EBAA and GAMA ‘Encouraged’ by EU’s SAF Proposals

EBAA and GAMA are “encouraged” by new rules unveiled yesterday by the European Commission to advance the production, availability, and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the region. However, they steered away from formally expressing support for the intended introduction of an EU-wide SAF blending mandate, which calls for the introduction of an obligation across the bloc to blend 2 percent SAF by 2025, rising to 5 percent in 2030, and 63 percent in 2050.

These SAF measures form part of the commission’s long-awaited “Fit for 55” legislative package to reduce carbon emissions by at least 55 percent of 1990 levels by 2030 and deliver the European Green Deal, which aims to make the continent climate-neutral by 2050. The far-reaching policies also include proposals to introduce an EU-wide tax on aviation fuel (but apparently exempting business aircraft), strengthen the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for aviation, and implement the UN Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation into European law.

“The RefuelEU Aviation Initiative lays the foundation for a strong partnership between policymakers and industry to deliver SAF as a key enabler of the European Green Deal objective to reduce transport-related emissions,” said EBAA secretary-general Athar Husain Khan. GAMA senior v-p for European affairs Kyle Martin noted that the general and business aviation industry is “keenly” focused on fulfilling its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Epic E1000 GX Obtains FAA Nod

Epic Aircraft’s latest version of its all-composite turboprop single, the E1000 GX, has received FAA approval, the Bend, Oregon-based aircraft manufacturer announced today. The upgraded E1000 GX features improved performance and safety, thanks to the addition of the Garmin GFC 700 automated flight control system and Hartzell five-blade composite propeller. Deliveries of the new model, which is priced at $3.85 million, will begin this month.

Garmin’s GFC 700 provides flight director, autopilot, yaw damper, and automatic trim capabilities, as well as emergency descent protection and coupled go-arounds. “The Garmin GFC 700 offers full integration with our aircraft’s G1000 NXi-equipped flight deck, along with ease of use and advanced safety features. It’s a perfect upgrade,” said Epic CEO Doug King.

“We are also seeing benefits from the Hartzell five-blade, including improved speed, climb, range, payload, and takeoff performance. Plus we are experiencing quieter operations inside and outside the cabin,” added King. The five-blade propeller has stronger, composite resin-injected blades with a thinner, wider airfoil that optimizes flight performance, including faster takeoff acceleration and enhanced speed.

The FAA approved Epic’s original E1000 model in November 2019.

Air bp Introduces ISCC SAF in Spain

Air bp has sold the first of its SAF ISCC-Plus certified sustainable aviation fuel in Spain to launch customer NetJets Europe. ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is a globally applicable sustainability certification system and covers all sustainable feedstocks, including agricultural and forestry biomass, biogenic wastes and residues, circular materials, and renewables. The certification ensures through auditing that the lifecycle production process for the fuel meets environmental best practices.

The Air bp SAF, available throughout its network in Spain, is supplied locally from parent company bp’s refinery in Castellón, which receives the sustainable waste feedstocks and co-processes them with fossil fuel to produce synthetic low-carbon fuel. The ISCC-Plus SAF has an attributed lifecycle CO2 emissions reduction of approximately 80 percent compared with the conventional jet-A that it replaces.

“We believe SAF is one of the aviation industry’s key routes to reducing carbon emissions, and ISCC-Plus certified SAF is the first step towards developing new refining and commercial solutions,” noted Air bp CEO Martin Thomsen.

“We are proud to collaborate with Air bp to supply SAF for NetJets’ aircraft in Europe,” said NetJets Europe executive director Christian Luwisch, adding that this is an important step in his company’s sustainability efforts. “Our owners will now benefit from this supply of SAF, which we expect to be in the region of 325,000 USG during the first 12 months.”

Flexjet Program Allows G650 Owners Fleet Flexibility

A new program from Flexjet will allow its shareowners in the Gulfstream G650 to access the fractional company’s entire fleet for instances when their trips don’t require a large capacity, long-range business jet. The Unlimited Access Program also will provide G650 shareowners with account credits or additional flight hours when they opt to use one of Flextjet’s light or midsize aircraft such as the Embraer Phenom 300 or Praetor 500.

“When we added guaranteed access to the full Flexjet fleet, the word that kept coming up in conversation with our sales team was unlimited. And, in a soft launch with existing customers, we already have seen high demand for this program,” said Flexjet executive v-p of sales D.J. Hanlon. “Reaction to this program has been so successful that we have accelerated our fleet expansion plans to include additional deliveries of the G650 this year.”

The G650 is part of Red Label by Flexjet, a premium program that features a young fleet, custom cabin interiors, and flight crews who are assigned to a single, specific jet.

