Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft Denali is making its first appearance at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo from April 1 through 6 in Lakeland, Florida, as the program continues to check off key milestones, notably the recent certification of its GE Aerospace Catalyst powerplant. The turboprop single is the launch platform for GE’s newest engine, which received FAA approval on February 27.

This approval is a significant milestone in the Denali program, with the three flight-test airplanes amassing more than 2,700 flight hours and 1,000 flights. Certification for the Denali, however, has been pushed to 2026.

Textron Aviation also pointed to its busy development schedule that includes the Cessna Citation Ascend, Citation M2 Gen2 autothrottle upgrade, Citation CJ3 Gen2, and the Citation Latitude avionics upgrade—all expected to certify this year.

Alongside the Denali at the annual Lakeland show will be its veteran single-turboprop sibling, the Cessna Caravan, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. First delivered in 1985, more than 3,000 of the venerable utility turboprop aircraft have been delivered, and the fleet has collectively surpassed 25 million flight hours.

Also on display will be the Cessna piston-single lineup, including the Skyhawk, Skylane, and Turbo Stationair HD, as well as an M2 Gen3 mockup. These will neighbor the Textron eAviation Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, Pipistrel Sinus, and Pipistrel Panthera.

As jamming and spoofing of global navigation satellite system signals continue to grow, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today launched an inquiry to explore commercial technologies that would provide an alternative source of position, navigation, and timing (PNT) data.

“Although GPS is indispensable to America’s economic and national security, it represents a single point of failure that can be vulnerable to disruption or manipulation by our adversaries,” according to the FCC. “PNT data is integral to countless military, public safety, agricultural, and commercial activities.”

In a fact sheet describing the problem and some potential solutions, the FCC said it plans to accelerate efforts to “support new and complementary or alternative PNT solutions that will maintain U.S. global leadership in this space and mitigate harmful GPS disruptions caused by foreign adversaries.” The fact sheet outlines four potential technologies that could provide complementary PNT services.

These include space-based systems that can provide PNT services, including low-earth-orbit satellite networks such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper. Iridium, TrustPoint, and Zona are also offering dedicated PNT capabilities. Other technologies under consideration are ground-based and include the broadcast positioning system, which uses television signals; enhanced long-range navigation (eLoran), which has repeatedly surfaced as a robust alternative to GPS; and NextNav, a ground-based multilateration system.

Global aviation fuel provider Avfuel has reached a sustainability milestone with the delivery of its first fully-electric jet-A refueler. Del Monte Aviation at California’s Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY) received the truck—which has a 5,000-gallon capacity—on March 17. Avfuel’s in-house shop team created the vehicle, working in close connection with the FBO over the past year to ensure smooth delivery and integration of the tanker into its fleet. It was immediately put into service and will be joined there by a second unit next month.

“The addition of electric refueler trucks represents an ongoing commitment to providing the latest in technology to complement and enhance an award-winning culture of safety and service in operations, while doing so with an increasingly smaller environmental footprint,” said Del Monte v-p Matt Wright.

“The delivery of our electric-powered refueler truck further highlights both Avfuel’s and Del Monte Aviation’s commitment to sustainability within their operations and beyond,” said David Mittleman, Avfuel’s regional sales manager. He noted that the collaboration between the two “showcases a powerful model for how the industry can come together to drive sustainability forward.”

KMRY has proven to be a pioneering sustainability partner with Avfuel. Monterey Jet Center, also an Avfuel-branded dealer on the field, was its first to receive continual supplies of sustainable aviation fuel.

Luxaviation is now offering users of its private aviation app access to a real-time carbon calculator. According to the business aviation services group, the new feature provides live emissions tracking data alongside the app’s existing option to make instant carbon offset purchases and select blends of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The app is part of Luxaviation’s Green Legacy platform developed to help private aviation customers, including owners of managed aircraft and charter passengers, reduce the environmental impact of their flights. According to the Luxembourg-based company, the real-time carbon calculator is the first of its type in the business aviation sector. However, U.S.-based charter group Paramount Business Jets launched a carbon emissions calculator in 2019.

