Signature Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) has switched its jet fuel supply over to entirely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The KLAX facility joins its sister in San Francisco in converting fully to a 30% blend of Neste-supplied SAF, which lowers life cycle carbon emissions by 24% versus conventional jet-A.

According to Signature—operator of the world’s largest FBO network—there will be no impact for those Los Angeles customers who do not want to pay SAF pricing since the jet-A price and differential in those instances will be built into the company’s book-and-claim credit process. However, if a customer purchases only jet-A, they are not eligible or able to claim the carbon attribute/benefit.

The chain was one of the first supporters of SAF and its sustainability benefits and has grown into a major SAF distributor for general aviation, having recently passed the 30-million-gallon mark in terms of total SAF delivered.

“This is a transformative time for Signature, and our partnership with Neste is helping us take another significant step towards net zero by providing a 100% supply of blended SAF at our Los Angeles location,” said chief commercial officer Derek DeCross. “This collaboration exemplifies how we’re working together with both our guests and our partners to accelerate the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and paving the way for a more sustainable future in aviation.”

Expanding its already strong European footprint, Bombardier inaugurated its Aviator Lounge in Monaco yesterday. At a morning ceremony, the ribbon on the facility—situated at the harbor within the Monaco Yacht Club—was cut by the principality’s ruler, Prince Albert II, along with Bombardier chairman Pierre Beaudoin.

Designed by French architect Andrea Mosca, the facility will serve to educate guests about the OEM’s aircraft, legacy, and innovations, with furnishings and displays highlighting the manufacturer’s technological advancements. Guests will be hosted by the company's regional sales team.

As well, the event marked the debut of “Bombardier,” a book that documents the company’s beginnings in Canada in the 1920s as a snowmobile builder through today as one of the top business jet manufacturers.

“We are immensely proud to reaffirm our presence in the region with the opening of the Aviator Lounge by Bombardier, the first tailor-made space of this kind by any jet manufacturer,” said Emmanuel Bornand, the airframer’s v-p of international sales. “Thanks to its location, it symbolizes the meeting of the land, the sea, and the air. Most importantly, it provides a welcoming place for us to meet with anyone who wants to stop by and learn about Bombardier’s…eight decades of innovation that resulted in uncompromising performance of our jets and our pioneering research into more sustainable ways to fly.”

FAA pilot certificate issuances jumped by 19% year over year (YOY) in April, with the number of air transport pilot (ATP) certificates up 14%. However, this was down by 4% from 2019 levels, industry analyst Jefferies reported.

The agency issued 9,899 pilot certificates in April, including 5,089 student, 2,282 private, 1,529 commercial, and 999 ATP. While up YOY, this marked a 13% dip from March, when 11,324 certificates were issued in all.

Jefferies said the YOY increase in ATPs suggests U.S. airlines should have success in finding pilots. ATP issuances were 5% above the 12-month average. Commercial certificates, up 11% YOY in April, are down by 1% from 2019 levels. Student certificates were down 9% over 2019 levels, even while up 23% YOY. Private certificates increased by 18% YOY and inched up by 1% from pre-pandemic levels.

While up YOY, the numbers suggest a flattening from surges over the past year. On a trailing 12-month basis, FAA certificates are 28% above pre-pandemic levels, with student certificates 23% higher; ATP, +53%; and commercial, +19%.

Jefferies estimates the net U.S. airline population grew by 1.9% last year, to 141,800. This represents a 1% deficit of needs but is buffered by aircraft delivery delays, the analyst said. As aircraft deliveries pick up and pilot retirements increase, Jefferies believes the undersupply could grow, potentially reaching a 7% shortage by 2030.

Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW545D engine received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) approval late last week, a key step toward service entry on Textron Aviation's Cessna Citation Ascend in 2025. The latest member in the 2,900- to 4,500-pound-thrust PW500 turbofan engine family, the PW545D incorporates an advanced mixer and offers improved efficiencies in the compressor and turbines, which the engine-maker said will reduce fuel burn and noise, as well as lower operating temperature.

As with some of its PW500 siblings, the PW545D will be equipped with Fadec, enabling the integration of autothrottle on the Ascend. The two-spool engine is designed with an enhanced three-stage compressor and is driven by a single-stage cooled high-pressure turbine module.

"As the latest derivative in the PW500 engine family, we look forward to the Ascend's entry into service," said Cedric Gauthier, v-p of sales and marketing for general aviation at Pratt & Whitney Canada. "Certification was granted following 630 hours of engine testing, in addition to 230 hours of flight testing on the Ascend prototype test aircraft."