Avflight Moves Into New FBO Digs in Mesa

FBO operator Avflight has opened its facility at Arizona’s Falcon Field Airport, which is situated midway between Scottsdale and Phoenix. The Avfuel-affiliated chain recently purchased the ground-handling operation of Falcon Executive Aviation, the lone full-service FBO at the Mesa gateway, and built a terminal on the northern side of the field across from the existing 2,000-sq-ft facility, which will be retained and operated as a satellite location.

The 5,000-sq-ft modern terminal includes a passenger lounge, concierge station, pilot lounge with snooze rooms and shower facilities, kitchen, flight-planning room, and eight-seat conference room, as well as more than 500 sq ft of tenant office space. Amenities include a crew car and car rentals. Avflight also built an 11,000-sq-ft hangar, bringing aircraft storage space to 38,000 sq ft and allowing for the sheltering of jets as large as a Gulfstream G650. As an Avfuel-branded facility, the FBO offers Avtrip points and Avfuel contract fuel.

“The Avflight team is honored to serve as a gateway to Mesa and the greater Phoenix area,” said Garrett Hain, the company’s v-p of finance. “Our goal was, and continues to be, to build in the foundation of Falcon Field Airport’s offerings with new facilities and a dedication to customer care.”

NBAA, AOPA Object to New FAA Policy on Training

NBAA and AOPA have panned the FAA’s newly revised policy clarifying how flight training can be compensated in aircraft that hold special airworthiness certificates, including limited and experimental categories. The policy statement also establishes an expedited electronic process for owners of experimental aircraft to obtain a required letter of deviation authority (LODA) to receive and provide compensation for flight training in their own experimental-category aircraft.

Both NBAA and AOPA expressed their dissatisfaction with the policy and the LODA requirement, calling on the agency to further revise its policy, which became effective July 12. Publication of the policy ostensibly addresses the concerns of several general aviation organizations that previously objected to guidelines laid out in a June 4 FAA letter that stated a flight instructor operating a limited, experimental or even a primary category aircraft and “carrying a paying student” is acting contrary to federal regulation.

Despite the FAA’s attempt at clarification, NBAA said this policy represents a new interpretation of the meaning of “compensation.” Typically, commercial operations, which are not permitted under Part 91, are operations involving transportation for compensation or hire. The association said the agency is viewing certain types of flight instruction as “compensated,” and therefore not permitted under Part 91.

WAI Opens 2022 Scholarship Program

Women in Aviation International (WAI) formally opened its 2022 scholarship program on Thursday, currently offering 98 scholarships totaling $479,505 for flight training, engineering, maintenance, dispatcher, drone operations, and professional development. Noting scholarships are coming in weekly, WAI encouraged applicants to check back frequently for new postings and said the available offerings for 2022 are anticipated to continue to grow. A person can apply for up to three of the scholarships offered through WAI each year.

WAI awarded 149 scholarships valued at $731,805 this year, including 47 funded through a $250,000 grant by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Since 1995, WAI has awarded more than $14.5 million in scholarships.

The 2022 awards will be announced during the 33rd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, scheduled from March 17 to 19. To qualify, an applicant must be a WAI member as of October 1 and the deadline is October 12.

“One of the major benefits of being a WAI member is the opportunity to apply for scholarships that can assist people of all stages of their careers with financial support,” said WAI CEO Allison McKay. “We appreciate the generosity of our numerous scholarship sponsors, and welcome any individual, company, or organization to find out more about our program that changes lives for hundreds of WAI members every year.”

FBO Director Platform Integrates with QuickBooks Online

Business software provider Essinta has added new functionality to its FBO Director platform through the integration of QuickBooks Online to its aviation point-of-sale software system. FBO Director is a web-enabled invoicing application that operates on computers, smartphones, or tablets with an easy-to-learn interface. Its accounting, credit card, and contract fuel processing capabilities facilitate the monitoring of fuel inventory or the entering of tickets from anywhere.

Through this latest integration, users can now transfer data, such as item lists, customers, and sales transactions directly into the popular Intuit accounting system, in addition to previous accounting programs such as QuickBooks desktop, Sage, and Great Plains Dynamics.

“At FBO Director, we are always listening to our customers and adding new features to benefit their operations,” said FBO Director founder and president John Nelson. “With more of our customers wanting to work remotely, the need to ensure we could support QuickBooks Online was consistent with our web-based aviation software.”

Leonardo Delivers First TH-73A Trainer to U.S. Navy

In January 2020, the Navy announced that it had selected the Leonardo Helicopters TH-119 (redesginated as the TH-73A) as its training helicopter, replacing the venerable Bell TH-57 SeaRanger. The TH-73A is based on the commercial AW119Kx and is fully FAA-approved for single-engine IFR flight. Power comes from a Pratt & Whitney PT6B-37A turboshaft, and the helicopter is equipped with dual safety/hydraulic systems and Genesys Aerosystems digital avionics.