GE Aerospace returned to take top honors in this year’s Product Support Survey for turbofan engine makers, matching its overall average rating from last year of 8.7. However, Rolls-Royce jumped in the ratings to the second slot just behind GE with an 8.6 rating, and support for its BR700 and AE3007 models moved into a tie at the top for engine-specific overall average.

In the comparison of engine makers, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and Williams International tied for the third position this year, each compiling a score of 8.4. The Williams FJ44 fell behind the Rolls turbofan models with a rating of 8.4.

Although Honeywell placed last among the turbofan manufacturers, the Phoenix-based aerospace giant scored 9.1 in turboprops, equaling P&WC for the top score among all engine makers. P&WC also posted a 9.1 rating in turboshaft engines while scoring 8.6 in turboprops.

Along with airframers highlighted in AIN’s August issue and avionics OEMs in September, engine makers continue to contend with supply chain disruptions and a tight labor market. Several have added authorized service centers to accommodate increasing support demand in the business aviation sector as well as headcount to help mitigate delivery delays.

Cirrus Aircraft held a grand opening of its new innovation center at the company’s Duluth (Minnesota) International Airport headquarters on Tuesday. More than 300 people work at the innovation center, and Cirrus is hiring more technicians and engineers to work at the facility.

Comprising a 189,000-sq-ft building on a 39-acre campus, the innovation center supports Cirrus’ current products and services and is designed to facilitate exploration of future product developments.

The center includes a new integration test lab, a larger materials and processes lab, an upgraded advanced design and development lab, environmental equipment and testing capabilities, and more floor space for development and testing, according to Cirrus.

“These new facilities and capabilities enable our engineers, technicians, and researchers to more rapidly design, develop, and certify our next generation of Cirrus products in a connected, synergetic environment,” said Ken Harness, senior v-p of product development.  

“The innovation center is an incredible company milestone that supports the future development and endeavors of Cirrus Aircraft product development,” said CEO Zean Nielsen. He highlighted Cirrus’ continuing investments in the Duluth campus and the city. “We have worked closely with our partners to renovate the building and hire more engineers and technicians to join the new facility in Duluth,” he said.

Aviation leaders are mourning the loss of AOPA Air Safety Institute senior v-p Richard McSpadden, 63, who died yesterday in an aircraft accident outside Lake Placid, New York. 

AOPA released a statement saying it was deeply saddened to report that McSpadden and one other person had passed away on Sunday afternoon after the Cardinal 177 they were flying in crashed as it was returning to Lake Placid Airport.

“The Cardinal 177 in which Richard was in the right seat experienced an emergency after takeoff. The airplane attempted to return to the airport but failed to make the runway,” AOPA said. 

The association called McSpadden “a very accomplished pilot, including serving as commander of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds during his military career, a trusted colleague, friend, son, husband, and father.”

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen further praised McSpadden, saying his “pioneering work in flight safety, including his leadership in education and training, saved countless lives.”

McSpadden joined AOPA in February 2017 to lead the Air Safety Institute, and he served as the industry chair for the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee.

Originally from Panama City, Florida, McSpadden began flying as a teenager and had amassed over 5,000 hours. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force War College, he spent 20 years in the service, including as commander and flight leader of the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team. 

The general aviation terminal (GAT) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) reopened last week following a five-month-long refurbishment process of the building, which was retained when the former Schönefeld Airport closed. It was incorporated into the EDDB, which opened in 2020.

The structure is home to two service providers: global services provider ExecuJet, which also operates an FBO at Munich International Airport, and Berlin Aviation Services. The work was conducted by the New GAT Berlin—a joint venture between the two—and included the updating and modernization of the lounges, offices, and crew areas, as well as the construction of an improved security area to meet current EU standards.

“We are excited about our redesigned GAT, in particular the customs and security area that allows us to offer an enhanced, customer-friendly facility and respond to the new European safety standards,” said Joachim Krüger, v-p of Northern Europe for ExecuJet parent Luxaviation. “Furthermore, BER is key for ExecuJet, as Berlin’s economy is continuously growing, and Brandenburg [ranks] as one of the most dynamic economic regions in Germany.”

