Germany’s DLR aerospace research agency and air rescue operator ADAC Luftrettung have completed a study on the use of a bio-kerosene for emergency medical flights. In a report published last week, the partners said that 1,800 hours of flight trials using a pair of ADAC’s helicopters showed a significant reduction in ultrafine particles (UFPs), also referred to as soot.

During the trials, ADAC’s Airbus EC145s were run on a fuel mix that included 38% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from recycled vegetable or animal fats, including used cooking oil. Researchers from DLR’s Institute of Combustion Technology conducted six ground-based measurement exercises, focused on measuring emissions of UFPs and also carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.

According to the report, during idle operations before takeoff when rotor speeds are high, researchers recorded a 44% reduction in UFPs. At engine power levels set for cruise, the particle emissions were 33% lower than if the aircraft had operated on conventional jet-A.

“Following these promising first results, we aim to expand our research and development activities in this field and increase the SAF content,” said ADAC Luftrettung managing director Frédéric Bruder. “Our long-term goal is to significantly advance the decarbonization of aviation, including in the emergency services sector.”

A system outage on April 28 left air traffic controllers unable to see or communicate with aircraft arriving into Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) for 90 seconds, contributing to widespread delays, staffing gaps, and a reduced flight schedule at the busy New Jersey hub. The lapse in radar and radio contact occurred at the Philadelphia Tracon facility, which manages arrivals and departures at Newark.

The disruption was first reported by Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources familiar with the incident, and later confirmed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and FAA. Multiple controllers were placed on trauma leave following the blackout, leaving the facility short-staffed during a week of cascading delays.

Yesterday, NATCA confirmed the incident, saying the facility “temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them.” The FAA released a statement about the outage, attributing the disruption to “antiquated” telecommunications infrastructure and describing ongoing efforts to create a more “resilient and redundant configuration with local exchange carriers.” The FAA statement referenced multiple outages, but did not specify additional dates.

“Frequent equipment and telecommunications outages can be stressful for controllers,” the agency noted, adding that some controllers had taken time off to recover from the cumulative strain of multiple recent outages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has pledged upgrades to the agency’s equipment and automation systems.

Angolan air charter operator Bestfly has withdrawn from membership in the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA). In a statement issued on April 28, the company said it was “increasingly difficult to reconcile our values and direction with the current beliefs of the association.”

On May 1, Bestfly co-founder and executive director Alcinda Pereira issued a further statement saying that she is stepping down as AfBAA’s chairperson. She said the decision was due to a “series of challenges” she had faced over the previous 18 months.

“While it has been an honor to hold the position as a proud Black woman, I encountered a reality that exposed the persistent issues of prejudice and sexism in the industry,” Pereira said in a LinkedIn post.

In a social media post on May 3, AfBAA thanked Pereira for her contributions and reported that vice chair Craig Middleton will step in to chair the board. “We are aware of the concerns she has raised and as an organization committed to transparency, inclusion, and professionalism, we are investigating the matter thoroughly, through the appropriate channels,” the association commented. “Our strength lies in our diversity, professionalism, and shared commitment to ethical governance and inclusive leadership. We remain steadfast in our mission to advance and advocate for business aviation across Africa through inclusivity.”

Energy data group Argus has released an overview of how sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) regulations will increasingly impact aircraft operators. The report, “2025: The Year of SAF Mandates,” highlights the industry’s new obligations under the European Union’s ReFuelEU SAF mandate legislation and the emissions trading scheme (ETS), while also providing an update on policies in other regions of the world.

Under ReFuelEU, aviation fuel suppliers are required to provide minimum quantities of SAF, with mandatory quotas rising progressively from 2029. They are then set to increase quite steeply between 2049 and 2050 to account for around 80% of all fuel, including synthetic fuels.

The legislative landscape across the Asia-Pacific region, mapped out by Argus, shows more limited initiatives. For instance, China is working to a limited target of making 50,000 metric tonnes of SAF available annually between 2022 and 2025, while Indonesia and South Korea have set mandates of 1% through 2027, and Singapore is targeting 1% next year with a goal of achieving between 3% and 5% by 2030. SAF mandates are under discussion by governments in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Thailand.

In the U.S., for now, the main focus has been on incentivizing SAF usage with a target to supply 30 billion gallons by 2030 under the country’s SAF Grand Challenge.

