Lawmakers in the House and Senate yesterday introduced companion bills to pave the way for the return of supersonic operations. House aviation subcommittee chair Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Senate Commerce Committee member Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) introduced the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM) Act in their respective chambers, calling on the FAA to issue or revise regulations within one year to permit operations at speeds of Mach 1 or more over land in the U.S. without special authorizations as long as no sonic boom reaches the ground.

Current laws prohibit civil supersonic flight over land, but the lawmakers noted that American companies are developing quiet technologies to address the sonic boom noise concerns.

“The United States is home to many ground-breaking innovations and should welcome these innovations so long as public safety isn’t threatened,” Nehls said. “Our nation’s laws and regulations should encourage these innovations and uplift companies that are leading in industries, including the aviation industry.”

Budd, meanwhile, added, “To maintain our global leadership in aerospace innovation, we must modernize air travel by lifting the outdated ban on civil supersonic flight.”

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, offering support for the bill, agreed: “The world is in a race to develop revolutionary transportation technologies, and this commonsense approach fosters an environment where supersonic technology can thrive while maintaining the highest levels of safety.”

For years in the latter part of the 20th and early 21st century, aircraft OEMs and start-up firms fielded supersonic business jet designs that never went further than highly detailed concepts. One of those designs, the Spike Aerospace Spike S-512, which was never built nor took flight, has been resurrected by company founder, president, and CEO Vik Kachoria. 

When Spike was last actively pursuing development of the S-512, plans called for first flight in 2021 and deliveries beginning in 2023. The jet was expected to fly at up to Mach 1.6 with 22 passengers and have a range of 6,200 nm. 

Now, according to Kachoria, “The silence is over. Spike Aerospace has returned, ready to reshape the future of flight. Over the past few years, we sharpened the Spike S‑512 Diplomat concept, expanded our leadership, and refocused our strategy. Now that work shifts from drawing board to runway as we pursue low‑boom Mach 1.6 travel for global business.”

Atlanta-based Spike Aerospace is recruiting aerodynamicists, propulsion leads, and program managers; “engaging” with suppliers; and “preparing for near‑term investor discussions tied to defined engineering milestones.”

“We’ve always believed in the promise of supersonic travel,” Kachoria said. “Now the technology, the market, and the regulatory climate are lining up, and Spike is ready to lead.”

The U.S. House Budget Committee has scheduled a session for tomorrow morning to consider the combined budget reconciliation package that will include an array of measures of interest to the aviation community, from extension of bonus depreciation and additional air traffic control (ATC) funding to auctioning of spectrum frequencies.

Consideration follows approval of the separate pieces of the bill over the past couple of weeks in the various House committees. The Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee was among the first to pass its piece of the package, which included $12.5 billion in additional funding for ATC modernization and controller staffing. Additionally, the T&I portion would eliminate certain green-energy grants and other funding incentives, including for sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, and other low-emission projects.

On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee cleared its portion that includes numerous business incentives, including a return of full bonus depreciation through 2029, immediate research and development expensing, and other business tax breaks.

Also this week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a package that would call for the auction of at least 200 MHz within the radio spectrum over the next three years and up to 600 MHz by 2034. 

The committee votes have all been along party lines, so the future of the package is unclear with ongoing disputes among Republicans over various other provisions.

Jet Out has launched operations at its newest base in Scottsdale, Arizona, marking the third regional location for the Milwaukee-based fractional aircraft provider. “Expanding to Scottsdale is a natural next step as we continue to grow,” said Joseph Crivello, CEO of Jet Out. “We’re bringing a national program with local access to a market that values flexibility and efficiency.”

Its base at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL) opened earlier this month and is expected to reach full operational capacity by October. Jet Out will base two factory-new Citation CJ4 Gen2 twinjets in Scottsdale, supporting up to 16 co-owners per aircraft. The 3,000-sq-ft facility includes a customer lounge, sales office, and onsite maintenance.

Jet Out offers two core programs—Co-Ownership and Co-Lease—each including 20 flying days per year, with commitments ranging from one to five years. Another option, Co-Lease 10, is debuting in Scottsdale, providing 10 days of flying over a 12-month term.

Founded in 2018, Jet Out focuses on “nonstop efficiency” by home-basing aircraft near owners and operating only new jets. The company said this approach reduces costs and maximizes convenience while retaining national operator advantages.

