Study: SAF Market To Reach $14 Billion by 2030

The global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market is expected to increase from $216 million to more than $14 billion by 2030, according to a new report by market research firm The Brainy Insights. As primary factors to the rise, the study cites increasing demand due to more passengers and aircraft, along with the rising production of SAF due to the availability and low cost of “wet waste” feedstock such as food waste, animal manure, and other high water content materials.

Additionally, the report notes the growth of the market is being sustained by increasing private and governmental support along with international concern about the carbon emissions caused by the aviation sector. 

The study looked at blending ratios and found that the 30 to 50 percent SAF blend segment led the market with a 41 percent share in 2021. In terms of production pathways, the Fischer-Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene occupied the largest share of worldwide production at 27 percent, and the report authors say that by the end of the outlook window it will dominate the market.

North America was the largest user of SAF, accounting for nearly half of the production. Over the projection period, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to show the most rapid growth, due to proliferating low-cost airlines and developing aviation infrastructure.

Argus: Bizav Flight Gains Narrow in North America

North American business aircraft flight activity is still posting year-over-year increases, but it slowed to 1.9 percent in June and is on track to shrink to a 0.1 percent gain this month, according to the latest Argus International Aircraft Activity Report.

Part 91 activity in North America marked the strongest improvement last month, up 6.1 percent with all aircraft segments logging increases. In Part 91, large-cabin activity surged the most, up 10.2 percent from last June. However, Part 135 activity fell 3.4 percent, with midsize-cabin activity dipping by 4.4 percent, followed by small-cabin jet activity declines of 3.8 percent.

Fractional activity remained up at 3.5 percent despite a 13.7 percent drop in large-cabin jet activity in the segment. Fractional turboprop flights further slid 8.1 percent but small-cabin jet factional activity increased 7.1 percent in North America in June.

Globally, flight activity was up 8.3 percent year-over-year last month, driven by the 31.6 percent jump in flight activity in Europe. Large-cabin jets, in particular, had a busy month in Europe, flying 56 percent more than in June 2021. This was followed by midsize- and small-cabin jets with gains of 24.9 percent and 24.7 percent, respectively. Turboprop activity in the region was also up by nearly as much in June, reporting a 21 percent rise.

Hawaii Governor Expected To Veto Helicopter Bill

Hawaii Governor David Ige is expected to veto legislation that would burden helicopter operators in that state with an enormous amount of self-reporting and other restrictions. Ige said he would veto Senate Bill 3272 because it ascribes authority to the state that is the proper purview of the FAA. The state senate passed the bill unanimously in April. 

The bill would establish a new helicopter noise task force within the state, weighted with neighborhood associations and community groups, and require all helitour operators in Hawaii to obtain a state permit to operate at any airport within the state.  

Permit holders would be required to submit monthly reports to the Hawaii Department of Transportation detailing the place, date, and time of all aircraft operations, including takeoff and landing times; the number of individuals aboard the aircraft; the flight path from takeoff through landing; and whether the aircraft deviated from its intended flight plan. The reports would be available to the public.

The bill would also require permit holders to identify types of aircraft used, obtain a written area noise assessment from the state DOT, and establish penalties for revocation and suspension of a permit for failure to comply with permit conditions.

Wheels Up Creates New Fleets, Infrastructure Role

Wheels Up has named Rob Cords to a new role as executive v-p of fleet operations and infrastructure. He will report directly to company president Vinayak Hegde.

In the new role, Cords will lead all aspects of the private aviation membership and charter company’s fleet maintenance, fleet health and reliability, OEM relationships, corporate facilities and hangars, MRO and FBO services, and supply chain. Cords also will be a contributor to the company’s overall operations integration and fleet strategy.

He comes to the position from MRO Holdings, where he was president of the company that is an international provider of airframe and maintenance services. With more than 20 years of experience in aviation, Cords also previously served as president of airlines and fleets at StandardAero. Based in the Dallas area, Cords has a bachelor's degree in business from Indiana University and a master's in business from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Aero Asset: Preowned Single-engine Helo Sales Soften

Sales volume of single-engine preowned helicopters slid by 10 percent in the first half of the year, according to Aero Asset’s Heli Market Trends Report released today. Along with softening sales, the single-engine trends report further found a 65 percent drop in available supply in the second quarter. Per Aero Asset, 106 singles worth $200 million were traded in the first six months, while 64 units worth a combined $134 million were available as of late June.

