The European business aviation community may have to wait until September to learn whether the European Union General Court considers the industry to be “an environmentally sustainable economic activity.” That is what is at stake in a case filed by Dassault Aviation and EBAA to challenge the European Commission’s exclusion of the sector from its EU Taxonomy in a move the plaintiffs say is discriminatory and makes it harder to invest in decarbonization efforts.

Judges in Luxembourg started hearing the case on February 10, and this process is expected to run for up to six months. EBAA is determined to reverse the Commission’s ruling to avoid a precedent in which one part of the aviation industry can be—in the words of the group’s director of public affairs and communications, Róman Kok—“carved out” and treated as “sacrificial lambs.”

The European business aviation sector continues to insist that the European Commission’s ReFuel EU mandate for increased SAF usage is a blunt instrument that is not fit for purpose. At the same time, Europe’s airlines agree with the Airlines for Europe and European Regions Airline Association calling for changes to the rules in mid-March.

From January 2025, ReFuel EU mandated the use of 2% blended SAF at EU airports, rising to at least 6% by 2030 (of which 0.7% must be e-fuel). However, the physical unavailability of SAF at many smaller airports serving business aviation—along with a lack of recognition for book-and-claim options—is only part of the problem.

Germany's DLR aerospace research agency is preparing to conduct flight testing of vibrational anti-icing technology as it works to conclude the project this year. The piezo-electric anti-icing application is initially being targeted towards ducted-fan propeller blades, but DLR has concluded it could also benefit a wider variety of aircraft.

The research is being conducted at DLR's Innovation Center for Small Aircraft Technologies, based in Aachen. This facility—dedicated to investigating electric flight and urban mobility related to small aircraft—is also used for flight testing from the adjacent Aachen Merzbrück Airport.

Satellite communications group Viasat is introducing what it says is a more complete way to assess performance metrics for inflight connectivity. The company's proprietary In-flight Quality of Experience (IQE) benchmark is set to go live later this year and will assess factors other than just connection speeds.

The initiative builds on an October 2025 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and will cover multiple variables beyond peak network speed. Viasat, which operates a network of multi-orbit and low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, said that the metrics will be tracked and measured using artificial intelligence tools.

StackAero is introducing a “contracts module” to its Business Operations System (BOS) for charter brokers and operators. The company said the new feature will make it easier to manage how clients are using flight hours paid for under block charter or fractional ownership arrangements, including jet card products.

According to StackAero business development manager Cat Buchanan, the tool acts as a utilization tracker for managing contractual arrangements, including extensive tours by performers. The company has been stress-testing the addition to its software and will make it available to clients in the next few weeks.