Lawmaker Calls for Carbon Standards, SAF Investment
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-California) has reintroduced legislation to incentivize the increased production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with a goal of having the U.S. aviation sector reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 35 percent by 2035, the congresswoman said yesterday. Originally introduced in November, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act would also set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
To achieve that, the legislation takes a multi-pronged approach that would include a call for the Environmental Protection Agency to establish an aviation-only low-carbon fuel standard, as well as a requirement for the Department of Defense to use a fuel mix that includes at least 10 percent SAF. A significant portion of the legislation is dedicated to various incentives, including authorizing $1 billion in federal funding for projects involving the production, transportation, blending, or storing of SAF. It also includes investment tax credits to finance new facilities and would authorize $175 million for research funding. Further, the legislation would establish a blender’s tax credit for SAF between $1.50 and $1.75 per gallon, depending on the associated reduction in GHG.
“Sustainable aviation fuel is a key component to decarbonize the aviation industry, but we need to scale up production and distribution if we are to achieve our climate goals,” said Brownley, who is on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
AINsight: 2020 Was Only a Nine-month Year for Bizav
Before last February, we had barely ever heard of coronavirus, much less Covid-19. Then the business aviation industry stood still from March through May, unsure of the effects.
But let’s take a look at business aircraft sales starting in June 2020. Many in this industry segment began to feel, see, and do business at a pace that some had never seen or experienced, or for many an activity level that they had not felt in years. Transaction-wise, 2020 was one of the best years in memory for aircraft sales.
However, it was actually only a nine-month year. Imagine if it were like that for a full 12 months? Could we find ourselves enjoying 12 months of that accelerated activity in 2021?
I think we could. As I look at the first month of 2021 at our company, we are being awarded new acquisition jobs, and getting more than usual opportunities to provide proposals to both buyers and sellers. We're adding new inventory and fielding more calls than a typical January, which is usually a reflective month for prospects and clients.
Be sure to also keep an eye on aircraft inventory, corporate buying, and the strength of the first-time buyer phenomenon. Let’s get ready for a shot in the arm, getting back to a more normal world, and continued success in our industry.
A day after shelving this year’s in-person European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in favor of a virtual event, NBAA cancelled its remaining in-person events scheduled for the first half of the year, including the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE) that was set for April 13 to 15 in Shanghai, China. Also canceled were the 2021 NBAA Maintenance Conference, which was planned for May 11 to 13, and the 2021 NBAA White Plains Regional Forum, scheduled for June 9.
These events join many other aviation in-person gatherings that were canceled or postponed in the first half, ranging from the Paris Air Show to Heli-Expo. As with EBACE, NBAA is exploring options for virtual programs to replace the canceled events.
“We are disappointed that we will be unable to offer a robust slate of in-person events in the first half of 2021,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said. “But the safety and security of our event participants have always been a core value for the association, and that is central to our decision.”
NBAA already had replaced other events, including its annual Schedulers and Dispatchers show and International Operators Conference, with online forums. The next in-person ABACE is scheduled from April 12 to 15, 2022, while the 2022 Maintenance Conference is planned from May 3 to 5, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas.
Leonardo’s AW139 Helicopter Turns 20
Leonardo this week marked the 20th anniversary of the first flight of its AW139 intermediate twin helicopter. The worldwide fleet of 1,100 aircraft delivered has amassed more than three million flight hours since the model entered service in 2004.
The Italian manufacturer launched the new model in 1997, originally designating it as the AB139 when it was being jointly developed with Bell. In 2005, then-AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) took sole ownership of the program, paying Bell $95 million for its 25 percent stake.
Today, Leonardo plants in Vergiate, Italy, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produce the helicopter, with more than 280 customers in 70 countries now operating the machine. According to Leonardo, AW139s account for about half of the global helicopter fleet used for search and rescue and air ambulance, law enforcement, firefighting, disaster relief, and military missions. The model also has a strong presence in the offshore energy market, where AW139s are increasingly replacing larger helicopters.
Capabilities added to the AW139 over the years include 1,000 mission kits and equipment, wireless data loading, synthetic vision, enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), anti-icing systems, and an increased mtow from 14,110 to 15,432 pounds.
FBOs Still Hoping for a Big Game Score
Super Bowl LV will take place on Sunday in Tampa, Florida, but it might not prove to be the usual magnet for private aviation. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attendance at Raymond James Stadium will intentionally be the lowest ever for an NFL championship game.
Adjacent to Tampa International Airport (TPA), the stadium can accommodate approximately 66,000 spectators, but the league restricted the available tickets to less than half that amount. Among the 25,000 fans expected to be in attendance will be 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers, who were selected for free trips to the game and will be honored during it. The remaining seats will be filled with photo cutouts.
