect Trump. Whitaker informed employees of his decision this morning in a letter, saying, “This has been the best and most challenging job of my career, and I wanted you to hear directly from me that my tenure will come to a close on Jan. 20, 2025.”

Whitaker’s decision to depart the agency comes a little more than a year after he was confirmed to the post for a five-year tenure. But he reportedly wanted to announce his intentions now to provide the incoming administration time to search for a successor.

In addition to Whitaker’s departure, Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson is leaving the agency on January 10. Mark House, assistant administrator for finance and management and 20-year FAA veteran, will become acting deputy administrator at that time.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) said she was “saddened and surprised” to hear of the decision. “If you want to be the leader in aviation, you have to be the leader in aviation safety. I think Administrator Whitaker was living by that motto. I hope that the next administrator will live by it as well,” Cantwell said.

Newly introduced FBO Vantage Aviation has been approved by Colorado’s Garfield County Board of Commissioners to establish an FBO at Rifle Garfield County Airport (KRIL).

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2025. The facility will offer premium services and amenities from a 6,500-sq-ft terminal adjoining a 40,000-sq-ft community hangar capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets. A second facility will include an additional terminal for a based customer, attached to a 25,000-sq-ft hangar.

When the facility is completed in late 2026, it will provide operators with an option of service providers—a rarity among Colorado’s ski country airports.

“This transformative project marks an exciting chapter for [KRIL],” said Vantage CEO Ryan Maxfield. “The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. By expanding apron capacity, doubling fuel storage, and adding heated hangars and a new de-icing pad, we’re equipping KRIL to handle today’s demands and tomorrow’s growth.”

The $33 million project—backed by Jadian Capital—represents the largest private investment in the airport’s history.

“Securing approval for the development plan marks a pivotal moment for Rifle Airport,” said Barry Sherman, COO of consultancy Business Aviation Group, which helped broker the deal. “This project will not only elevate the airport’s operational capabilities but also position RIL as a premier aviation destination, boosting both the local economy and the aviation community.”

Sustainable fuel producer Pathway Energy has announced the location of its first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility. Construction on the $2 billion plant—which is expected to produce 30 million gallons of pure, neat SAF annually by 2029—will commence in Port Arthur, Texas, in 2026.

According to the company, its ultra-carbon-negative fuel produced via the Fischer–Tropsch process will achieve a 550% reduction in carbon compared to conventional jet-A.

The company intends to use wood pellet feedstock—a global commodity sustainably sourced via a strategic partnership with biomass provider Drax Global—which will be gasified to produce SAF.

“We saw the opportunity to provide carriers a pathway to completely decarbonize their flights with our net-zero blended fuel,” added Joshua Pearson, Pathway Energy’s chief technology officer. “This is a new type of SAF production that is seven to nine times more carbon negative than the SAF on the market today and represents the most sustainable, cost-efficient and derisked path to decarbonize global aviation, long term.”

By selecting Port Arthur, the company will also have access to geological carbon sequestration, to further improve its fuel’s carbon intensity score, in addition to existing oil and gas infrastructure offering industrial-scale import and export via road, rail, barge, and pipeline.

Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) in Tampa, Florida, has resumed accepting nighttime flights two months after the field was ravaged by wind and storm surges resulting from two hurricanes.

On September 26, KTPF was inundated by up to 4 feet of salt water as Hurricane Helene passed offshore of Tampa Bay, causing damage to the runway lighting system and hangars.

Less than two weeks later, the area took a direct hit from Category 3 Hurricane Milton, which damaged several hangars.

After weeks of repairs, the taxiway lights were restored last week, less than 10 days after the runway lights became operational again. All told, more than 350 fixtures were impacted.

The airport has cleaned out its hangars and is continuing repairs on some of the doors. Inside the airport terminal, flooring and drywall were replaced.

Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s (HCAA) two other general aviation airports, Tampa Executive (KVDF) and Plant City Airport (KPCM), escaped the storms relatively unscathed.

“Resuming operations at Peter O. Knight is a sign of the resiliency of the businesses and residents on Davis Islands,” explained Brett Fay, the HCAA’s v-p of general aviation. “Thanks to the hard work of the crews working at KTPF and the patience of our tenants and business partners, we’ve been able to deal with these historic challenges and get pilots back in the air.”

