Jet Aviation has signed the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2030 Ambition Statement, “Clean Skies for Tomorrow,” which aims for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to constitute 10 percent of the global fuel supply by 2030. By signing the statement, the FBO/MRO chain joins some 100 other stakeholders that support the transition to net–zero aviation. Using industry-standard figures, a 10 percent SAF blend equates to an 8 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared with traditional jet-A.
“Collaboration is one of the best ways to bring innovative solutions to life and we are delighted to partner with WEF and other industry stakeholders to help increase the global supply of sustainable aviation fuel,” said Jet Aviation president David Paddock. “SAF has strong potential to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint, and increasing its availability helps bring us one step closer to making it the standard fuel for business aviation.”
Jet Aviation was the first supplier to offer SAF at Van Nuys Airport in 2019, and—in partnership with Neste and Zurich Airport—imported a limited supply of SAF for WEF 2020, marking the first time SAF was available for purchase in Switzerland. It also began to stock Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at its FBO in Amsterdam last year and teamed with SkyNRG to provide SAF via book-and-claim at its other FBOs.
Georgia’s Henry County officially opened its newly-built $2.3 million FBO terminal at Atlanta Speedway Airport (KHMP). The 4,600-sq-ft building features a covered vehicle drop-off at the front entrance, large lobby, pilot lounge and snooze room with 24/7 access, outdoor covered patio, and offices. It replaces the former 1960s-era, 1,500-sq-ft facility that was demolished in January.
The Titan Fuels-branded facility is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with after-hours callout available. It also has self-serve avgas and jet-A pumps that are available 24/7.
KHMP, which is located just 16 miles south of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, features a 5,500-foot runway and is home to a dozen private jets, nearly 20 helicopters, and scores of piston-engined aircraft. It pumps on average 123,000 gallons of jet-A annually, along with nearly 100,000 gallons of avgas.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, district commissioner Dee Clemmons noted an upswing in the airport’s potential. “We went from cleaning up broken-down airplanes to renewing leases,” she said, adding she wished to thank everyone who believed in the project, which had been in the works since 2017. “You all just don’t know how important this economic engine is in our county.”
Charter and fractional provider Volato is entering one of the country’s busiest business aviation markets through the acquisition of Gulf Coast Aviation, a Houston-based aircraft management and charter company founded by Steve and Debbie Holmes. With the acquisition, Volato, which was founded in September 2021 as a fractional provider of HondaJets, will operate from Atlantic Aviation’s FBO at William P. Hobby Airport.
The acquisition moves Volato toward its objective of having a network of bases across the U.S., enabling its HondaJet fractional owners to avoid paying repositioning fees. “Houston adds to our existing bases in Atlanta, Baltimore, St. Augustine, Fort Lauderdale, and Carlsbad, so this acquisition gets us closer to our goal,” said Volato co-founder and chief revenue officer Nicholas Cooper.
It also provides Volato access to more charter aircraft, including the Beechcraft King Air 360 and Hawker 750 that are part of Gulf Coast’s fleet. “We look forward to supporting the existing managed fleet and welcoming new aircraft owners to our fleet division,” added CEO Matt Liotta.
In December, Volato launched a pay-by-the-hour charter program in which a portion of the charter fees is returned to the company’s aircraft shareowners. The company started with a single HondaJet Elite S, along with an initial order for 10 more of the light twinjets. In January, Volato placed a second order for 15 more HondaJets.
Orbit Communication Systems is expanding its partnership with Inmarsat through the development of a terminal for the Ka-band satellite network provider’s Jet Connex in-flight broadband service. Orbit’s AirTRx30 consists of two line replaceable units—a modem manager and a tail-mounted antenna that is compatible with super-midsize and large-cabin business jets.
The AirTRx30 features Orbit aperture designs used by Inmarsat’s government customers and will be interoperable with the new Inmarsat-6 F1 Ka-band satellites, the first of which was launched in December. Inmarsat said other existing onboard Jet Connex equipment also will be compatible with these new satellites.
"Inmarsat has a successful track record of working with Orbit in the government market,” said Inmarsat head of business aviation Kai Tang. “We are delighted to build on this strong foundation and expand our partnership into business aviation.” Tang added that 1,100 customers use Jet Connex.
Israel-based Orbit is moving toward approvals for the AirTRx30. The company is working with OEMs, service providers, and after-market partners to establish distribution, certification, installation, and customer support of the terminal, which will be manufactured at Orbit's Deerfield Beach, Florida facility. Qualified terminals will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2023 or earlier, Orbit said.
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is opposing recommendations in a newly released FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) final report on uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) operating beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS). “We are grateful to have been a part of the ARC’s efforts but are ultimately unable to support the recommendations of the report, as they will greatly increase risk to current airspace operators,” said HAI president and CEO James Viola.
Of particular concern to HAI are recommendations that “essentially excuse” UASs from see/detect-and-avoid responsibilities under FAR 91.113. It further charged that they deflect all responsibility and liability to crewed operators by providing BVLOS UASs a “blanket right-of-way” authority over aircraft they are unable to detect.