North American buyers accounted for two-thirds of the transactions, while sellers in the region only accounted for 12 percent of the available supply. Conversely, European sellers represented 38 percent of the available single-engine supply even as the total number of transactions in the region declined by 50 percent year-over-year, Aero Asset reported. Latin America represented 19 percent of the supply and Asia-Pacific 17 percent.

Some 60 percent of the single-engine deals involved VIP-configured helicopters in 2022, while available EMS helicopters reached historic lows and utility models were down by 75 percent year-over-year.

Aero Asset dubbed the Airbus AS350B3/B3e/H125 as being the most “liquid” models, followed by the Bell 407/GX/P/I, and the Airbus EC130B4/H130. Each of the series only has three months’ supply at current transaction levels. The Leonardo AW119K/Ke/Kx is the “least liquid,” with an absorption rate of 10 months.

Duncan To Receive 20 TFE731 Engines from EAP

Engine Assurance Program (EAP) has agreed to send Duncan Aviation 20 Honeywell TFE731 engines over the next 12 months for major periodic inspections, compressor zone inspections, and unscheduled events through a partnership between the two organizations. EAP is a provider of hourly maintenance programs for operators of Honeywell, GE, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney engines.

EAP program coordinator Sean Lynch explained that four EAP engines have been through Duncan’s shop in the past 30 days for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. “This partnership is providing great results for clients, so we have agreed to send Duncan [the] engine over the next 12 months for their respective shop visits,” Lynch said.

A Honeywell-authorized service provider of TFE731 line, major, and heavy maintenance, Duncan has an OEM-certified 20,000-pound-thrust class turbofan engine facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. The TFE731 engine family powers a variety of Bombardier/Learjet, Citation, Gulfstream, Hawker, and Dassault Falcon business jets.

“Our relationship with EAP has organically grown over the years,” said Duncan v-p of sales Ryan Huss. “This has greatly benefited both companies as well as aircraft owners. Over that time frame, we have developed a good understanding of EAP’s company values and how well they align with our own values.”

Safran, India’s HAL Launch New Helicopter Engine JV

Safran Helicopter Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed an agreement to create a new joint venture (JV) in India to develop, produce, sell, and support helicopter engines. The JV is being formed in anticipation of supporting HAL in the development of future helicopters for India’s Ministry of Defense (MoD), including the 13-ton Indian multirole helicopter, as part of the country's “Atmanirbhar Bharat” self-reliance objectives.  

Safran and HAL have previously partnered on multiple engine programs, including the Shakti that powers HAL’s Dhruv, Rudra, and light combat helicopter, as well as the Ardiden 1U that powers HAL’s new light utility helicopter. More than 500 Shakti engines—the Indian variant of the Safran Ardiden 1H1, co-developed with HAL—have already been produced.

Through an already established JV in Goa, Helicopter Engines MRO Private, Safran, and HAL will provide MRO services for TM333 and Shakti engines currently in service with Indian Armed Forces by the end of 2023. 

“This new joint venture marks a turning point in our relationship with HAL and the Indian MoD with the development and production of a new generation of helicopter engine,” said Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Franck Saudo.

GrandView Aviation Adds Aircraft, Bases

GrandView Aviation has taken delivery of three new Embraer Phenom 300s and plans to open two new bases within a matter of weeks, the Maryland-based charter operator announced today. The new Phenoms bring its fleet of the type to 17.

In addition, GrandView plans to open bases in Teterboro, New Jersey, on July 15 and Reno, Nevada, on July 18, which will bring the number of bases the company operates to 10. GrandView already has bases in Baltimore/Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles; and Phoenix.

“I’m thrilled to celebrate the further expansion of our fleet with this latest delivery as we progress toward our goal of 20-plus aircraft by year-end,” said GrandView president Jessie Naor. Additionally, she noted the company plans to open three more bases before year-end.

The expansion comes about three months after GrandView’s assets were acquired by Global Medical Response, the parent company of AirMed International. “The impact of these new aircraft and bases are far-reaching,” said AirMed president Denise Treadwell. “Through the addition of each new aircraft and operation, GrandView increases access to life-saving organ transplants for patients around the nation and to safe and reliable charter services for our VIP clientele.”