Governments and industries, including aviation, will fail to meet their legally binding commitments to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050 if they persist in carrying out what a new report from consulting firm KPMG has dismissed as incremental changes. In the report, KPMG concluded that the aviation sector is moving too slowly and that “the goal of achieving net zero by 2050 hinges on significant increases in the production of sustainable aviation fuel, as well as government incentives.”

The NetZero Readiness Report 2023, published late last week, said the aviation sector finds it difficult to decarbonize quickly because of the long lead times in developing and delivering new aircraft. Said KPMG aviation strategy partner Christopher Brown: “2050 as the net-zero target is pretty much tomorrow for this sector,”.

The KPMG analysts also cast doubt on the aviation sector’s ability to increase SAF use at a sufficiently high rate quickly enough that it could completely replace jet-A, which they see as a necessity. “It looks like that task would be exceptionally difficult to deliver on,” said Malcolm Ramsay, the group’s global head of aviation. He called for governments to introduce stronger incentives for fuel producers to increase output to shift the supply-demand balance.

KPMG analysts suggested that governments and elected officials are hampered in pursuing net-zero goals by high levels of public debt, domestic political tensions, and opposition to decarbonization.

IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH) has reached a milestone, accepting its 300th location worldwide since the voluntary safety program for FBOs and business aviation ground handlers was launched in 2014. Jetex Marrakech this month became the 300th location to achieve Stage 1 registration.

Following the structure of IBAC’s IS-BAO for aircraft charter operators, IS-BAH is a voluntary program based on the implementation of industry best practices blended with a progressive safety management system (SMS). The audit-backed program offers recognition from the first level, Stage 1, through Stage 3.

“IS-BAH was the first industry standard to bring the SMS concept to ground handling, and we are proud of reaching this 300th milestone,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “As a voluntary standard, like IS-BAO, organizations that commit to integrating these industry best safety practices into their day-to-day operations and work toward continuous improvement are to be commended.”

Terry Yeomans, who has directed the program since its inception, added, “We congratulate all the organizations worldwide that helped us reach this milestone and offer a special thank you to them for setting the safety bar high for business aviation ground handling. We look forward to others joining us as the IS-BAH program continues to grow.”

ArcosJet has agreed to purchase 10 Lilium Jet eVTOLs that it plans to offer to private buyers in the Middle East. Last week, the Dubai-based business aircraft broker became the German manufacturer's first authorized dealer in the region for the all-electric Lilium aircraft.

The order was announced today at the Dubai Airshow, where Lilium and ArcosJet are exhibiting a mockup of the four-passenger Pioneer Edition of the eVTOL, which features 30 ducted-fan engines in its wing and canard. Lilium expects the aircraft, which will also be available in a six-passenger configuration, to enter service in 2026, offering a range of up to 175 kilometers at speeds of 250 km/h.

According to the companies, the order remains subject to an undisclosed “commitment fee.” ArcosJet is now Lilium’s fifth international dealership, joining a network that already includes EMC Jet in Texas, Volare Aviation in the UK, Air Dynamic in Switzerland, and ASL Group in the Benelux countries. ArcosJet plans to take deliveries in 2026 and 2027.

The Dubai-based company has traded since 2014, and its main focus involves business aircraft transactions in the Middle East, Europe, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

As the G700 approaches U.S. FAA certification, Gulfstream Aerospace continues to expand its marketing efforts for its new flagship in the Gulf region, displaying the ultra-long-range business jet at the Dubai Airshow for the first time. The Dubai show opened today and runs through Friday.

Gulfstream still expects certification by year-end, reporting recently that it “continues to move closer to its ultimate conclusion.” During its recent third-quarter analyst call, however, the company conceded that approval depends on FAA resource availability and credit it might receive for company flying. The company is targeting as many as 19 G700 deliveries this year, pending FAA approval.

At the Dubai Airshow, Gulfstream senior v-p of worldwide sales Scott Neal noted the company's commitment to the Gulf and beyond: "We have a long-standing history in the Middle East and surrounding regions. Recently, we announced a host of increased capabilities across the fleet, and we look forward to meeting with customers and guests at the Dubai Airshow.”

Along with the G700, Gulfstream is showcasing its large-cabin G500 this week in Dubai. Accumulating nearly 60 city-pair speed records, the G500 can fly 5,300 nm at Mach 0.85 and 4,500 nm at Mach 0.90. Gulfstream noted the aircraft became the first certified for enhanced flight vision system-to-land capability and more recently obtained steep approach approval.

