Signature Aviation Earns ‘A’ in Environmental Stewardship

Signature Aviation has been awarded a grade of “A” by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an environmental non-profit that publishes an annual survey grading corporations' commitments to halting the threat and effects of climate change. The UK-based company was lauded for its environmental stewardship efforts, including commitments to reporting, mitigation, and technology, placing in the top 5 percent of the nearly 6,000 companies that were ranked this year.

Over the past year, the parent company to Signature Flight Support, the world’s largest FBO operator with more than 200 locations globally, introduced Signature Renew, a comprehensive program aimed at net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Towards that end, the company recently announced it would introduce permanent supplies of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at several of its locations and it is also introducing electrified ground service equipment, LEED-certified new construction, and solar power at its FBOs.

CDP uses a detailed and independent methodology to rate organizations from A to D+ and it noted that “despite the unprecedented challenges faced in 2020, the business world shows growing environmental awareness."

“Signature is approaching the impact of climate change from a multitude of angles,” said Signature Aviation group CEO Mark Johnstone. “We’re proud to achieve an A rating by CDP, which has been made possible by our continuing campaign to reduce emissions on a companywide scale.”

AINsight: My 2020 Pandemic Playlist

I was thinking the other day about what it would be like to make a 2020 playlist for the pandemic. Every one of us probably has that day it started for them etched in their mind. For me, it was March 14, when I told employees to start working from home. The first song that came to mind was ”American Pie” by Don McLean. March 14 was the day the music died for us.

Over the next several weeks, the pandemic began to take shape and our aviation market had shut down. All of us in aircraft sales and other segments were feeling close to each other and just collectively hoping for the best while reminding each other to hang on. The song that I put here is “Let’s Hang On” by Frankie Valli.

Next came the pronouncements in April and May: “I am never going to fly on a commercial plane again!” This seemed like just idle conversation at the time, but people were talking about change. The song I picked for this is “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan.

Then these prospects later began to take hold, with callers turning into real buyers. So my final song to wrap the year up is Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny.” It seems there is light at the end of this very dark tunnel.

UK Operators Stalled by Brexit Blocks on Market Access

The UK business aviation sector is facing significant disruption as it waits for negotiations to be concluded with EU countries over market access and other regulatory issues. In the first week since the end of the transition period for the country’s Brexit departure from the EU, aircraft operators have complained of costly and time-consuming obstacles to getting clearance for commercial flights.

The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) met with officials from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on January 6 to discuss the need to advance bilateral negotiations that now need to be conducted with each of 27 EU member states. UK operators are finding that “freedom of the skies" rights supposedly covered by the air transport sections of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement implemented at the end of the transition period are now not being automatically granted in other countries.

The UK has offered to allow EU operators to continue exercising third and fourth freedom rights allowing flights to and from the UK for a two-year transition period, but BBGA said several EU member states are not reciprocating this. Some states now make UK operators apply for permits for each and every flight, requiring an initial €4,000 ($4,440) fee, 48 hours notice, extensive security details, and getting permission from all other operators in that country.

FAA Officials Resign in Fallout over Capitol Hill Riot

Five senior FAA officials who served under President Trump have resigned, condemning the events that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Effective Monday, leaving the agency are Arjun Garg, chief counsel and acting deputy FAA Administrator; Brianna Manzelli, assistant administrator for communications; Kirk Shaffer, assistant administrator for airports; Bailey Edwards, assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment; and Andrew Giacini, acting administrator for legislative affairs.

Their resignations come as Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao also resigned effective Monday—nine days before she would have otherwise been expected to leave the department—citing “a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed.”

FAA chief-of-staff Angela Stubblefield on Thursday announced the resignations of the non-career leaders, saying, “Our colleagues’ decisions, given the gravity of yesterday’s events, are understandable. Like all of us, they are outraged by the brazen and violent attack on one of the sacred institutions of American democracy.”

Alongside the announcement, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson released a video to employees saying, “I am speaking with you today with a very heavy heart. The violence in the U.S Capitol yesterday was an attack on our sacred democracy and it was reprehensible and unpardonable.  I condemn this violence…This breach has really shaken us all to the core.”

Satcom Direct Logs 500th Global Xpress Activation

Satcom Direct has activated its 500th terminal for aerospace customers subscribing to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network through the Jet ConneX service. This places the company as the leading service provider of Inmarsat’s high-speed data service to private and government aviation users worldwide. 

