With the U.S. presidential inauguration looming, TFR activity is expected to increase in Florida’s Palm Beach area for the foreseeable future, starting on January 20. The FAA has issued a presentation to refresh local stakeholders on the required procedures.

The agency noted that the implementation of presidential TFRs in Palm Beach, near President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, will be unpredictable in frequency and duration, and operators heading to and from the area should check notams before their flights because the VIP TFRs can shift location and time without warning. When this presidential TFR is in effect, the 10 nm inner core will heavily impact operations at Palm Beach International Airport (KPBI) and Palm Beach County Park Airport (KLNA).

The FAA will again institute a local TFR flight request form process similar to the one in place from 2017 to 2020. Once approved by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), flights in the outer ring of the TFR will be operated using a discrete transponder code. The form must be submitted 24 hours in advance, and if approved, a discrete beacon code will be issued on the morning of the flight by KPBI Tracon.

On January 16, the FAA has scheduled an informational meeting for local pilots at KPBI with representatives from the USSS, FAA, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and NORAD.

If I were to survey aerospace and defense (A&D) industry leaders about what they are most hoping for in 2025, I’d bet my house that they would not request double-digit tariffs on trade between the U.S. and its main trading partners. And yet, that seems to be what they must now be bracing for, with President-elect Donald Trump having confirmed on November 25 that among the stack of executive orders he intends to sign after his inauguration on January 20 are tariffs of at least 25% on Canada and Mexico and at least 10% on China.

These rates could be imposed over and above the baseline tariffs of between 10 and 20%, which Trump has previously threatened to impose on all other major A&D trading partners, including France, Germany, the UK, and Singapore. In the case of China, the 10% rate could be applied on top of a blanket 60% tariff promised during the election campaign.

According to Trump’s America First narrative, the tariffs are intended to serve several purposes that go beyond correcting any real or perceived trade imbalances. These include boosting manufacturing and jobs in the U.S., raising funds to underwrite the fiscal leeway needed for promised tax cuts, and applying pressure on other countries to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Greenwich AeroGroup subsidiary Western Aircraft announced that its sales team surpassed $2 billion in total aircraft sales last year. Pilatus products have been key contributors to this accomplishment, with Piper aircraft also playing a significant role.

Tom Aniello, v-p of marketing for Pilatus Business Aircraft, noted, “Since joining the Pilatus Authorized Sales and Service network in 1996, Western Aircraft has perennially been one of the top dealers in the world for PC-12 and PC-24 business aircraft. They have established strong relationships supporting our mutual customers and do an outstanding job representing the high standards of the Pilatus brand in the northwestern U.S.”

Western Aircraft also serves as an authorized sales and service center for Piper Aircraft in the Northwest U.S. Piper v-p of sales, marketing, and customer support Ron Gunnarson said, “Western truly embraces an unwavering commitment in delivering exceptional quality, service, and customer experience.”

Phil Winters, v-p of aircraft sales and charter management for Western, credited the milestone to the team’s dedication and customer loyalty. “Our commitment remains focused on delivering exceptional service and ensuring that every buyer enjoys an outstanding ownership journey, from the initial purchase to years of operation,” Winters said.

Bahrain Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa signed a contract for the country’s Police Aviation Command to receive nine Airbus H145 helicopters. The Kingdom’s police operation will fly the H145s for law enforcement and emergency medical services missions. 

The H145 features a five-blade main rotor that adds 331 pounds (150 kilograms) to the helicopter’s useful load and a bearingless rotor that makes maintenance easier and improves reliability. Two Safran Arriel 2E engines power the H145. Avionics are Airbus’ Helionix suite with a four-axis autopilot. Capable of carrying up to 10 passengers in a high-density configuration, the H145 can fly up to 140 knots and 351 nm, with endurance of 3 hours and 35 minutes.

More than 1,700 of the H145 family are in service and they have logged 8 million flying hours, according to Airbus Helicopters. In September 2019, a flight over the 22,840-foot Aconcagua in the Andes Mountains included a landing and takeoff at 20,000 feet.

EASA is stepping up efforts to introduce electronic licenses for aviation personnel, including pilots. The agency issued its NPA 2024-08 notice of proposed rulemaking on December 19, calling for industry comments on establishing the new electronic personnel licenses (EPLs) in European Union law.

The new rules would cover how the aviation safety regulator will issue, display, validate, and verify licenses on mobile devices, while also allowing them to be available in hard-copy paper or plastic format. The use of EPLs will be optional, but EASA member states will be required to recognize them, not only if issued by European Union countries, but also by ICAO contracting states.

The proposed rulemaking amendments, which cover some necessary legislative changes, also deal with how issues including security, confidentiality, and data protection for EPLs will be assured. They are intended to ensure the interoperability of the new licenses between different states and for them to adhere to ICAO standards and recommended practices.

The new EPL system promises some easing of requirements, such as removing the need to include a photograph of the holder, a seal or stamp from an issuing authority, and a holder’s signature (except in the case of maintenance technicians).

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