More than just a sporting event, the week before the game has come to serve as a de facto advertising industry showplace, with scores of sponsor parties and VIP meet and greets. According to one source, that activity was curtailed as well, as companies decided to “sit this one out” due to Covid concerns.
Despite this, the local airports are still preparing to receive an influx of aircraft. TPA instituted a slot system that will last through Tuesday, with Sheltair reporting that its FBO there has more than 200 slot reservations during that period. In addition, its other FBOs are reporting 35 such slots at St Petersburg-Clearwater International and 48 at Lakeland Linder Airport.
Textron Aviation Takes First King Air 260C Order
Textron Aviation has taken its first order for a cargo-door-equipped Beechcraft King Air 260C from air ambulance provider Air Archipels of Tahiti. Included in the order is a second, standard King Air 260, an upgraded variant of the King Air 250 announced in early December at VBACE.
Deliveries are expected in the second half of 2021. Air Archipels currently operates a fleet of King Air B200s.
“We’re honored that Air Archipels has chosen to continue to stay with the King Airs in support of its critical emergency service operational needs in French Polynesia,” said Textron Aviation special missions sales v-p Bob Gibbs. “Continuing to be the supplier of choice for emergency services in French Polynesia is a testament to the King Air’s performance when each minute matters.”
Most of the 3,000 hours of flight Air Archipels carries out each year are for medical emergency evacuations. The 260C it has ordered will also be outfitted with a LifePort medical interior.
“Air Archipels operations require a difficult to achieve compromise between high speed and accessibility on short runways,” said Manate Vivish, CEO of Air Tahiti, the parent company of Air Archipels. “We are glad that the King Air 260 delivers these unique capabilities.”
TSO Granted for Tail-mounted ADS-B Transponder
The uAvionix tailBeaconX 1090 MHz ADS-B Out transponder has received FAA technical standard order (TSO) authorization. Approved model list STCs for installations are expected in the first quarter, covering a large number of aircraft models, the company said.
The tailBeaconX offers a unique advantage compared with typical light aircraft ADS-B Out transponders because its dipole antenna works with ground- and space-based ADS-B stations, including Aireon’s network built into Iridium’s new Next satellite constellation. Unless it is a diversity antenna installation (top and bottom fuselage-mounted), light aircraft ADS-B antennas are usually mounted on the fuselage belly for best reception with ground-based ADS-B stations. The tailBeaconX is also much simpler to install, as it replaces tail-mounted position lights.
Included in the tailBeaconX are ADS-B Out, SBAS GPS receiver, and rear LED position light, and it meets TSOs that apply to each of those technologies.
“Combining an LED rear position light replacement, a 1090-MHz Mode S [extended squitter] ADS-B Out transponder, SBAS GPS position source, and a dipole antenna into a single package was a major feat for our team, resulting in major cost reduction to our customers,” said uAvionix COO Ryan Braun.
Preorder price is $2,499. The uAvionix AV-30-C multi-mode instrument can control the tailBeaconX and replaces attitude indicators and directional gyros but also displays angle-of-attack, air data, g meter, bus voltage, and GPS navigation.
In an effort to bolster the sustainable fuel industry, fractional aircraft provider NetJets has purchased a stake in WasteFuel, a company that aims to convert landfill waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). WasteFuel is currently developing a plant in the Philippines that is scheduled to begin production by 2025, with a full capacity to convert one million tons of municipal waste into 30 million gallons of SAF a year.
In addition to acquiring a 20 percent share in the company, NetJets will also commit to purchasing 100 million gallons of WasteFuel-produced SAF over the next decade. That fuel will be delivered to Los Angeles and distributed throughout the NetJets network.
Based on its “next-generation” production technology, WasteFuel's SAF is said to provide an 80 percent lifecycle reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional jet-A while reducing landfill waste, which accounts globally for the third-largest source of methane produced by human activity. A potent greenhouse gas, methane is many times more damaging than CO2 when it comes to global warming. Urban areas such as Manila produce as much as 10,000 tons of solid waste a day, which could be used as feedstock for the fuel.
“As the leader in private aviation, NetJets is deeply invested in advancing sustainability across the industry,” said Brad Ferrell, executive v-p for administrative services for the company which lists more than 750 aircraft in its fleet. “The biorefinery tackles the dual environmental problems of the global waste crisis and sustainable fuel, and we’re excited to take this step toward improving accessibility to SAF in the aviation industry.”
The deadline to vote in the 2021 AIN FBO survey has been extended until this Wednesday, February 10. Results will be published in the April issue. The survey takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel or any other time that is convenient for you. Survey respondents will also be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. Log on to www.ainonline.com/fbosurvey to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.
Photo of the Week
Right on target. Professional aviation photographer Doron Talmi took this image while on final approach to Frankfurt International Airport. Coming out of the clouds, a "pilot glory" halo appeared, he said. Thanks for sharing, Doron!
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