GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce urged lawmakers to “lean into” the next administration to ensure that the regulatory process continues to move. Testifying before a House aviation subcommittee hearing this week, Bunce told lawmakers that the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill will have a “meaningful and positive influence” on aviation as a whole, but the challenge is to ensure the timely implementation of it.

He also urged the subcommittee to work with the incoming administration to ensure it does not return to the same approach requiring the revocation of two regulations for every new one enacted—a policy enacted in the early days under the first Trump Administration that slowed key safety rulemakings.

During the FAA reauthorization hearing process, “rulemaking was broken. Things sat on the shelf for years and years,” he said. But the FAA paid attention “and started promulgating rules and getting a process going.”

The system is not perfect yet, Bunce said. “But it’s going forward. That’s why we cannot go back to that two-for-one in aviation, we can’t do anything without regulations. They are enabling So we really look to you to...emphasize to the new administration that's very important.”

As for the reauthorization act, he said Congress needs to stay vigilant not only that the measures are followed through by the FAA, but that Congress adequately funds the measures.

The end of the year feels like the closing chapter of a story. It’s the perfect time to reflect on the past and plan your future.

Yet, the process of goal setting can feel daunting.

One of my favorite exercises, inspired by the Strategic Coach program, is this: Picture yourself three years from now. You’re sitting in a favorite spot, feeling fulfilled and successful. Where are you? What’s changed in your personal and professional life?

Now, rewind the story. How did you get to that place? What decisions, actions or growth got you there? This simple mental exercise transforms your aspirations into actionable steps. And, to bring some accountability into the picture, make sure to document them for future reference.

Imagine you’re an aspiring aviation leader and you want the director of aviation job when it opens in three years. Instead of waiting for the opportunity, you create a proactive plan. You volunteer for new responsibilities and take a finance course. You also ask to lead a major presentation to senior leadership. Additionally, you assist with a multi-million-dollar negotiation. That way, by the time the role becomes available, you’re not just ready—you’re the obvious choice.

New York City-area business aviation hub Teterboro Airport (KTEB) formally opened its new control tower this week, with a dedication ceremony by the FAA.

The 157-foot-tall tower, built at a cost of $73 million, became operational in late October. It more than doubled the height of the previous tower, which was commissioned nearly 50 years ago.

It features a 750-sq-ft cab providing a panoramic view of the bustling airfield—the busiest busniness aviation airport in the U.S.—and sits atop a 19,000-sq-ft building that houses offices for controllers, technicians, and administrative staff. It will be home to 41 FAA employees including 29 air traffic controllers and 12 technical operations personnel.

The tower’s design meets the Guiding Principles for High Performance Sustainable Federal Buildings code with reduced water use, resource conservation, waste reduction, and indoor air quality protection, among other criteria. Equipped with the latest ATC equipment, the facility was planned to meet current and future demand.

“Aviation is an invaluable part of everyday life and our national economy, which is why we need the right infrastructure at our airports,” said outgoing FAA deputy administrator Katie Thomson. “This taller and more modern control tower will not just make it easier for controllers to keep the National Airspace safe, but it will help the airport expand its flight operations. That means more options for consumers and businesses alike.”

Following a competitive request for proposal process, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has selected Downtown Skyport to manage the city-owned Downtown Manhattan Heliport (KJRB) following approval from the Franchise and Concession Review Committee. The company is expected to take over management of existing operations by early 2025, with infrastructure upgrades planned by 2026.

Downtown Skyport is a joint venture between advanced air mobility ground infrastructure provider Skyports Infrastructure and global airport design, construction, finance, and operations leader Groupe ADP. Skyports Infrastructure operates one of two public heliports in London, while Groupe ADP manages airports globally, including Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. The companies will integrate eVTOL technology at KJRB, which is expected to reduce helicopter noise.

“Today New York City’s Harbor of the Future takes a huge step forward, advancing the city’s vision for an inter-modal, electrified transportation network,” said first deputy mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “I look forward to the execution of this plan and the improvements in quality of life and economic impacts that come with it.”

New eVTOL infrastructure and maritime freight solutions are targeted for completion by 2026. Key upgrades will include installing charging infrastructure to support eVTOL aircraft operations. Downtown Skyport will also focus on workforce development, with training programs to create career pathways in aviation, maritime, logistics, and related sectors.

Plans for Pakistan’s first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant got a boost with the announcement that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide up to $35 million in long-term capital financing to help establish the facility in Sheikhupura, Punjab.

Construction of the SAFCO Venture Holdings project is expected to begin in January, with an anticipated start of SAF production in September 2026.

Pakistan generates more than a million tons of used oils, fats, and greases annually, and the plant—the first of its kind in South Asia—is expected to convert 250,000 tons of it as a feedstock to produce 200,000 tons of SAF a year via the HEFA production pathway.

The facility will create more than 300 direct jobs as well as support an estimated 20,000 indirect jobs in the waste-to-fuel value chain.

“This initiative demonstrates how fuel production can be part of a circular economy, drawing from raw materials that would otherwise go to waste and, therefore, how it can be done with no adverse impact on food production or water supplies,” said Ashruf Megahed, IFC’s regional head for manufacturing, agribusiness, and services for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. “As IFC’s first investment in sustainable aviation fuel production, it also sets the tone for similar IFC investments in this space, as well as for other financiers to follow suit.”