FlyExclusive To Acquire Jet.AI’s Aviation Assets

FlyExclusive has entered an agreement to acquire the aviation assets of Jet.AI as the latter company pivots to focus solely on artificial intelligence software solutions for the air charter segment. The deal is estimated to be worth between $12 million and $22 million.

Under the agreement, Jet.AI will spin off its aviation assets into a new entity (SpinCo), which FlyExclusive will then acquire. Jet.AI shareholders will retain their existing stock and receive Class A common shares in FlyExclusive. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter, is subject to financing, regulatory review, and shareholder approval.

FlyExclusive, one of the largest U.S. air charter outfits, will absorb Jet.AI’s fleet of five aircraft—HondaJets and Cessna Citations—while consolidating operations under its own Part 135 charter certificate. As part of the transition, Jet.AI’s Las Vegas and San Francisco aircraft bases will be closed, with operations folded into FlyExclusive’s existing infrastructure. Jet.AI employees will remain with Jet.AI to support its software business.

The acquisition aligns with FlyExclusive’s growth plans, particularly in its Challenger 350 fractional program. Meanwhile, Jet.AI’s software business, including AI-powered air charter booking tools, will remain independent and continue serving the broader aviation market.

AINsight: Too Sick To Fly, Part 2

Respiratory and other viral illnesses can occur at any time of year. However, in the winter flu season, we see them more frequently and often with more significant symptoms than in the summer.

Illnesses can be caused by bacteria, but more commonly result from a host of viruses. There are the usual suspects of common respiratory viruses and their ongoing mutational strains that have been around essentially forever. These include strains such as rhinovirus and adenovirus. Fancy scientific names aside, these viruses cause the common cold and other respiratory illnesses.

If a pilot is simply too sick to fly, the best decision is to remove themself from flight status temporarily. We then get to the question of when can that pilot return to work. As always, FAR 61.53 comes into play. The pilot must make a judgment of their condition and whether they have improved enough that any lingering symptoms are so mild that they will not affect their ability to be an effective crewmember.

The pilot must also ensure that they are no longer potentially contagious to other crewmembers. And if a pilot has required formal prescriptions for medications such as antibiotics, inhalers, and possibly a steroid, then that pilot should certainly stand down for a period of time. But what about a pilot who used over-the-counter symptomatic medications?

Lawmakers Urge ‘Intense Focus’ on ATC Upgrades, Hiring

The 31 Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are urging Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to prioritize key measures in the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill that would accelerate and fund air traffic control updates, runway enhancements, and controller and other safety personnel hiring.

“In the wake of the tragic midair collision near Reagan National Airport, we must do everything we can to support the [NTSB's] investigation and work together to address the root causes of the accident,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter sent today to the new secretary. “While it may take well over a year to fully understand the causes of that accident, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and [FAA] have the opportunity to act now to ensure safer skies for the American public.”

The FAA reauthorization bill passed last year provides a five-year roadmap for strengthening aviation safety, the lawmakers said, and highlighted several reforms the reauthorization package included to address chief safety concerns. “We believe intense focus by the DOT and FAA in carrying out these reforms would be among the most effective actions you could currently take to help make our skies safer and protect the flying public,” they said. “We implore you not to get bogged down by unnecessary and speculative distractions at such a crucial moment.”

Universal Partners on Dominican Republic FBO Renovation

Universal Aviation’s Dominican Republic division has partnered with Aerodom on the renovation and remodeling of the FBO at Prof. Juan Bosch International Airport (MDCY) in Samaná. Aerodom is the private concessioner commissioned by the Dominican government to develop, operate, and manage the international airports in the Caribbean island country.

When the $500,000 project is completed by midyear, Universal will operate the 3,500-sq-ft facility with passenger and pilot lounges, concierge service, a full catering kitchen, coffee bar, and in-house customs and immigration clearance. The FBO will also offer aircraft ground handling, transportation, and fueling services, with the capacity to handle 1,000 international flights a year.

“This new FBO at Samaná Airport responds to growing demand from high-profile travelers in the region’s ultra-luxury tourism sector,” said Danilo Rosario Jiménez, director of Universal’s Dominican Republic operations. “By strengthening our presence in the northeastern region with world-class, personalized service, we’re supporting the area’s economic development while ensuring private and executive aviation clients receive the premium experience they expect.”

The project is similar in scope to the earlier partnership between the two companies in the rebuild of the FBO at Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata.

Ammonia Proposed as Fuel for Airport and Aircraft Power

UK start-up Catalsys is proposing its green ammonia-based power generation technology for airport ground operations and potentially for aircraft propulsion. This week, the sustainable aviation investment fund SkiesFifty announced it will establish a joint venture with Catalsys to fund early-use cases for the process, which involves converting sustainably produced “green” ammonia into an ammonia and hydrogen fuel mix to run generators that supply off-grid electricity.

Increasingly, airports, FBOs, and handling providers are seeking to run ground vehicles and other equipment with electricity as part of efforts to decarbonize their operations. In some countries, including the UK, it can take years to expand the capacity of an electric grid to support this approach, delaying decarbonization efforts and prompting the industry to consider hydrogen as an alternative.

According to Catalsys chairman and co-founder David Hughes, using hydrogen in on-site generators will be too expensive and difficult for airports and other industrial applications because of the high cost of hydrogen production and distribution. In the UK market, he expects the cost of electricity from green ammonia to be around £0.35 per kilowatt hour, compared with more than £1 ($1.26) for hydrogen, £0.30 for conventional diesel fuel, and £0.45 for biodiesel.

With hydrogen having a far greater volume than ammonia, many more truckloads of hydrogen would have to be delivered to sites to generate an equivalent power output.

Embraer's Eve Starts Testing eVTOL Prototype

In Brazil, Embraer's Eve Air Mobility division has been running ground tests on the electric pusher motor for the company’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. This will lead to the start of flight testing as the company works to have the four-passenger, lift-and-cruise model certified and ready to enter service by the end of next year.

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Photo of the Week

Mars attacks. Aviation photographer Alan Staats sent in this image of the Philippine Mars at Lake Pleasant, near Phoenix, after making its last-ever water landing on Monday. The WWII-era amphibious cargo transporter is on its way to its forever home at the Pima Air & Space Museum. The boat pulling the aircraft to the dock, where it will be transferred to the museum by highway, had some trouble getting the weathervaning aircraft to line up with the dock, so crews will make another attempt this weekend when winds are hopefully more favorable. Thanks for sharing, Alan!

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.