Another issue cited by the association centers on establishing “shielded areas” that would essentially create flight corridors within 100 feet—vertically and laterally—of any “obstacle or critical infrastructure.” According to HAI, this would give UASs right-of-way over all other aircraft in these areas. “This creates major safety issues for utility, patrol, construction, and agriculture operators that conduct tens of thousands of operations in this airspace annually,” it added.
HAI said it supports “safe and effective” integration of UASs, as well as advancement of BVLOS operations in the airspace system, but lamented that the ARC membership lacked “an adequate balance of manned versus unmanned representation.”
The 33rd edition of Women in Aviation International conference wrapped up on Saturday after hosting more than 4,500 attendees from 16 countries and awarding 103 scholarships totaling $473,000. Organizers declared the three-day show as one of WAI’s largest events, coming on the heels of the virtual event in 2021.
Held in Nashville, Tennesee, the in-person exhibition drew an international audience, with attendees arriving from Singapore, Belize, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, and Germany, among others. The exhibit hall, which remained packed throughout the show, featured 176 organizations from all segments of aviation, including drones.
WAI2022 marked the signing of a new agreement between WAI and the Civil Air Patrol to collaborate on efforts to foster interest in aviation and flight opportunities for youth, as well as to share educational resources.
The show also brought in accomplished aerospace leaders who shared their stories through motivational keynotes. Among them was Niloofar Rahmani, who gave a powerful presentation about the obstacles she faced and overcame to become the first female fixed-wing pilot for the Afghan Air Force in 2013 at the age of 21. Others included Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, MedAire founder and chair Joan Sullivan Garrett, and NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy.
Beyond the keynotes, WAI2022 once again brought back Girls in Aviation Day, which featured 21 activity stations and a college fair. This event drew 200 girls and their chaperones.
Edwin Niemöller, 57, Jet Aviation’s senior director of FBO operations for the Netherlands, passed away on February 12 after a short illness.
A 30-year industry veteran with a passion for aviation, Niemöller began his career with KLM as a financial controller in 1991 before moving to general aviation and the KLM Jet Center at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 1996. He served as FBO director of the facility for more than a decade until the FBO was purchased along with its sister location in Rotterdam by Jet Aviation in 2018.
Niemöller was then named as head of the company’s two Netherlands locations and, under his leadership, in 2020 both facilities earned Stage 1 registration under IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH)—a voluntary, audit-based program of industry best practices. Despite the ramifications of the ongoing Covid pandemic, both FBOs progressed to Stage 2 registration in January.
Known for his sense of humor and his ability to diffuse stress, Niemöller was also instrumental in the efforts to have sustainable aviation fuel available at the Schiphol location on a continuous basis. A resident of Ter Aar, a town in western Netherlands, he leaves behind a wife, Anja, and two grown children, Jordan and Lisa.
The 33rd annual Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference, held late last week in Nashville, Tennessee, concluded on Saturday with a dinner banquet honoring the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees. Since the previous conference was held virtually due to the pandemic, this year's inductees ceremony also recognized pioneers in aviation and aerospace from 2021.
2022 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees are Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) aviator Cornelia Clark Fort, U.S. Navy Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner, and U.S. Air Force Col. Peggy A. Phillips. Pioneer inductees for 2021 included Joan Robinson-Berry, Boeing Global Services v-p and chief engineer; Maj. Gen. Carol Timmons (retired); and the U.S. Marine Corps first class of women aviators—Lt. Col. Sarah “Dimes” Deal, Lt. Col. Traci “Powder” Hoffman, Capt. Susan “Xena” Jenkins, Maj. Melinda “Tink” Rizer Gould, Col. Alison “Rocky” Thompson, Maj. Donna “Gidget” Hesterman, Col. Karen Fuller “Stump” Brannen, Capt. Jeanne “Xena” Woodfin, Maj. Keri “NAG” Berman, and Maj. Christine “Mulan” Westrich.
A separate reception was also hosted during WAI2022 to celebrate 1995 Pioneer Hall of Fame member Wally Funk, who was recognized as the recipient of the 2021 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Trophy.
CPI Aerostructures appointed Dorith Hakim as CEO, president, and director. She succeeds Douglas McCrosson, who is leaving the company. Hakim previously served as group v-p for Parker Hannifin Aerospace and also has held management positions with Triumph Group and Sikorsky.
Randy Gifford joined Vita Inclinata as executive v-p of operations. Formerly with GE Aviation, Gifford brings an extensive background in commercial growth, manufacturing, and supply chains to his new role.
Brittany Brawner rejoined Alliance Aviation Services as FBO general manager. Brawner, who previously was a customer service manager for Alliance Aviation Services from 2012 to 2017, most recently served as Air Elite senior program manager for World Fuel Services.
JMC Group added Patrick Ramsey to its recruitment office in Montreal. Ramsey has nearly five years of experience as a senior recruiter, managing a team supporting clients that included global aircraft manufacturers and suppliers.
West Star named Michael Farrell as an IT support specialist at its facility in East Alton, Illinois. Farrell previously has served with Midcoast and Elliot Aviation.
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