UrbanLink Air Mobility has enlisted FBO group Signature Aviation to support the launch and expansion of an electric air-taxi network in Florida. Under a letter of intent, the partners will jointly research infrastructure needs for UrbanLink’s planned fleet of Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 electric airplanes. They also aim to establish an operating base for UrbanLink at a Signature FBO in South Florida.

Miami-based UrbanLink plans to operate up to 10 Beta Alia CX300s in South Florida as early as 2027, pending necessary regulatory approvals. The company also intends to operate the Alia 250 eVTOL, which Beta expects to certify about a year after its conventional counterpart enters service. Meanwhile, Signature is also working with Beta to install the latter’s electric aircraft charging infrastructure at its FBO locations across the U.S. 

“We are honored to partner with Signature, the world’s leading network of private aviation terminals, to expand our Florida network and establish our operations base at their location in South Florida,” said Ed Wegel, UrbanLink's founder, chairman, and CEO. “The use of private aviation terminals is critical as we launch operations and await the build-out of vertiport infrastructure to support flight operations beyond existing airports. We will also be working closely with Signature on the planning and development of those vertiports.”

Fighting a serious health condition like cancer is horrendous, but it gets even worse when the cancer patient can't travel to see the right doctor—a doctor who may not be across town but across the country. Rising to this great need, many private aviation individuals and corporate owners, lessees, pilots, and operators—“flight partners”—provide a free flight on their aircraft to those who face the physical, emotional, medical, or financial burden of traveling long distances for specialized medical care.

Multiple “qualified organizations” such as the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) facilitate these partner flights. CAN proudly announced last month at NBAA-BACE that it has coordinated 70,000 flights for cancer patients since its founding. I lost both of my grandfathers to cancer, so I feel privileged and grateful to have become an “ambassador” for CAN.

When I shared my enthusiasm for this CAN role with friends and colleagues at NBAA-BACE, the conversation quickly shifted from their awareness of the charities to tax write-offs for partner flights, company liability risks, and FAA scrutiny of these flights and their pilots. In a discussion at Corporate Jet Investor Miami last week, an attendee said he “would love to pilot a mission” but did not know where to start. If you’re in the same boat, this blog will help you get the ball rolling.

DAA signed an agreement yesterday that transfers an Alliance Aviation general aviation terminal at Dublin Airport (EIDW) to the airport authority. Formalized during the Irish Business and General Aviation Association’s International Business Aviation (IBGAA) Conference in Kildare, Ireland, the agreement will provide all business and general aviation aircraft flying through the airport with more convenient access to a terminal next to their aircraft and screening that meets new requirements. 

Speaking during a panel at the conference, Roy O’Driscoll, deputy general manager and head of commercial business development at DAA’s Cork Airport, anticipates the facility should be opened under DAA management by April. The transfer is the culmination of more than a year of collaboration between Alliance and the DAA.

Declan Troy, head of health, safety, and environment at Alliance, called 2025 a “year of innovation,” noting the facility significantly eases time for passengers. The only full-services FBO on the airport, Alliance is located on the west apron, removed from all the terminal facilities, including airport screening. “That’s had a real impact on how we tried to operate,” Troy told IBGAA attendees. “So we decided to do something about this.”  In late 2024, Alliance approached the Irish Aviation Authority and DAA about its vision for a general aviation terminal.

DAA is adding a new lounge and reception area, which will be operated by the Platinum VIP brand, O’Driscoll said. 

Bombardier has entered into an official partnership with the U.S. Army via the Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program, becoming the first aerospace company in Kansas to join the initiative. The U.S. Army describes its nationwide PaYS Program as a strategic collaboration with “a cross section of corporations, companies, and public sector agencies,” providing serving personnel with opportunities to prepare and plan for post-service employment. Under the scheme, qualified candidates are guaranteed up to five job interviews for vacant positions.

Transitioning service members will now have the opportunity to join what Bombardier describes as its “strong footprint in the U.S, anchored by five service centres in key locations across the country.” These are augmented by manufacturing facilities in Red Oak, Texas, and Los Angeles, California.

