The National Park Service (NPS) and the FAA have issued a long-awaited air tour management plan (ATMP) for Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park that drastically curtails the number of sightseeing flights allowed within the park’s boundaries. While existing levels are more than 11,000 flights a year, the ATMP will limit that number to just more than 1,500 on three specific routes through the park that avoid the summit of Kīlauea and other cultural, natural, and visitor-use resources.

Tours will generally be restricted to between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, while specially designated "quiet technology" aircraft—understood to include the Airbus Helicopters H130—would be allowed to fly on those days from 9 am until 5 pm, in addition to Wednesdays. All air tour flights would be forbidden on Sundays and eight specific Hawaiian holidays and remembrance days.

The ATMP was developed in cooperation with stakeholders representing a variety of interests, including Native Hawaiian organizations, other land management agencies, local communities, and recreation groups.

“The ATMP is more than 20 years in the making,” said Rhonda Loh, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park superintendent. “It greatly reduces the number of low-flying air tours over the park to protect the natural and cultural resources, the wilderness character, and general visitor experience.”

Duncan Aviation has bolstered its component repair and overhaul services by appointing five new technical representatives. This move aims to meet the growing demand for advanced technical support and training in accessories, avionics, and instrument services. The new tech reps will play a pivotal role in advising, teaching, and supporting various stakeholders.

Duncan has made concerted efforts over the past three years to upgrade its component services division significantly, according to the company. It secured exclusive support for numerous OEM avionics and accessories units, enhancing its repair and exchange capabilities such as managing quotes, AOG events, technical support, warranty claims, and maintenance contracts.

Each tech rep is responsible for identifying essential test sets, tooling, and training requirements. Among the appointees, avionics instruments tech rep Jarrod Bovard specializes in weather radar, HSI, and flight director indicators. Accessories tech rep Josh Hull focuses on landing gear and hydraulics, contributing to the development of additional capabilities in the company's accessories shop in Provo, Utah.

Steve Krings brings 41 years of experience in troubleshooting aircraft autopilot instruments to his role as an avionics tech rep. Scott Samuelson, another avionics tech rep with 38 years at Duncan Aviation, plays a key role in recruiting component technicians. With more than 28 years of experience on the NavCom and APT teams, Rod Walther is an expert in FMS, HF, ELT, DME, transponder, and audio.

While the roster of feedstocks utilized for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) continues to grow, one of the most ubiquitous and intriguing being explored by a UK company is sewage. Firefly Green Fuels has developed a process to turn human waste into SAF.

A biofuels industry veteran, CEO James Hygate set out to find a low-value, abundant feedstock. “Globally, sewage is a material in constant production; it's an unavoidable byproduct of human existence,” he told AIN. “We know that in many places this sewage is already processed, leaving a tricky-to-dispose final product known as sewage sludge or biosolids. We are engaged in very productive talks with utility companies who are excited about the potential of our technology to take this problematic waste product off their hands.”

Using a new process, Firefly Green Fuels has successfully produced samples of SAF from sewage sludge and expects to submit its pathway to ASTM International by the end of the year.

The company has calculated that each person produces enough raw waste to make slightly more than one gallon of SAF a year. “Whilst there isn't nearly enough waste for this solution to power every flight in the world, we can make a significant impact towards reducing the aviation industry's fossil fuel dependency,” Hygate noted.

Firefly expects that its first commercial plant will come online before the end of the decade.

Enstrom Helicopter has set the dates for its 2024 maintenance training classes. Piston-powered helicopter classes run from June 2 to 7 and September 23 to 27, while turbine classes will be held from June 10 to 14 and September 30 to October 4.

Mechanics and pilots who join Enstrom’s five-day training courses will learn all the nuances of how an Enstrom helicopter operates. Instructors will emphasize inspection procedures; routine maintenance; overhaul, airframe, and rotor system troubleshooting; main rotor tracking; and tail rotor balance procedures. Participants can practice what they learn with hands-on display models and special tooling.

All maintenance courses carry IA renewal accreditation. Enstrom offers two options for certification—one for A&P mechanics and the other for non-mechanics to certify familiarization with Enstrom. Anyone who wants to attend may take the classes and, following completion, attendees can return for refresher courses as often as they like. The program does not require completion of both classes at the same time.

Wheels Up has divested its business aircraft brokerage division to 5x5 Trading, a newly formed business aircraft brokerage and advisory firm founded by former leaders at the Wheels Up division—John Odegard, Seth Zlotkin, and Chris Brenner—and aircraft management and sales veteran Jeremy Bogle.

Tampa, Florida-based 5x5 has also signed a three-year strategic services agreement that makes it the exclusive provider of aircraft acquisition and disposition services for Wheels Up. Additionally, 5x5 will provide Wheels Up with fleet planning guidance and support Wheels Up and Air Partner members and customers on aircraft transactions.

“We look forward to working closely with the 5x5 Trading team,” said Wheels Up CEO George Mattson. “John, Seth, Chris, and Jeremy are proven industry leaders with a strong record of success in the aircraft sales and acquisition space.”

5x5 Trading, an International Aircraft Dealers Association-accredited broker-dealer, provides brokerage, acquisition, trade, and new aircraft advisory services and solutions to the business aircraft market.