Pratt has produced more than 5,000 PW500 engines, with more than 4,600 PW500s remaining in service powering a range of Cessna jets, including the Citation Bravo, Excel, XLS, XLS+, Ultra Encore, and Encore+. The $16.7 million, 2,100-nm midsize Ascend is the next generation in the Excel line beyond the current-production XLS+.

Engine Assurance Program (EAP) knows maintaining engines is critical to maintaining the value of an aircraft. But with aircraft utilization at close to record levels, there’s increased competition for the already limited resources needed to keep engines in peak condition. That’s why EAP has amassed a large pool of rental engines, maintains a multi-million-dollar inventory of spare parts, and has assembled a highly-skilled technical team including AOG support.

EASA is holding a two-day workshop for the business aviation industry in Cologne, Germany, from January 21 to 22, 2025. According to the regulator, the event is intended as a platform for discussions “to support industry and manufacturers’ expectations for their projects in the coming years.”

The workshop is mainly intended for business aircraft manufacturers and type certificate holders, as well as national aviation authority officials involved in certification and operations. EASA also expects leading industry associations such as EBAA, GAMA, and NBAA to be involved.

More information about the workshop will be released over the coming weeks, EASA said. Registration for the workshop will open in September.

According to EBAA’s new secretary-general, Holger Krahmer, European regulators have tended not to adequately consider the needs of smaller sectors such as business aviation. The Brussels-based industry group is concerned over issues such as what it regards as discriminatory policies relating to carbon emissions reductions, such as the ReFuelEU requirements for the use of sustainable aviation fuel that currently lacks a book-and-claim option.

Duncan Aviation recently delivered another completed Gulfstream G650, though this was the first such G650 project done at its MRO facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. The work on the twinjet included custom exterior paint and some minor maintenance.

“The client had a positive experience with us the first time around,” said Duncan Aviation sales representative George Bajo. “So, when it came time to add his personal touch to the new aircraft, he trusted we would do exceptional work again and we did just that. It was an overall great experience.”

The custom paint scheme on the aircraft mimics the previous one the customer had on their Gulfstream G550, highlighted by an off-white base and more complex stripes compared to the typical livery on a Gulfstream. The owner previously had their G550 painted at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan.

“They trusted us and had a great experience,” said Bajo. “So much in the industry is based around trust, and I believe that is a major reason why this project went so smoothly. There were no worries. It was just a dream.”

At this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, ITT Enidine is highlighting its head injury criterion (HIC) damper technology and UltraLoc customizable seat buttons. UltraLoc seat locks come in variable or fixed positions, and the Executive Class series for business aircraft offers long strokes and high-load capability for aft-facing seats, according to Enidine.

The HIC damper “combines energy absorption technology into a compact energy absorber located on the seat lock shaft,” the company explained. “The solution can reliably resist forces up to 2,000 pounds and is customizable for integration on various seat lock designs.”

Outfitters can now select a variety of UltraLoc seat-recline buttons, including buttons with LED backlighting to help passengers easily find the recline controls when lights are dimmed. Buttons used to be available only in a single round design but now Enidine offers mini-round or rectangular designs, as well as laser etching and a variety of colors.

“Our team is consistently seeking ways to elevate our product lines to solve the evolving needs and challenges of our customers in the aviation industry,” said William Wilk, executive director of sales for ITT Connect and Control Technologies' aerospace unit. “Like all our innovative products, the new additions to the UltraLoc product line are rooted in safety, durability, and convenience for passengers and crew alike.”

New Zealand-based Northern Rescue Helicopter will take delivery in the coming months of two Leonardo AW169 light intermediate helicopters leased from Milestone Aviation Group. The emergency medical services (EMS) operator plans to base the helicopters in northern New Zealand.

The AW169’s reconfigurable cabins will be equipped with medical equipment and carry clinical teams for patient care flights, according to Milestone Aviation.

“Leasing the two aircraft from Milestone marks a significant step towards updating and standardizing the fleet of EMS/SAR aircraft across Auckland and Northland, ensuring that our communities continue to receive the highest level of care and service possible,” said Northern Rescue CEO Ian MacPherson. “We are grateful that Milestone has identified the opportunity to enhance the New Zealand EMS sector, and we look forward to working closely with them into the future.”

Northern Rescue is a new customer for Milestone Aviation, according to the leasing company’s chief commercial officer, Sébastien Moulin, who added that the AW169s are its first placement in New Zealand. “The AW169 is well suited to support Northern Rescue’s fleet-renewal program as it is configured to place patient needs at the heart of its design.”