Pentastar Aviation at Detroit-area Oakland County International Airport (KPTK) once again earned the highest rating among all aviation service providers worldwide in AIN’s annual FBO Survey, repeating its score from last year’s survey, and edging out second-place finisher Modern Aviation at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (KFTW) by two-hundredths of a point. Filling out the remaining top five positions in the survey this year were Sheltair Tampa (KTPA), Henriksen Jet Center at Austin Executive Airport (KEDC) in Texas, and Jet Aviation at Palm Beach International (KPBI).

In the Americas portion of this year’s survey, Florida and Texas FBOs dominated, with the two states claiming 11 of the 14 top slots in the top 5% between them. Michigan, South Carolina, and Idaho each had one.

Meanwhile, in its first year of survey eligibility, TAG Aviation Macau (VMMC) surged to the top of FBOs outside of the Americas over long-time incumbent Farnborough Airport (EGLF). The London area was well represented, with FBOs there taking three of the top 5% spots for the Rest of World (RoW) segment, including Harrods Aviation and Universal Aviation at Stansted Airport (EGSS).

This year saw an unprecedented four Asia-Pacific FBOs occupying top 10% positions in the RoW segment of the survey, also including ExecuJet in Sydney, Australia (YSSY), MJets FBO in Bangkok (VTBD), and Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (VHHH) as standouts.

The fallout from a fatal helicopter crash in 2020 that killed a pilot and eight occupants continues as the FAA now recommends spatial disorientation training for pilots operating under Part 91, 91K, and/or 135. Spatial disorientation was a probable cause of this high-profile accident, according to the NTSB. The recent FAA action closes a formal NTSB recommendation to enhance spatial disorientation training for business aviation pilots.

On Jan. 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76B crashed short of its planned destination of Camarillo Airport (KCMA) in Southern California. The crash killed the pilot, as well as Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and six family friends.

This accident wasn’t surprising, but it was preventable. It was the typical set-up that included scud running, inadvertent flight into IMC, spatial disorientation, loss of control, and a tragic loss of life.

The aircraft departed John Wayne Airport (KSNA) in Santa Ana under a special VFR clearance and flew toward Camarillo at 400 to 600 feet agl into progressively deteriorating weather conditions. As the helicopter neared Burbank (KBUR), the pilot was asked to hold outside of Class C airspace due to traffic, while awaiting another special VFR clearance. KBUR and the neighboring Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) were IFR, reporting 2.5 miles of visibility and 1,100-foot ceiling.

Clearing KBUR and KVNY airspace, the helicopter followed a path along U.S. Route 101 toward rising terrain.

Comprehensive aviation safety legislation took a step toward full U.S. House of Representatives consideration after two key committees in the lower chamber unanimously approved their respective portions yesterday. In a show of bipartisan support, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee approved its portion of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (Alert) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613) by a 62-to-0 vote, while the House Armed Services Committee similarly approved 53 to 0.

The Alert Act is designed to address the breadth of the NTSB’s recommendations stemming from its investigation into the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). It includes both civilian and military directives on a range of issues from the use of ADS-B In to air traffic controller training and helicopter route safety and separation requirements.

House T&I passage included an amended version that addressed some of the concerns of NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, who had stated that the earlier version did not go far enough by failing to mandate ADS-B In universally. Homendy instead backed the Senate Rotor Act, which included such a mandate.

However, leading up to the vote, Homendy posted an NTSB statement that the amended version would require actions that “would address our recommendations.” Senate leaders backing the Rotor Act still objected to the amended version.

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has successfully passed a motion that promises “one member, one vote”—reforming a system that has previously only allowed “full” (operator) members a say in decisions at the organization’s General Assembly. The proposal was approved during the second day of EBAA’s annual general conference in Genval, Belgium.

EBAA associate member advisory council chair Janine Iannarelli said the restructuring of members’ voting rights forms part of work to “reform the foundation of [the] association.” However, with associate members—typically non-operators—having expressed concern at their lack of voting rights, “there were many debates that went on at the board level and among the working group to come up with an equitable solution,” she explained.

The decision follows the implementation of a new membership fee structure in January 2026, something that was delayed a year from 2025. The reformed voting system “ensures that EBAA is not only representing the sector, but doing so with a mandate that is broader, more inclusive, and more reflective of its diversity,” suggested EBAA CEO Stefan Benz.

