SAF on Track for 1B Gallons Annual Production by 2025

Noting the “opportunity is large,” a senior leader on the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) front outlined a vision where production of SAF grows to at least one billion gallons a year by 2025, the number of pathways to develop it more than doubles, and the industry progresses toward the goal of a 100 percent sustainable option.

Speaking during the virtual NBAA Go Flight Operations Conference this week, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) executive director Steve Csonka said SAF has demonstrated that it reduces life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an average anywhere between 60 and 80 percent. But some producers using feedstocks such as tallow and cooking oil are on track to produce SAF by year-end that reaches almost 100 percent GHG emissions reduction, he said.

As for availability, three major producers combined for nearly 60 million gallons in 2020. At least 15 more are anticipated to join the fray over the next four years, increasing output to 720 million gallons next year and to one billion gallons by 2025. Including other yet-unannounced initiatives, production could actually reach two billion gallons by 2025, Csonka added.

An area of criticism, he acknowledged, is the use of the 50/50 blend. However, Csonka said researchers are eying possibilities to “needing less blending or even zero blending...We already know we have several pathways to do that.”

Automated Data Systems Extend Engine TBOs for Citations

Latitude Technologies is making its Enode Engine Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) and Ionode Digital Data Recorder (DDR) available for use on legacy Cessna Citations. Under a supplemental type certificate (STC), the Canadian avionics and satellite connectivity specialist aims to give operators greater flexibility by supporting a 2,000-hour time between overhaul (TBO) extension for the Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines on the Citation II, S/II, V, and Ultra.

The STC announced on February 24 allows the Enode DAU and the Ionode DDR to function as a component of the TBO extension for the legacy Citations. Latitude already holds an STC for the same technology to be used on the Beechjet 400A/XP.

Latitude's Ionode DDR acts as a lightweight data collection system for automating flight data management and flight operations quality assurance programs. By recording and transmitting this data, the unit’s digital and analog inputs allow operators to analyze data accurately for fleet-specific program goals. The systems also support engine condition trend monitoring and fuel management programs with data transmitted from engines automatically.

Data uploaded from onboard programs to operators’ fleet management systems is streamlined through Wi-Fi offloading to Latitude’s servers without pilots or technicians being involved. According to the Victoria, British Colombia-based company, this reduces errors and improves accuracy.

Pilots and Charter Exec Convicted Over Ghosn Escape

A court in Turkey yesterday convicted two former pilots and an executive formerly employed by private charter operator MNG Jet on charges of migrant smuggling for their part in the escape of indicted automotive executive Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon in late December 2019. Ghosn, who was formerly chairman of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., hid in a Bombardier Global 6000 operated by MNG to fly from Tokyo to Istanbul, before switching to the company’s Bombardier Challenger 300 for a flight to Beirut. 

The court found pilots Erem Yucel and Noyan Pasin guilty of the charges, along with Oken Koseman, who was reportedly an operations manager with Istanbul-based MNG. It acquitted two other pilots and a flight attendant after charges had previously been dropped for a second flight attendant.

The three convicted men were charged in early January 2020 after MNG filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed employee who it alleged had falsified records for the two flights. MNG Jet did not respond to AIN's request for comment about the outcome of this case.

While the men were sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment, their attorneys indicated to news agency Reuters that they are not expected to serve more jail time after being released on bail in July.

Piaggio Aerospace Sale Now Down to Five Final Bidders

Five entities from three continents have made it to the final bidding process to acquire Piaggio Aerospace, with offers to purchase due on March 5, the Italian aircraft manufacturer announced today. In all, 19 entities had expressed interest in buying Piaggio Aerospace, which entered extraordinary receivership in late 2018, but only five received authorization from the Italian Ministry for Economic Development and then passed the diligence phase.

Vincenzo Nicastro, the extraordinary commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace, said letters were sent to those who explicitly confirmed their interest in purchasing the company and reaffirmed their willingness to take over the business in its entirety. “Having five bidders on the shortlist is a very positive result,” he said, “particularly if we consider that the pandemic discouraged several overseas entities, especially those that most suffered from travel restrictions.”

According to Nicastro, the final offers will be non-binding “to allow me to start all-round negotiations with those who will submit the best proposal in terms of the industrial plan, guarantees for the future, and purchase price.” Negotiations are then expected to last no longer than a month before culminating in a binding offer, he noted.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the nine-seat Avanti Evo turboprop twin is carrying forward its production and commercial plans, Nicastro said. Piaggio Aerospace currently employs 940 people.

Set Jet Joins Launch Customer Base for Aerion AS2

Aerion continues to expand its order book for the AS2, adding membership-based charter program Set Jet as a launch customer for the Mach 1.4 business jet. Collaborating with Aerion, Set Jet expects to fold the AS2 into its domestic and international expansion plans with new point-to-point flights.

“Set Jet is excited to work with Aerion…and be the first to provide environmentally responsible supersonic private jet service between LA and Hawaii, as well as New York and London, with approximately three- and four-hour flight times, respectively,” said Set Jet CEO Tom Smith.

