California-based FBO services and aircraft maintenance chain ACI Jet has completed the installation of a solar array at its facility at San Luis Obispo County Airport (KSBP).

Taking advantage of the state’s bountiful sunshine, the 900-panel array—which spans the roofs of the location’s aircraft maintenance and storage hangars—is capable of generating nearly 600 kilowatts of peak power for much of the year, enough to power the entire FBO, Part 145 repair station, and flight operations center at KSBP.

For ACI, the development represents a major milestone for Paradigm Positive, its ESG, sustainability, and innovation strategy.

“Alternative and renewable energy already supports many of our modernized aircraft ground support systems,” said Andrew Robillard, the company’s head of FBOs and facilities. “As the aviation industry moves toward increased electrification of aircraft, vehicles, and equipment, establishing a clean, reliable, and scalable energy source becomes not just beneficial, but essential.”

The improvement fits as part of a larger renewable energy effort at KSBP. The airport recently completed the installation of a 940-kilowatt solar system over its parking facilities, further reducing its reliance on conventional energy sources.

For weeks, aircraft operators have dealt with heightened security concerns due to the impending threat of further military conflict between the U.S. and Iran. While the two sides started indirect diplomatic talks in Oman on Friday, experts say the situation—along with other current geopolitical fracture points, such as Venezuela—requires relentless vigilance to keep flights safe.

At Osprey Flight Solutions, chief intelligence officer Matthew Borie tells clients they need to have a consistent risk assessment methodology. This can be populated with timely and accurate information about shifting risks that, when assessed in the context of each company’s risk tolerance, provides managers with specific mitigation steps that could include canceling flights or avoiding some airspace.

The prospect of the U.S. attacking Iran, which has threatened to counter-attack Gulf allies, is a classic case in point. In recent weeks, several airlines have temporarily cancelled flights to some airports in the region and made tactical shifts in flight planning.

Timing is everything, and this is where Borie said examining the most relevant information makes a big difference. Osprey’s team pays a lot of attention to movements of key military assets, such as warships and combat aircraft, and GPS signal interference, among other factors.

2025 was a banner year for aircraft brokerage JetAviva, with the Florida-based company turning in the strongest annual revenue performance in its 20-year history.

Based on total transaction volume, JetAviva ranked as the second-highest-producing IADA-accredited firm globally, according to JetNet’s Top Dealers report, and it exceeded its annual forecast, driven by its expertise in the light-jet market and major increases in the super-mid and large-cabin segments.

Jade Hofeldt, one of JetAviva’s longest-tenured sales professionals, continued her leadership in the Cessna Citation Mustang market, buying and selling more of the entry-level jet than any other firm or broker worldwide, while the company maintained a strong position in the Citation and Embraer Phenom markets. 

At the same time, the company saw gains in its strategic expansion up market. Super-midsize and large-cabin transactions grew to more than 40% of its total revenue, nearly tripling year-over-year contribution. JetAviva strengthened its position in Embraer Praetor transactions, where it led in market share, driven by the team’s deep product expertise and long-tenured leadership.

“Reaching this milestone year is a powerful reminder of why we built JetAviva the way we did: relationships first and expertise always,” said company CEO Emily Deaton. “Our commitment remains the same: deliver exceptional guidance, earn trust through expertise, and help every client feel supported and empowered throughout their aviation journey.”

Los Angeles-based aircraft operator and charter marketplace provider FlyHouse has named wholesale charter operator Baker Aviation as the first recipient of its FlyHouse Safety Seal, recognizing operators “that demonstrate exceptional rigor in safety risk management, organizational transparency, and day-to-day operational discipline.” FlyHouse developed the program as an equitable safety evaluation system for pilots and aircraft seeking to be listed on its online market platform. 

The award follows an in-depth onsite review conducted in October 2025 across Baker’s leadership practices, flight operations, and safety systems.

“We always welcome our vendors’ requests for safety inspections,” said Baker Aviation president Tim Livingston. “Our partners place their clients and their reputations in our hands [and] it is our responsibility to ensure they feel complete confidence in our operation.”

FlyHouse evaluates prospective operators through its proprietary Culture and Safety Assessment. Unlike traditional checklist audits, it measures how safety functions in real-world conditions, examining leadership behaviors, communication, accountability, and frontline decision making to determine how effectively risk is understood and managed across the organization.

“Safety is not a department at FlyHouse, it is the foundation of every decision we make,” said company CEO Jack Lambert, Jr. “Partners like Baker Aviation set the standard for what disciplined, professional operations should look like.”

Sporty’s is expanding its support of the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program by continuing to provide free access to its Learn to Fly Course, a move aimed at helping EAA reach its Mission 2.5 goal of flying 2.5 million youths by the opening of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026.

EAA Young Eagles program manager David Leiting said Sporty’s free Learn to Fly access offers tangible next steps for motivated youth, including paths to scholarship eligibility. Combining free introductory flights with educational resources directly advances Mission 2.5 and moves the program closer to its target.

Since its launch in 1992, the Young Eagles program's volunteer pilots have given free introductory flights to kids ages 8 to 17, inspiring youngsters to experience aviation. Sporty’s has supported that mission for more than 15 years, offering complimentary access to its Learn to Fly Course to every Young Eagle who becomes an EAA student member. The online course, valued at $299, provides a structured educational step after a first flight, and more than 190,000 Young Eagles have registered for it since the initiative began in 2009.

“Supporting Young Eagles isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we actively do,” said John Zimmerman, Sporty’s president and CEO. At its home airport in Batavia, Ohio, Sporty’s pilots volunteered across six rallies in 2025, flying 48 Young Eagles, and are aiming to fly more than 84 youth in 2026.

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