French airports group ADP has launched a new alliance with Dassault Aviation to boost efforts to decarbonize operations at Paris Le Bourget Airport. Under plans announced on Thursday, the partners will jointly support business aircraft operators in making more use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), introduce electric-powered ground support equipment, and invest in geothermal power for airport buildings and hangars.

Dassault Falcon Service, which provides ground handling as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul support at Le Bourget, is involved in the effort. The ADP-led initiative is not limited to the Falcon family of business jets produced by the French manufacturer.

“Decarbonizing aviation will begin with small aircraft, and will only be possible with the full involvement of the airport ecosystem,” said ADP chairman and CEO Augustin de Romanet. “As infrastructure managers, we have a responsibility to accelerate, integrate, and encourage the use of new technologies that make the environmental transition possible.”

According to ADP, Le Bourget is the first European airport to ensure that SAF is permanently available. It said that 3.2 million liters of SAF were purchased by operators at the site last year.

Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Éric Trappier called for more effort to ensure that SAF blends above 30 percent are available to operators. He said all Falcon jets can now fly with a 50 percent SAF blend.

I had the privilege this week of hosting an NBAA News Hour webinar that was targeted at actually seeing ourselves in 2024 rather than just guessing about the year from the perspective of 2023. Obviously, we are early in it; however, we have some great indicators already.

On the panel were several thought leaders in the industry—all professionals I am proud to call my friends: Vivek Kaushal, CEO of Global Jet Capital; Rollie Vincent, president of Rolland Vincent Associates; and Alasdair Whyte, co-founder of Corporate Jet Investor. This group really hit the industry nail on the head.

Vivek was able to help us define the current, as well as the previous year’s, market for financing, as well as appetite for capital investments. The conversation started by reviewing 2023 and labeling it a relatively tough year. Some of the problems with the year revolved around the rising rate environment due to the fed cycle, which created a mini crisis in the banking sector.

He spoke of what he believes will be an easing of this cycle and the opening of better rate markets, which will strengthen the financing climate in 2024. Rollie added that we are getting regular GDP reports—including this last much more positive one—that will also lead to a better environment for business aviation in 2024. It is actually happening rather than being predicted.

A hangar collapse on Wednesday at Boise Airport in Idaho has claimed the lives of three people and injured nine others. The 39,000-sq-ft hangar was under construction for Jackson Jet Center. The mishap is now under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“First responders found a hectic scene and worked to secure and rescue victims,” said Aaron Hummel, division chief of operations and EMS at Boise City Fire Department. “The Boise Airport, city of Boise, and all first responders extend their deepest sympathies to those impacted.”

“[Wednesday’s] tragic news of the hangar collapse was absolutely heartbreaking for our airport team and for our community,” said Boise Airport director Rebecca Hupp, adding that the airport’s focus is on the families of the deceased and the staff at Jackson Jet Center.

The hangar was an expansion announced last year by Jackson Jet Center, an FBO and business air charter and maintenance provider. Jackson Jet Center declined to comment to AIN.

City permit records show Big D Builders as the contractor for the hangar. OSHA spokesperson Michael Petersen told AIN that the investigation is in its early stages and it will be several months before the agency can share its findings. “[Big D Builders] were the construction company working on the hangar, and that would be one of the areas of focus, that company,” he said.

The Reading (Pennsylvania) Regional Airport Authority has now taken over as the aviation service provider at Reading Regional Airport/General Carl A. Spaatz Field (KRDG). Last year, the authority agreed to purchase the two existing FBOs on the field with plans to merge them into one business now known as Reading Aviation.

Previously home to Millennium Aviation, the FBO’s 18,000-sq-ft terminal offers passenger and pilot lounges, a 16-seat conference room, 1,000 sq ft of office space, crew cars, laundry and dishwashing service, and an onsite restaurant. Over the next two years, the rebranded facility—which is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.—will undergo an upgrade that will add snooze rooms, more conference/meeting space, and offices for customer use.

In addition, the airport now controls more than 70,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of sheltering aircraft up to a Dassault Falcon 900. Besides the consolidation and name change, the FBO has also switched fuel providers to join the Avfuel dealer network.

“The Reading Airport Authority is proud to now oversee the operation of KRDG’s FBO,” said airport director Zackary Tempesco. “In doing so, we’re better able to serve as a gateway for a growing part of southeastern Pennsylvania.”

ALPA president Jason Ambrosi sharply criticized the industry-led push to eliminate pilots from flight decks in a speech to the Air Line Pilots Association International this week. “I believe that this issue is the single greatest threat to aviation safety. This is about removing pilots—all of us—from the flight deck over time,” he said.

Ambrosi suggested that there is a systematic effort to roll back numbers of crewmembers across all flights, beginning with cargo crews—but with the intent of expanding to passenger flights. He said that the industry is now at a “tipping point” for the issue.

“It’s not happening a decade from now, it’s happening right now,” he added. “The scale of this threat should make everyone in this room sit up and take notice—and want to fight back, which is exactly what ALPA is doing.”

Ambrosi led a panel discussion where he highlighted efforts to lobby both the International Civil Aviation Organization and EASA to consider more reduced-crew operations. He cited recent events in the news, such as the Alaska Airlines door plug accident, as reasons why the push for reduced crews would be a step backward, and he urged lawmakers to take action.

“I urge the Senate to act expeditiously to pass an FAA reauthorization bill that enhances safety and does not introduce uncertainty into a system that is working to protect passengers, crews, and cargo,” said Ambrosi.