Business aviation’s success in meeting its new goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will hinge heavily on the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the development of improved aircraft technology, according to Thomas Fissellier, Bombardier Business Aircraft’s head of strategy and analytics.
Speaking yesterday during a webinar hosted by GAMA and IBAC on the updates to the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC) announced in October at NBAA-BACE, Fissellier noted that the industry has made good progress on its original goals announced in 2009. “The bottom line is that we are now on track to reach about four million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2050 as an industry, which would represent about a 70 to 75 percent reduction compared to 2005,” said Fissellier, who has shepherded the BACCC research since 2015.
He explained how scenario-based models shape the calculations with averages taken between conservative estimates and optimistic estimates on SAF production and acceptance to determine the overall impact on future CO2 emissions. Based on industry consensus, estimates call for neat SAF to comprise between 66 and 81 percent of total jet fuel consumption by 2050.
The effects of electric, hybrid-electric, and even hydrogen-powered aircraft are also taken into account in the models, as is anticipated fleet replacement as older aircraft are retired from service and supplanted with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
NetJets is adding the large-cabin Bombardier Challenger 650 to its European fleet beginning in 2022 as it continues to see “unprecedented demand, for which interest does not appear to be slowing,” the fractional operator announced this week. The 11-passenger jet features a cabin with the same width as NetJets' flagship Global 6000 and will come equipped with Ka-band Wi-Fi and wireless entertainment. It will be showcased by NetJets on a roadshow tour in Europe next year.
The addition of the Challenger 650 to NetJets' European fleet comes as the company responds to a level of demand for private flying it said it has never seen. As a result, it is pulling aircraft deliveries forward where it can and pausing aircraft dispositions. NetJets expects to take delivery of more than 125 new aircraft by the end of next year, with at least 25 arriving in the spring.
Hiring at NetJets is also on the increase, with 550 new employees—250 pilots and 300 non-crew—added so far this year and recruitment underway for another 100 pilots and 120 staff. Additionally, the company put all jet card requests on a waitlist earlier this year, with that backlog now numbering more than 1,500. NetJets also paused share and lease sales for immediate access, which have eased the strain on the availability of aircraft for its shareowners.
Collins Aerospace is building on its suite of information services with the completion of the acquisition of global aircraft flight tracking, data, and analysis company FlightAware. The completion of the deal comes just three months after Collins, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, signed a definitive agreement to acquire FlightAware.
FlightAware provides real-time and historical flight information and insights to all segments of the aviation marketplace, tapping into data from hundreds of sources including its own terrestrial ADS-B network that involves thousands of receivers spanning seven continents in 200 countries and territories.
Collins is folding the business into a newly formed Connected Aviation Solutions business unit. FlightAware senior executive James Sulak will be part of the new business unit, Collins added. “With FlightAware onboard, our new Connected Aviation Solutions business unit combines the best of Collins’ aircraft systems with established data networks and connectivity solutions, together with the recognized leader in data collection and analytics. We are well-positioned to launch a new generation of smarter digital solutions," said Collins Aerospace president Stephen Timm.
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) and Swiss-based aviation software and training provider NGFT Solutions have developed demonstration versions of a flight risk-assessment tool (FRAT) and a workplace risk assessment tool (WORA) designed for the rotorcraft industry and are seeking user input. The full version of the tools continues to undergo additional development and is expected to be completed late in the first quarter of 2022.
The FRAT features a simplified question-and-answer format that gives crews a common understanding of the major risks involved in various types of operations, while the WORA can be used to evaluate risk associated with an aerial work pick-up site. HAI members can access the full version by signing in and accessing the tool by opening an account at NGFT. Current NGFT subscribers can access both through their apps or subscription page.
“This is your opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the free version and give back to NGFT and the industry by offering your feedback,” said HAI director of safety Chris Hill. “This version is more than a beta version, it’s ready to work now. The final, full version will offer more features and customization.”
Dubai-based aircraft management and charter company Jet Luxe has launched Invictus Partnership, a program in which four partners share hours allocated to them in a business jet but without the financial commitment or depreciation associated with fractional ownership.
“This is not a jet card, it’s not fractional ownership, and it’s not a traditional membership,” said Jet Luxe CEO Gabriel Madrid. “It is a new niche and highly exclusive partnership with just four opportunities per jet. We have meticulously developed the model to be completely flexible, dynamic, and with guaranteed availability year-round, worldwide.”
Under the program, partners are responsible for a “minimal, upfront investment” that comes with no fixed costs or any extra charges for peak days, parking, or repositioning. Partners have guaranteed global availability under the programs and can schedule flights with 24 hours’ notice. They can also purchase additional hours on-demand.
CAE will deploy a new Bombardier Global 6500 full-flight simulator at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training Centre in Dubai, the Canadian simulator specialist said at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday. The Global 6500 simulator, the first to appear outside the Americas, will be available for training in 2023 at the center in the Al Garhoud zone near the Dubai International Airport. CAE’s Global 6500 training is currently available only at its Montreal training center.
“We place great importance on supporting the increasing training needs of business aviation pilots and operators across the globe,” said Nick Leontidis, group president of Civil Aviation Training Solutions at CAE, a Bombardier-authorized training partner. “The brand-new CAE Global 6500 full-flight simulator will heighten the pilot training experience in the Middle East and help strengthen business aviation pilots’ skills.”
“This addition will better serve the operators in the region with CAE’s cutting-edge technology,” added Emirates Group executive v-p Steve Allen.
FltPlan has added self-service options for international flight handling. Under the new options, operators can access and submit forms and information for Cuban overflight permits, U.S. Customs and Border Protection overflight exemptions, and Mexican airspace fees through FltPlan’s self-service offerings. These self-service options are designed to streamline certain required paperwork without the need of contacting FltPlan via telephone, the Garmin unit said.
For years, the company has offered international handling and services for Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America through its partner CTS Flight Services, which provides a staff of bilingual handlers. FltPlan will continue to offer full-service options for ground handling, international overflight and landing permits, airspace fees, and APIS services under this partnership.
Under FltPlan’s service, clients are provided firm quotes that remain in place unless changes are made to the itinerary, the company said, adding customers that fill out the relevant forms are provided quotes within 48 hours.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is expanding its year-old carbon offset service to include operators of the company’s helicopter engines enrolled in its Eagle Service Plan (ESP) and Fleet Management Program (FMP) hourly maintenance programs. The carbon offset service automatically aligns operators’ flight hours with offset purchases, in collaboration with carbon offset provider South Pole. The service was introduced in December 2020 for business aviation operators enrolled in ESP.
“Across all of the diverse missions served by our helicopter customers—from search and rescue to corporate passenger transport—we are seeing growing demand for products and services that promote sustainability in airborne operations,” said Scott McElvaine, P&WC's v-p of customer programs. “Our carbon offset service provides a fully transparent and cost-effective solution to address this demand so that operators easily compensate for their carbon emissions footprint.
“With the growing interest in SAFs as one route to reducing aviation’s consumption of fossil-based fuels, operators may also use carbon offsets to reduce our impact on the environment,” added McElvaine. “While SAFs offer significant CO2 emissions reduction, carbon offsets can compensate for the remaining emissions to help achieve carbon-neutrality.”
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