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California’s Sacramento Mather Airport (KMHR) now has another service provider with the opening of the Mather Jet Center, under the same ownership as maintenance provider Mather Aviation. That includes Victor Cushing, a 40-plus-year veteran in aviation maintenance with facilities at both KMHR and Modesto City–County Airport (KMOD), along with Modesto Jet Center owners Matt Bosco and Dan Kimmel.

Located within the Mather Aviation maintenance building, a 100,000-sq-ft hangar that once housed B-52s at the former air force base, the FBO—the newest addition to the Avfuel-branded dealer network—occupies 2,000 sq ft of terminal space on the ramp side of the building. It includes a passenger lobby, pilot lounge, and conference room, with onsite car rental.

Despite the size of the Mather Aviation facility—which also serves as a home to its Part 145 maintenance and avionics facility—the company anticipates building additional hangars because it is at capacity with based, transient, and maintenance clients.

“This partnership marks exciting industry growth, and we look forward to expanding our services within the West Coast market,” said Joel Hirst, Avfuel’s senior v-p of sales. “We greatly appreciate this opportunity to partner with Mather Jet Center and look forward to collaborating with its team to support the needs of the general aviation community.”

FlyUSA has acquired TRYP Air Charter and MySky Aviation Solutions, bringing its total aircraft under management from 24 to 28. “This transaction results in FlyUSA becoming the largest and most active combined turboprop and light jet fleet in the state of Florida, if not the broader Southeast U.S.,” said Barry Shevlin, co-founder and CEO of FlyUSA. “This partnership unlocks new opportunities for growth.”

The acquisition increases FlyUSA’s fleet available for charter by 50%, expanding from eight to 12 aircraft. The company expects a smooth transition for existing clients, partners, and employees of TRYP and MySky.

Elliot Mintzer, founder and CEO of both acquired companies, will join FlyUSA to oversee the turboprop fleet, which includes Pilatus PC-12s. Mintzer brings more than a decade of PC-12 experience, along with sales and pilot mentorship expertise. TRYP v-p of charter and logistics Kyle Garren will also transition to FlyUSA, supporting sales operations.

“TRYP and MySky have always been a leading source of Pilatus PC-12 lift throughout the Southeast and the Bahamas,” said Mintzer. “The innovative growth opportunities at FlyUSA for our owners and team is something we couldn’t pass up.”

This announcement follows a record first quarter for FlyUSA, which reported $15 million in revenue. The company remains on track to meet its 2025 goal of $70 million.

PHI Aviation has opened a new airbase in Houma, Louisiana, completing a multi-year initiative to expand and modernize the company’s key Gulf hub. The company held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening event this week to mark the occasion.

The multimillion-dollar facility includes a 26,000-sq-ft passenger terminal designed to accommodate up to 500 passengers, a parking lot with space for more than 4,000 vehicles, and a 2,250-foot lighted runway. A 40,000-sq-ft hangar was also constructed to support PHI’s rotorcraft operations in the region.

“Since our founding in 1949, PHI Aviation has long been a trusted air carrier for customers operating in and around the Gulf,” said PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty. “This new facility will allow us to offer an improved passenger experience while also increasing our efficiency and ability to operate safely.”

According to the company, the new base is intended to support existing customers and anticipated future demand. PHI Aviation, a division of Lafayette, Louisiana-based PHI Group, operates a fleet of more than 200 helicopters worldwide, primarily supporting energy and medical sectors.

In March, PHI Aviation began offshore operations with the Airbus H160 helicopter in Louisiana, marking the model’s first deployment in the region. PHI is using the H160 to support Shell Exploration and Production under a long-term contract.

Private lift provider Wheels Up has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program for its charter customers. It will allow users to opt into the program to seamlessly integrate SAF use into their bookings and contribute to the decarbonization of aviation.

While SAF is expected to play a major role in the industry’s carbon reduction ambitions, it still only makes up a small fraction of the fuel supply, with limited geographical availability. As such, Wheels Up will partner with Delta Air Lines to purchase SAF, which will be used in a book-and-claim format to allow private aircraft passengers to participate regardless of their departure airport. Via the program, charter customers can determine the amount of SAF they wish to support, and the company will coordinate with Delta—using sustainability software solutions provider Chooose—to direct those contributions into the airline’s SAF program.

Programs like this are expected to play a critical role in signaling the need for SAF, as well as scaling the fuel's production and use over the coming years.

“As demand for ESG-conscious travel grows, this initiative allows our customers to take meaningful steps toward reducing their carbon footprint, while reinforcing Wheels Up’s commitment to sustainable aviation,” said Jill Greer, the company’s v-p for investor relations and sustainability.