Bombardier expects the partnership to be mutually beneficial: helping match skilled military personnel with civilian career opportunities whilst “[strengthening] its position as an employer of choice.” Steve Patrick, v-p of Bombardier Defense, reflected: “With the continued expansion of our U.S. operations, we look forward to welcoming highly skilled veterans into our workforce.”

C&L Aerospace is changing the game for Citation operators. With 27 aircraft disassembled and over 16,000 tagged parts in stock, we offer a faster and more affordable alternative to OEM sourcing, with overhaul support, same-day shipping, and an easy-to-use online portal built for Citation Excel, XLS, Sovereign, and Latitude owners.

The city of Killeen, Texas, has opened a new municipal-run FBO at Skylark Field Airport (KILE). Built over the course of a year at a cost of $4.1 million, the 3,000 sq ft facility includes a spacious reception area, passenger and pilot lounges, eight-seat conference room, and a kitchen with complementary refreshments. It is also equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations. The building replaces the former 1960s-vintage, 900-sq-ft facility, which now will be leased to a local skydiving company.

KILE features a 5,495-foot runway and offers 24/7 self-service jet-A and avgas, in addition to the FBO’s full line services. It has hangar space capable of storing aircraft up to a turboprop twin.

The city additionally owns Killeen Regional Airport (KGRK) and its Avfuel-branded FBO. Avfuel was also selected as the fuel provider at KILE, with the company’s Avtrip customer loyalty and contract fuel programs in play at both locations.

“We’re excited to welcome travelers and the community to experience all that our new facility has to offer,” said Mike Wilson, executive director of the city of Killeen’s aviation department. “This opening marks a new chapter of exceptional service and comfort at Skylark Field Airport, and we look forward to sharing it with everyone who walks through our doors.”

Aviation insurer USAIG has added Kansas-based Turbine Training Center (TTC) to the options in its Performance Vector Program. TTC provides simulator-based training for agricultural aerial applicator pilots. When a policyholder selects TTC as its annual safety benefit from the program, USAIG will issue a certificate confirming it will pay up to $2,500 of the training fees for airplane pilots.

Under the Performance Vector Program, eligible USAIG policyholders can select one program annually to improve upon loss of control and other safety issues. Eligible parties include those with a USAIG turbine-powered aircraft policy or with multiple policies.

“Aerial applicators are vital to modern agriculture and represent an important business segment for USAIG,” said Ken Nielsen, underwriting v-p and agricultural aviation business line manager for the insurer. But aerial applications require a high level of proficiency from pilots, given the need to operate close to the ground in high-performance turboprop aircraft, USAIG noted. It pointed to other risk factors such as long hours in austere and changing locations, as well as seasonal surges in workload.

“Aerial applicators have unique needs and many options in our safety program that are geared more toward corporate jet operations just aren’t as relevant to their specialized operations, Nielsen explained, adding that is why it decided to add an agricultural training specialist to Performance Vector.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) producer Aether Fuels and Singapore-based energy company Aster have signed an agreement for the development of a next-generation, commercial-scale SAF refinery in Southeast Asia.

To be located at Aster’s petrochemical facility on Bukom Island, Project Beacon—its commercial production demonstration facility—will use Aether’s Aurora technology to convert industrial waste gas and biomethane into SAF. Construction is expected to begin next year, with the start of fuel production slated for 2028. Initial output is expected to be 50 barrels of fuel a day.

“Today marks an important step forward in reducing carbon intensity and advancing new energy pathways,” said Aster group CEO Erwin Ciputra. “By bringing together Aether’s technology with the expertise of our Bukom facility, we are demonstrating how partnerships between established industrial leaders and agile innovators can catalyze the introduction of disruptive solutions on a commercial scale.”

Aether Fuels is also aiming to develop a larger commercial-scale plant in the U.S. to produce at least 1,000 barrels of SAF per day by 2030.

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