Scottsdale follows Jet Out's regional base launches in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Duncan Aviation’s Satellite network celebrates 40 years. The company has 28 Satellites located throughout the United States. In addition to avionics line services, the Satellite Shops provide avionics service and support for aircraft owner/operators in times of critical, casual, or remote-location need and are able to provide popular avionics installations. 

Montecito Motor Classic, a California-based charitable group, is holding “Imagine a Future in Aviation,” a youth educational event and general aviation job fair, on June 7 at the Atlantic Aviation facility at California's Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (KSBA). Free to children and students, the event will feature dozens of educational institutions and industry experts—including pilots, mechanics, aerospace engineers, meteorologists, and air traffic controllers—who will provide firsthand information about career pathways available in aviation.

“This isn’t just a field trip,” said event chairperson and FBO industry veteran Dolores Johnson. “It’s a career-launching, future-shaping experience.” During the event, students can apply on the spot for scholarships in aviation-related educational opportunities.

As guest speaker, author and pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor will speak about her adventures flying a Boeing Stearman biplane all over the world, retracing the paths of pioneering women pilots. With a nod to Montecito Motor Classic’s legacy, the day will also have a display of classic automobiles with a goal of “celebrating the rich heritage of both automotive and aviation excellence.”

The event has attracted more than a dozen sponsors, including Atlantic Aviation, KSBA, SpaceX, Planes of Fame, and AMPS Insurance Services.

Air Charter Service (ACS) has opened an office in Cologne, marking the company’s fourth location in Germany. “We have been looking for some time at opening an office in Cologne—it’s a key hub for the aircraft industry in Germany,” said Caroline Werf, CEO of ACS Germany. “ACS has always had a strong partnership with Cologne Airport and, with this new office, we are looking forward to even closer cooperation in the future.”

The Cologne office complements ACS’s existing charter operations in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as its ACS Time Critical headquarters in Frankfurt. Cologne is home to several major aviation organizations, including the German Aerospace Center and EASA.

Melanie Hentschel, who has more than 10 years of industry experience and has been with ACS for more than three years, will lead the new location. “I’m excited to get going here in Cologne, the city in which I’ve spent most of my career. Together with Caroline, we’re already looking to grow the team over the coming months and make Cologne another successful German ACS office,” Hentschel said.

The new office is part of Air Charter Service’s ongoing strategy to provide charter services in key aviation markets across Germany.

Atlantic Aviation was selected as the winner of the Metropolitan Nashville (Tennessee) Airport Authority’s (MNAA) request for proposals to establish an FBO at John C. Tune Airport (KJWN). As a result, Atlantic will build a complex that will provide operators using KJWN with an option for service providers.

In addition to a 7,500-sq-ft terminal and 37,000 sq ft of hangar and shop space, Atlantic will also add a 70,000-gallon-capacity fuel farm. Atlantic expects to break ground in the second quarter of 2026, with an anticipated completion of the facility by the end of 2027.

It will expand the FBO megachain’s footprint in Music City, joining its redeveloped FBO at Nashville International Airport (KBNA), which opened last year.

“As a long-standing partner of the great city of Nashville, we possess a deep understanding of the unique environment and significant opportunities that come with being one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. as a place to live, work, and thrive,” said Atlantic CEO Jeff Foland. “We are fully committed to supporting the essential role of the MNAA to develop and manage its airports to promote economic development.”

With the lease on the lone FBO at Iowa’s Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (KCBF) set to expire next year, the Council Bluffs Airport Authority (CBAA) has issued a request for proposals for the management of the facility, which is currently operated by Revv Aviation.

In addition to a modern 2,000-sq-ft terminal, the complex includes 60,000 sq ft of ramp and a 24,000-gallon-capacity fuel farm. While the airport does have hangar space, there is none associated with the FBO lease.

The CBAA told AIN that it wishes to expand KCBF and believes that the development of additional aircraft hangar space—ranging between 10,000 sq ft and 40,000 sq ft based on market demand—would be appropriate for the FBO.

The authority noted that the length of the potential lease will be based on capital investment by the respondent and suggested that investment levels exceeding $2 million and 20,000 sq ft of commercial hangar storage would be eligible for minimum lease terms of 30 years with negotiable renewal options.

All proposals are due June 2, 2025, by 3 p.m. via email to CBAA executive director Andy Biller.

AIN’s senior-level Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) Europe, set for September 15 to 17 in Switzerland, will address the latest topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation. The summit is attendee-centric and serves as an educational and professional networking platform, connecting corporate aviation leaders with peers, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed, informal environment. We invite flight department leaders to apply to attend this all-expenses-paid event as our guests.