Ensuring your aircraft is ready to fly when you are begins with an adept team of maintenance professionals. How do you know if those servicing your aircraft have the skills necessary to keep your plane airworthy? Learn how FlightSafety International training provides that essential expertise.

At the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) show in Dubai this week, Honeywell announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sino Jet, marking a step forward in their collaboration on advanced aviation services and technology development. This partnership aims to support Honeywell’s strategic focus on aviation megatrends, including future technologies and enhanced connectivity.

The MoU outlines plans to deepen cooperation in next-generation connectivity technologies, such as Honeywell’s JetWave X Satcom system. JetWave X represents an advancement in satellite communication for business aviation, offering enhanced data speeds and global coverage. Leveraging Viasat’s Ka-band network, including the ViaSat-3 and Global Xpress satellites, JetWave X supports data speeds exceeding 30 Mbps, with potential speeds reaching up to 100 Mbps in high-traffic flight corridors.

For Sino Jet, the collaboration builds on existing support from Honeywell, which has provided navigation databases, datalink subscription services, and aftermarket parts for its fleet. According to Sino Jet’s international president, Chris Wu, “The advanced connectivity technologies and solutions provided by Honeywell have greatly benefited our clients.”

Honeywell’s v-p and general manager of services and connectivity, Jason Wissink, highlighted the critical role of satellite communications in ensuring safety and operational efficiency. “Honeywell’s satellite communications systems provide operators, passengers, and crew with reliable, consistent connectivity throughout the world. We are honored to further deepen our collaboration with Sino Jet.”

Florida-based aircraft charter and management provider FlyUSA has announced the “Freedom Jet Card,” which the company says is “designed for clients seeking the convenience of guaranteed, consistent pricing and the flexibility to choose from a broad range of premium jets for travel to any destination.”

It said the card program is ideal for those flying approximately three or more times per year.

“This has been an incredibly successful year for our company, marked by innovation, accolades, and growth,” said Barry Shevlin, co-founder and CEO of FlyUSA. “We are continuously listening to what our clients value, and after hearing that many of our frequent flyers were interested in a jet card program, we decided it was the perfect time to expand our offerings and introduce the Freedom Jet Card. This competitive product reflects our commitment to delivering an array of exceptional services that elevate the private aviation experience and meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Earlier this year, FlyUSA launched its “Ascend Club,” a new air charter membership program that provides a “suite of exclusive benefits.” Among these benefits are a 2% cash-back rebate, $1,000-per-flight discount at the time of booking, a dedicated “Ascend Club Travel Advisor,” guaranteed availability and recoveries, priority booking on peak travel days, and up to an additional $250 in perks per flight.

Business aviation’s profile at the Aero Friedrichshafen show next year will be boosted by a new partnership between Fairnamic—the European event’s organizer—and AIN Media Group. Through an agreement announced on Wednesday, AIN will be the official media partner for Aero 2025’s new Business Aviation Show Hub, with a pair of dedicated exhibit halls and a new Dome feature in the aircraft static display area.

The Business Aviation Show Hub is the latest feature to be added to the lineup at Aero 2025, which is Europe’s leading general aviation show. Organizers said it will provide an immersive experience for companies providing products and services, as well as their customers.

Exhibitors in halls A2 and A3 and the new Aero Business Aviation Dome will include aircraft manufacturers, operators, suppliers, brokers, and many other service providers. The 2025 event will feature an enlarged static display with more business jets and turboprops.

Among the companies already booked to exhibit at Aero 2025 are leading aircraft manufacturers Bombardier, Gulfstream, Textron, Boeing, Leonardo, Bell, Honda Aircraft, Pilatus, TBM Daher, Cirrus, and Piper. Operators and service providers include DC Aviation, FAI Aviation Group, Globe Air, Pratt & Whitney, Blackhawk, Luxaviation, ProAir Aviation, ACC Columbia, Standard Aero, Titan Aviation Fuels, and Platoon Aviation.

AIN’s senior-level Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) West, set for January 27-29 in Scottsdale, Arizona, will address the latest hot topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation. The summit is attendee-centric and serves as an educational and professional networking platform, connecting corporate aviation leaders with peers, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed, informal environment. We invite U.S.-based flight department leaders to apply to attend this all-expenses-paid event as our guests. Just a few spots remain, so don’t wait to apply.