EDDB—which also replaced Tempelhof and Tegel airports—serves an area that is the top conference location in the country, hosting 600 trade fairs and conventions and more than 1.8 million visitors annually.

ExecuJet last month announced an agreement with Air bp to supply jet-A to general aviation customers at the airport.

The aviation community breathed a collective sigh of relief after Congress pushed through temporary reprieves on both FAA reauthorization and government funding before each lapsed on October 1, but industry and lawmakers alike called for continued urgency on passing longer-term bills.

Congress on Saturday passed a 47-day stopgap funding bill, averting a government shutdown. That bill also included a three-month extension of the FAA’s operating authority, providing until the end of the year to hammer out final details of a five-year reauthorization package.

Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) called the reauthorization extension “the right thing to do” and said, “This will ensure continuity at the FAA and avoid pointless disruptions for the traveling public.” However, she expressed the importance of giving long-term operating authority.

Her counterpart in the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair Sam Graves (R-Missouri), agreed, but added: “Make no mistake, enacting a long-term bill as soon as possible is a top priority, as a series of short-term extensions will be detrimental to the FAA, airport infrastructure improvements, and the aviation industry.”

Washington leaders also called the funding continuity critical to maintaining a safe and efficient national airspace system.

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen stressed, “We continue to underscore the urgent need for Congress to complete work on the annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government and a long-term FAA reauthorization.”

Executive Jet Maintenance recently added a 32,000-sq-ft hangar at San Bernardino Airport in Southern California. The expansion marks a major milestone for the company as it looks to accommodate a wider range of aircraft sizes and types. Along with developing its infrastructure, the business aircraft MRO now offers monthly leasing for its premium aircraft hangar space.

"This expansion reinforces our enduring mission of offering elite services and facilities to our unique clientele," said Executive Jet Maintenance CEO Kurt Belcher. “The ability to access secure and efficient storage and maintenance on a monthly basis is of great value to many clients, and it just underscores our recognition of the diverse needs of Southern California’s aviation community.”

Executive Jet Maintenance referred to the hangar as “an ideal solution” for owners and operators seeking a reliable location to house their assets while benefiting from the company’s maintenance services. Access to Executive Jet Maintenance’s personnel for ongoing maintenance and repair is a value-add to the ongoing benefit of jet storage at the hangar.

The FAA is accepting applications for close to $300 million in funding for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) infrastructure and low-emission aviation technology projects. 

Some $245 million is available for SAF Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST)-SAF grants, which will be allocated for projects that focus on producing, transporting, and blending sustainable aviation fuel. The grants are intended to support the development of regional SAF supply chains and increased SAF use.

Meanwhile, $47 million in FAST-Tech funds are available for aviation technology projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve aircraft fuel efficiency, and increase SAF usage. The FAA noted these grants are available to a range of entities from airports, air carriers, universities, and aviation and aerospace companies to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Plans call for the first round of grants to be awarded in mid-2024. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, the grant availability is designed to support projects that work toward the goal of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, the agency stated.

“We have a need for speed in this race,” said Laurence Wildgoose, the  FAA assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment. He added that with the White House support, “We have more resources than ever before to accelerate this critical work.”

A new voice for the charter market has launched with the formation of the U.S. Private Aviation Association (USPAA). A national membership organization devoted exclusively to the Part 135 private air charter industry, USPAA expects to play a vital role in representing the interests of U.S. charter air operators.

“USPAA aims to elevate industry standards, foster cooperation, and drive progress as a dedicated voice for Part 135 private air charter operators,” said USPAA chairman Dann Standard of Bravo Air in Augusta, Georgia. “It is our priority that we advocate for fair regulations and policies that promote safety, growth, and innovation in our industry.”

Charter operations in 2020 accounted for more than 11,000 aircraft in U.S. skies and contributed substantially to general aviation’s $47.4 billion contribution to the economy, as reported by the FAA’s August 2022 report titled Economic Impact of U.S. Civil Aviation.

“As we continue to climb out of Covid’s economic dip, we anticipate significant growth in private aviation beyond pre-pandemic levels in the coming years,” Standard added.

The new association has opened full registration to all private charter operators with a Part 135 certificate. Associate memberships are open to individuals, businesses, and industries that support the private air charter segment.