Global aviation services provider Luxaviation Group today strengthened its ExecuJet FBO division with a blockbuster European acquisition. The Luxembourg-based company purchased the Sky Valet FBO chain—with its 17 owned locations in Spain and Portugal—from parent company Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur in a move that brings it to 30 locations worldwide. Counting Sky Valet’s Connect affiliate program adds an additional 25 FBOs to the ExecuJet network.

“This acquisition represents a pivotal moment for Luxaviation Group and our continued expansion in the global FBO market,” said CEO Patrick Hansen. “Together with SkyValet, we continue expanding the reach of the ExecuJet network and our ambition of sustainability, setting new benchmarks in the industry.”

Managing the integration will be Michel Tohane, president of Luxaviation’s FBO division. He is quite familiar with the Sky Valet brand, having served as its executive v-p before joining Luxaviation in 2021.

“Being one of the global leaders in the FBO industry provides us today not only with the opportunity to further grow regionally [but] we also have the ambition to push the green agenda of the group and of business aviation as an industry,” Tohane explained. “A recent example of Luxaviation’s commitment to transitioning towards more sustainable air transport is the provisioning of sustainable aviation fuel to its clients at its Paris Le Bourget FBO.”

In anticipation of writing this column, I often find myself pondering the challenges that face our industry. Last month, I shared with you my concerns about the dwindling pilot pipeline—a topic that truly keeps me awake at night. But as I sat with my thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder: when it comes to people-related issues, what is it that keeps flight department leaders up at night?

Curiosity led me to reach out to some of my esteemed colleagues (many of whom are clients) with a short survey, and the responses were eye-opening. Overwhelmingly, the workforce issue that plagues their minds is retention.

A staggering 92% of respondents to my questionnaire admitted to experiencing restlessness over the challenge of keeping their teams intact and motivated during the talent shortage. But what exactly is behind their sleepless nights? Let’s look at several key themes from our survey.

President Biden yesterday signed the sweeping FAA and NTSB reauthorization package, putting in motion a 1,000-page bill that incorporates more than 1,200 measures and directives. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R.3935) reauthorizes and establishes funding levels for both agencies through Fiscal Year 2028, calling for nearly $106 billion for both agencies.

H.R.3935 incorporates 12 titles, including the first-ever dedicated to general aviation. The titles reflect priorities on Capitol Hill, covering FAA organization, safety, workforce, consumer protections, airport funding, passenger experience, airspace management, research and development, and new entrants.

As for FAA organization, the bill creates a new position at the agency—assistant administrator for rulemaking and regulatory improvement—and directs the FAA to appoint a cybersecurity lead. One of the most extensive titles covers safety, with reviews of safety management systems, use of the radio spectrum, the weather camera program, use of aviation safety data, weather reporting systems, helicopter air ambulance safety, and safety data of aircraft without transponders, among others.

Of note to the business aviation community is a directive limiting the use of ferry flights beyond reasonable duty times. It further implements a requirement for 25-hour cockpit voice recorders for covered aircraft (in or for Part 121 operations).

The general aviation section covers a gamut of issues, including ensuring protection of privacy surrounding aircraft registration numbers and establishing a Part 135 aircraft conformity working group.

Hydrographics is a cost-effective and growing trend in both private and commercial aviation, allowing owners to reimagine their aircraft interiors in ways not previously available in wood veneer or paint.

Fractional aircraft provider Volato’s fleet flight hours grew by nearly 40% year over year, according to the company’s newly released first-quarter results. For the three-month period, revenues totaled $13.2 million, with aircraft usage accounting for $11.5 million of that amount and managed services making up the remainder. This was weighed against an adjusted EBITDA loss of $13.1 million.

The operator’s demand mix achieved a balance of 50% owner flights and 50% program and ad hoc usage, which according to Volato reflects strong demand and contributed to its blended yield. It also improved its empty flight percentage by more than 6% YOY, with Vaunt—its subscription platform that allows access to empty-leg private flights—achieving cash-positive status.

“While OEM aircraft delivery delays put pressure on our revenue in the first quarter, we achieved strong year-over-year growth across our key metrics as we executed on our strategy to drive more favorable demand mix and higher yield per flight hour,” explained Volato CEO and co-founder Matt Liotta.

“Given the well-known OEM supply chain challenges which have pushed back delivery dates, we continue to expect the delivery of eight to 10 HondaJets [and] two Gulfstream G280s in 2024. These deliveries, including the two to three HondaJets we are scheduled to receive in the second quarter, will provide us with an immediate cash benefit as we execute on our backlog of fractional sales.”

Business aircraft access to London Luton and Stansted airports will be constricted at night from June 1 through September 30 due to the removal of ad hoc slots between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to make way for late arrivals of scheduled airline flights. The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has urged the UK government to allocate slots to ensure some access for nonscheduled traffic.

During the summer season, only London Southend Airport and Birmingham International Airport (which is more than 100 miles from the UK capital) will remain open on a 24/7 basis. Farnborough Airport closes at 10 p.m. (8 p.m. on weekends), Biggin Hill closes at 11 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends), and London Oxford is open until midnight.

The change in slot policy starts on the day London’s Wembley Stadium will host the Champions League soccer final. This is expected to attract significant numbers of business aircraft, including flights from Dortmund, Germany, and Madrid, where the teams vying for the trophy are based.

Hermeus continues its march toward hypersonic development with the testing of its precooler technology on the Pratt & Whitney F100. The precooler lowers the temperature of incoming air, enabling an increase in the maximum speed of the turbine engine. Hermeus called the launch of such testing the first major propulsion milestone for what will be its second Quarterhorse flying prototype, Mk 2.

The company rolled out Quarterhorse Mk 1 in March with plans to begin flight trials later this year to test high-speed takeoff and landing at Edwards Air Force Base. That aircraft, an uncrewed, remotely piloted demonstrator, uses the GE J85 for its engine base.

As part of Hermeus’ plans to progressively build on complexity and lessons learned from each aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 2—which incorporates the F100 with the precooler technology—will fly at supersonic speeds next year.

Hermeus is developing a turbine-based combined cycle Chimera air-breathing engine that combines a turbine with a ramjet. Ultimately, Chimera will operate in turbine mode with the F100 at low speeds and transition to ramjet mode at higher speeds. The precooler is designed to help bridge the two modes by increasing the turbine performance.

Plans call to test Quarterhorse Mk 2 at speeds exceeding Mach 2.5. Hermeus will fit a full Chimera engine, including a ramjet, in the next aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 3, which is anticipated to approach Mach 4.