Aerion continues to build the order book for the supersonic jet as it progresses toward production in 2023 and market entry later in the decade. Late last year, Aerion reported its backlog had grown to $6.5 billion, well ahead of its targets for 2020.

Meanwhile, Aerion is expanding its sales reach with the return of veteran business aviation executive Sean McGeough as v-p of sales. McGeough has more than 25 years of industry experience, most recently as executive v-p of corporate sales for Wheels Up. McGeough previously spent almost three years with Aerion as v-p of sales for North America after serving as president and CEO of Nextant Aerospace and president of Hawker Beechcraft for the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

UK MRO Provider Oriens Builds on Pilatus Mx Credentials

Oriens Aviation has achieved a number of milestones with the addition of several maintenance credentials, the UK MRO provider announced today. Chief among those milestones is obtaining EASA Part 145 repair station accreditation, as well as becoming an authorized Pilatus PC-24 service center, which builds on its previous authorization from the Swiss airframer to provide maintenance on the PC-12 family of turboprop singles.

As a result of its PC-24 credentials, the company completed its first annual check on a PC-24 for a UK customer last week at its London Biggin Hill facility. “Over five years the Oriens team have made an enormous contribution adding to and supporting our Pilatus family and we are delighted that Oriens Aviation is now a fully approved PC-24 service center,” said Pilatus Aircraft v-p of general aviation Ignaz Gretener. “Oriens’ base at Biggin Hill remains a highly attractive business aviation airport for many of the Pilatus customers, with good opening hours.”

Oriens noted that, with the EASA accreditation, it will be able to continue to work on European-registered Pilatus aircraft post-Brexit, which is especially important to the MRO provider because it said many of its PC-12 maintenance customers are from outside the UK. In addition to the EASA and PC-24 authorizations, the company has also received approval to service the Williams FJ44 engines that power the PC-24.

Fly Lindy Plans Per-seat New York City-D.C. Helo Service

Fly Lindy, a subsidiary of business jet charter operator GrandView Aviation, plans to offer per-seat, scheduled helicopter charter shuttle service between New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, starting as early as June. The company said it will use Sikorsky S-76D and Bell 407GXi helicopters operated by GrandView under the latter's Part 135 charter certificate.

Initial service would be every Monday and Friday, with morning, noon, and evening departures from the D.C. metro area—Martin State Airport in Baltimore and College Park Airport near D.C.—to the Wall Street Heliport in New York City and back. Flights will cost $1,500 one-way per-seat, a company spokeswoman told AIN.

“Fly Lindy isn't only about a luxury experience, but it's safety and security that we promise to our passengers,” said Fly Lindy COO Jessie Naor. Regarding safety, she said the company’s IFR-capable helicopters will be flown by two ATP-rated pilots and equipped with HTAWS, TCAS, pop-out floats, and other safety systems. Operator Grandview Aviation is also Wyvern Wingman rated, the highest such rating from the third-party safety auditor.

Official booking dates are pending Covid-related travel restrictions and vaccine progress, Fly Lindy said.

DOT IG Sees Continuing Oversight Weakness at FAA

Federal investigators have concluded that weaknesses in the FAA’s certification and delegation processes hindered its oversight of the certification of the Boeing 737 Max 8, according to a DOT inspector general’s report published yesterday. The report found that the agency’s limitations in the FAA’s guidance and certification processes led to a “significant misunderstanding” of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), the flight control software identified as contributing to two accidents.

Although the IG report also said the FAA addressed many deficiencies outlined in a June 2020 interim report, it concluded that “it is not clear” that the FAA’s current oversight structure and processes can effectively identify future safety concerns within the Boeing Organization Designation Authority (ODA) structure.

“First, FAA’s certification guidance does not adequately address integrating new technologies into existing aircraft models,” noted the report. “Second, FAA did not have a complete understanding of Boeing’s safety assessments performed on MCAS until after the first accident. Communication gaps further hindered the effectiveness of the certification process.”

According to the report, the FAA has not yet implemented a risk-based approach to ODA oversight. Meanwhile, the Boeing ODA process and structure do not ensure adequate independence of ODA personnel, it concluded. The report lists 14 recommendations to improve the certification process and oversight of the Boeing ODA. The FAA concurred and provided appropriate actions and planned completion dates.

Overcoming Avionics Obsolescence in Legacy Business Jets

Airplanes are built to fly for decades and ideally, a well-maintained airplane will provide many years of safe and reliable service. However, the longer an airplane flies, it’s inevitable that the avionics will need to be upgraded. With fast-moving technology, required safety mandates, and parts obsolescence, compliance with regulatory standards and overcoming technology barriers can be challenging for legacy jet owners and operators. Join us for this free webinar on April 19th as we discuss avionics obsolescence in the legacy business jet market and the proactive approach avionics manufacturers are taking to make retrofit upgrades more affordable and manageable.