Lufthansa Technik has unveiled the CelestialStar VIP cabin design concept for the Boeing 777-9. The German company is collaborating with Boeing Business Jets on the design, which is “tailored to the requirements of a new generation of VVIP and head-of-state aircraft,” according to Lufthansa Technik.

With 3,660 sq ft (340 sq m) of cabin space to fill, the CelestialStar “designs combine traditional influences from the Middle East's cultural heritage with a modern twist,” capturing both Middle Eastern geometric patterns and the “vastness and openness of the sky: a reminiscence not only of the widest cabin among all newly available VVIP aircraft types but also of the diversity in the Middle Eastern philosophy.”

A private suite combines a self-contained bedroom-bathroom “retreat” with an adjacent work and balance area. The suite features projection technology adapted from Lufthansa Technik’s Explorer concept with a cinema screen and wall-sized projections that can include destination imagery and virtual art. The bathroom includes a large rain-massage shower, while the bedroom is fitted with a king-size bed. To gain access to nearby exercise or dressing rooms, rotating and sliding lamellae panels can be opened, and these also introduce more daylight into the suite area.

The work and balance zone is designed for meetings or private work, with two movable seats next to a desk as well as side divans with tables.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has wrapped up a 20-month pilot test of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with the conclusion that, while Changi Airport is ready for SAF use, more supplies are required to support adoption.

The pilot test—conducted in partnership with Singapore Airlines, global environmental investment fund GenZero, and Singapore-based investment company Temasek—highlighted three areas. First, it validated the end-to-end process for bringing SAF to the airport, from procurement to blending with conventional jet fuel in Singapore facilities, certification, and delivery to the airport without the need to modify any existing infrastructure at Changi.

Next, it enabled the generation of SAF credits. Singapore Airlines purchased 1,000 tonnes of neat, unblended SAF for the test, which generated 1,000 verified SAF credits—equivalent to the reduction of 2,500 tonnes of CO2—through the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Book & Claim System. This indicated that transactions in SAF credits could be done in a trusted and transparent manner, forming the basis for a marketplace for them.

Finally, of those credits, approximately two-thirds were sold during the span of the program, indicating market demand, while demonstrating that more education, outreach, and support from corporations and governmental policy is required.

The aviation authority will use the results of the program in the development of its Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint, and it will create a long-term secured SAF supply ecosystem for Singapore.

Bell has delivered the first three of 40 single-engine 505 Jet Ranger Xs to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). The balance of the deliveries will occur between now and 2025. These helicopters will be used as trainers for the ROKN and the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA). Bell announced the contract for the helicopters in May 2022.

“The Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ decision to induct the Bell 505 is a testament to their need for an advanced helicopter training platform,” said Sameer Rehman, Bell's managing director for Asia-Pacific. Other countries using the 505 as a military trainer include Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, UAE, Montenegro, and Jordan.

Announced in 2013 and operational in 2017, more than 400 Bell 505s have been delivered, and the combined fleet has logged more than 100,000 flight hours. The 505 features the Safran Arrius 2R turboshaft engine with dual-channel fadec controls and 3,000-hour TBO, Garmin G1000H glass panel avionics, a customizable five-seat cabin, tie-downs, and two-bladed rotor system and drivetrain.

The airport-run FBO at the UK’s Brighton City Airport (EGKA) is the newest member of “The Collection,” a group of facilities affiliated with the Weston Aviation FBO chain. The Collection was established by Weston to further expand its reach by working with other airport owners and independent FBOs, offering them network benefits and assisting with development.

“We are pleased to be joining Weston Aviation’s UK and Ireland network of locations, which comes at a perfect time for us as we look to relaunch our FBO services with a new facility and direction,” said EGKA managing director Rob Cooke.

Brighton—one of the oldest continually licensed airfields in the UK and one of the country's busiest general aviation airports—in August moved its private aviation facility to a new standalone executive terminal. It offers an onsite restaurant, reception area, passenger lounge, kitchen, conference room, and pilot lounge, as well as in-house customs and immigration services.

“We look forward to working closely with Rob and the team to assist them in further developing their business aviation activity at the airport and offer our support in the regional airport FBO market,” said Weston founder and CEO Nick Weston.

Weston operates facilities at Gloucestershire, Cornwall Newquay, Humberside, and Manchester airports, along with Cork Airport in Ireland. Associated members include London Southend and Cambridge City airports.