“Unlike conventional carbon offset programs, Luxaviation today empowers clients to actively monitor and personalize their sustainability contributions through a seamless digital experience,” said Pieter Steyn, Luxaviation’s chief information and technology officer.

“Technology plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainability forward. Our dedicated team is digitizing carbon management, enabling high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients, who increasingly seek greater transparency and control over their environmental impact, to make data-driven, responsible decisions in real-time.”

Luxaviation said it plans to further develop the Green Legacy platform to include “sustainability loyalty metrics,” impact reports, and easier access to SAF.

Pilot reports of laser strikes reached 12,840 last year in the U.S., a 3% decline from 2023 but a number that the FAA still calls “dangerously high.” The FAA has long campaigned to discourage people from shining lasers at aircraft, warning that it poses a serious threat to safety and is a federal crime. Pilots have reported 328 injuries from such events since the agency began tracking laser strikes in 2010, the FAA noted.

In 2024, the most laser strike reports unsurprisingly came from some of the most populous states, with California leading the way at 1,489. This was followed closely by Texas at 1,463, then Florida (810), Tennessee (649), Illinois (622), Arizona (550), New York (531), Indiana (512), Georgia (416), and Virginia (415).

Under federal law, the FAA can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per laser strike and $30,800 for multiple violations. This comes in addition to other federal criminal penalties that could include up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, along with state and local penalties.

The FAA has developed multiple online and other resources on this topic, including a visualization tool that depicts current-year incidents (1,799 thus far in 2025), daily average occurrences (30.5), and other key information.

Milano Prime is preparing to accommodate increased traffic related to the Winter Olympics and Paralympic events scheduled for February 2025 in Milan, Italy. To support this demand, the company is expanding its Milan Linate Prime terminal by approximately 2,000 sq m (21,528 sq ft).

Meanwhile, SEA Prime, operating under the Milano Prime brand, recorded a 6% increase in aircraft movements in early 2025 compared to the previous year. According to the EBAA business aviation traffic tracker, this represents the highest growth among Europe’s top 10 airports.

Last year, Milano Prime managed 34,400 aircraft movements, an increase over 2023. Passenger flows were particularly strong during major events such as Milan Fashion Week, which recorded an average of 100 movements per day, with a notable influx from North America. Aircraft tonnage handled by Milano Prime also increased by 3% in 2024.

SEA Prime operates the business and general aviation infrastructures at Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports. The company manages two terminals, 12 hangars, 10 lounges, three meeting rooms, and two VIP parking areas. Through Milano Prime and its partners, SEA Prime provides a full suite of services, including concierge, hangaring, maintenance, security, catering, refueling, and VAT refunds.

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-New York) has renewed the Aviation Safety Caucus that he helped form last year, keeping DOT Part 380 public charter security as the first priority for the group. Langworthy announced the caucus yesterday as he joined Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan) and Marc Veasey (D-Texas) in reintroducing the Safer Skies Act, which is designed to bring security for operations flown under Part 380 public charter economic authority in line with those of FAA Part 121 scheduled airlines.

First organized last September, the caucus has attracted more than two dozen members so far. Meanwhile, the bill, which mirrors legislation introduced in August, comes after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tightened its security requirements for public charter flights flown under Part 380 in January.

“The Safer Skies Act will close a loophole that has allowed certain operators, like ticketed charter flights, to bypass the rigorous screening requirements that ensure the safety of all passengers. It is vital for protecting our skies and the lives of passengers and crew alike,” Langworthy said.

Under the bill, the TSA would need to update its security screening requirements for FAA “Part 135 and [DOT] Part 380 operators that offer individual seats in advance, provide publicly available schedules, and operate passenger seat configurations of more than nine seats” to ensure they are following the same standards as scheduled airlines.

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2025 AIN Product Support Survey is now open, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been picked to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their password and link to the online survey by e-mail. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on June 1.