Jet ConneX is supported by Satcom Direct’s router family, which augments in-flight connectivity efficiency, delivers SD applications, and supports cybersecurity management. Satcom Direct was the first business aviation communications provider to provision its services and transmit data over Inmarsat’s first two Global Xpress satellites and has been a reseller of Global Xpress since its service launch in 2015.

“The activation of 500 Jet ConneX terminals using Inmarsat’s GX constellation demonstrates that connectivity has become an essential part of aviation today,” noted Satcom Direct business aviation president Chris Moore. “In addition to delivering powerful communications to improve in-flight productivity, the collection, aggregation, and analysis of data generated by the aircraft improve flight operations, enhance efficiency, and improve financial management.”

Baldwin Introduces Alaska-oriented SMS Program

Baldwin Safety and Compliance has rolled out a safety management system/quality management system program for operators in Alaska with Juneau-based Part 135 commuter operator Alaska Seaplanes the first to come on board. The Baldwin Alaska Aviation Safety Exchange is a customizable and scalable program designed for operations of all sizes that provides access to data, forms, reports, manuals, and other tools necessary for Alaska operations.

Subscribers can share de-identified safety data within the Baldwin program and/or the FAA Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing database to facilitate lessons learned. Baldwin further is providing round-the-clock safety team resources and support. 

Alaska Seaplanes went live with its program in December, noted Ken McLure, Alaska Seaplanes director of safety and compliance. “The big difference for Alaska Seaplanes was that the Baldwin system was customizable and flexible enough to adapt to our operation, and it did not require reworking our processes to integrate with the software,” McLure said. “I am already receiving great feedback on the data we are collecting."

Baldwin president and founder Donald Baldwin noted the “extraordinary conditions” the operator faces on a regular basis. “We wanted to provide a customized SMS/QMS solution that would support the specific Alaskan operational regulatory standards and emergency response environment,” he said. Baldwin is expected to introduce a similar program for aviation operators in Hawaii shortly.

UK Requires Negative Covid Test for Arriving Passengers

Passengers arriving on flights to the UK will be required to provide proof of a negative Covid test taken up to 72 hours before departure time. The measure, which was announced on January 8, will go into force at some point next week, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps.

Pilots are exempt from the requirement, which also applies to all international arrivals into the country by train or ship. The announcement covered arrivals to airports in England, but the Scottish government has introduced an identical requirement. Authorities in Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit.

Even with proof of a negative test result, arriving passengers from countries except those on the UK’s limited (and ever-changing) “travel corridor" list of countries will still be required to self-isolate at a fixed address for 10 days. There is an option to shorten this period by paying to have another test done after five days.

Following the January 6 imposition of tougher lockdown rules in the UK, all non-essential travel is prohibited. In an effort to control the spread of new strains of the Coronavirus, the UK has also banned all arrivals from multiple southern African countries.

Textron Aviation Delivers Caravan on Floats to Sundt Air

Textron Aviation’s special missions unit has delivered an amphibious Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Sundt Air in Oslo, Norway. The turboprop single was handed over at the company’s Independence, Kansas factory.

“Adding floats to your Cessna Caravan brings new meaning to the word versatility,” said Textron Aviation special missions sales v-p Bob Gibbs. “Amphibious and dedicated seaplane floats open up a whole new range of possibilities and give you access to areas where an airstrip just isn’t an option.”

A Textron Aviation spokesman told AIN that Sundt Air is acting as an intermediary in the delivery, which will be handed over to an unnamed customer in Norway who will use the Caravan for private flying. Sundt Air provides charter, aircraft management, maintenance, and modifications as well as operates two FBOs in Norway—at Oslo Airport and Stavanger Airport in Sola.

Its sister company, Norwegian Special Mission, performs special mission modifications, including on two Cessna Citation Latitudes that were delivered for the Japan Air Self Defense Force last April. Sundt Air also operates special missions Beechcraft King Airs on contract with the Norwegian Coastal Administration, Coast Guard/Royal Norwegian Navy, and Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies.

Photo of the Week

What an office view! Hawker 800XP captain Carlos Morales snapped this photo while flying at FL370 over the Caribbean late last month on a flight from Mexico to Colombia. Thanks for sharing this beauty with us, Carlos.

If you'd like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.

Garmin Autoland Wins Top Flight Awards' Safety Category

Garmin Autoland is the winner of AIN's 2020 Top Flight Awards Safety category. Autoland is now available for the Piper M600 SLS and Daher TBM 940 turboprop singles and the Cirrus SF50 G2 single-engine jet. It is designed to safely—and automatically—fly an airplane from cruising altitude to a suitable runway, then land the airplane, apply brakes, and stop the engine.