Although OEMs, partners, and service provider members will now have more input, an operator majority of one will remain on a board deliberately weighted towards an uneven number of 15. However, of the board’s 15 seats, an additional four will also be opened up to the entire membership base.

Soaring prices for jet-A fuel caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have prompted the Singapore government to defer a SAF levy that was due to take effect from April 1. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced that the start date for the new passenger-based charge will now apply for flights booked from October 1 for departures from Jan. 1, 2027.

The SAF levy, which was announced in November 2025, applies to all passengers departing Singapore, as well as cargo shipments and business aviation flights. CAAS said it is maintaining a blending target of 1% SAF usage on flights from Singapore in 2027, with the intention to increase the target to between 3% and 5% by 2030. A voluntary trial that started in February will continue as planned this year.

“Singapore remains firmly committed to aviation decarbonization,” said CAAS director general Han Kok Juan. “We are taking a pragmatic pause in view of the current situation. We will continue to work closely with our aviation industry partners and monitor global developments.”

Under the levy, a fee of between S$100 and S$1,040—depending on the distance flown—would be charged for passengers flying on a Bombardier Challenger 650. For a larger Gulfstream G650, the rate would range from between S$190 and S$1,950.

While FAA and Department of Transportation officials outline a vision for evolving the air traffic control systems to a connected, common platform, Collins Aerospace is developing technologies that could provide a glimpse of what that might look like. Company executives did not say whether the RTX subsidiary has submitted to the FAA’s request for information on a common automation platform, but they did recently showcase their own AutoTrac common platform that can provide a foundation for an array of connected capabilities.

Collins has already secured a key piece of the modernization, a contract to replace current radars with “modern, commercially available” surveillance radar installations. But at the same time, it is developing other capabilities, including its AutoTrac common platform and a multi-function controller workstation.

Cedric Vigil, Collins Aerospace associate director of program management, likened the Collins platform to a layer cake, with a hardware foundation, a software top layer, and a platform in between linking the two. All together, the system can combine functions that are currently handled separately, and it can be modified to add new, yet unforeseen capabilities.

Pulling all of this together is a new Collins workstation, the Multi-Platform Application Re-Hosting Solution, or MARS, that can consolidate air traffic management. With MARS, up to 10 applications could be visible on one or two touchscreen monitors rather than being spaced out among several monitors.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri), who has served in Congress since 2001 and took over as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2023, has decided against seeking reelection this year. “After considerable reflection, 2026 will be my final year in Congress. This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one. I believe in making room for the next generation,” Graves posted on the social media platform X on Friday.

The congressman added, “For 26 years, I have had the privilege of serving, culminating in becoming the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and passing some of the most significant legislation in our nation’s history. The responsibility entrusted to me is not something I have ever taken for granted.”

A private pilot who has amassed well over 5,000 hours of flight time, Graves has long been known in the industry as a general aviation advocate. A driving force behind the creation of the House General Aviation Caucus, Graves steered through the most recent FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, including the first-ever title solely dedicated to general aviation. More recently, he has been helping drive a broad safety bill, the so-called Alert Act.

During his tenure, he has spearheaded issues involving pilot rights, airport funding, and warbirds, among others.

Angel Flight West will honor Cutter Aviation, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and two volunteer pilots at its 12th annual Endeavor Awards on May 1 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Cutter Aviation president and CEO Will Cutter and Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah will receive Inspiration Awards. Endeavor Awards will be presented to volunteer pilots Chris Bennett of Angel Flight West and Jerry Hill of Challenge Air for Kids and Friends.

The gala will include an outdoor reception with flyovers and an indoor program emceed by Stephanie Goetz of The Pink Jet. Angel Flight West patients who have benefited from volunteer flights will attend, and the event will include silent and live auctions.

“By honoring heroes, we celebrate not only those who fly, but also the healthcare professionals who provide care and the dedicated supporters who make our work possible,” said Mary Hunter, AFW executive director.

Sponsors include Alaska Airlines, UCLA Health, AOPA, ATC Tax Consultants, Cutter Aviation, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and the Zemeckis Foundation. The Endeavor Awards have raised $7.5 million since launching in 2014, honoring 50 recipients across 17 charitable aviation organizations. Angel Flight West has coordinated more than 100,000 flights since its founding.

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