The FAA’s release of its special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) for “Integration of Powered Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations” coincided with the opening session at NBAA-BACE 2024 on Tuesday, with NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker first breaking the news of its arrival to a standing-room audience. “It’s here today,” Whitaker told the crowd gathered at the opening session. “It is now a final rule.”

Much anticipated, the SFAR forms the foundation for the introduction of eVTOL aircraft in the U.S., establishing the necessary operational and training requirements for "powered-lift" aircraft. In announcing the SFAR, the FAA called powered lift the first new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s.

At the NBAA-BACE media breakfast on Tuesday, a panel of aviation leaders shared insights into the industry's progress and challenges as it pushes toward a net-zero future. The discussion highlighted how the business aviation community continues to navigate uncertain political landscapes while advancing technological innovations.

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of defining the industry's identity during a time of political and economic unpredictability. "It was a year ago today that we launched ‘Climbing Fast’ to tell the world the societal benefits of business aviation,” he said.

Jet Aviation and Signature Aviation will greatly expand the footprint of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the U.S. next year, including finally bringing the renewable fuel to business aviation hubs in the Northeast.

Beginning January 1, Jet Aviation will more than double the number of its FBOs that carry SAF through a partnership with World Fuel Services. The company’s facilities at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) and Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU) in Texas, along with Palm Beach International (KPBI) in Florida, will all carry continuous supplies of blended SAF. That's in addition to its FBOs at Boston Hanscom Field (KBED) and New Jersey's Teterboro Airport (KTEB).

Nimbl, a provider of aviation manuals and safety management solutions, introduced a series of updates to its platform aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing safety for aircraft operators. These updates include the launch of a redesigned dashboard with new tools such as the “Quick FRAT” (flight risk assessment tool), designed to make safety management systems (SMS) more accessible and easier to implement.

The Nimbl platform, which integrates industry-standard tools for weather, security, and scheduling, now allows operators to access critical information with minimal effort. Mark Baier, CEO of Nimbl (formerly AviationManuals), emphasized the company's commitment to simplifying the SMS process, saying, "Our goal is to make the flight risk analysis and SMS adoption easier, thereby helping operators continually become better and stay safer."

More than 40,000 pilots are now using GE Aerospace’s FlightPulse electronic flight bag software for flight planning and analytics, and the company said it is on track to surpass 50,000 users next year. According to GE Aerospace, 25 airlines and 20 corporate operators have signed up to use the FlightPulse software, which provides flight crews with historical flight data in an easily digestible format in the mobile app, FlightPulse Pilot.

“The idea is that you capture your data being recorded on board the aircraft…then when you process that parameter data, you can extract snapshots, you can find out when exceedances occur, and then you can aggregate that data a step further,” GE product manager Jonathan Morrell told AIN.

Global Jet Capital (GJC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas this week. Founded in 2014, the company has established itself in the business aircraft financing space, offering tailored financial solutions for clients across the globe.

“NBAA-BACE has always provided our industry a unique opportunity to interact with a broad spectrum of clients, intermediaries, and influencers. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year than at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas,” said Vivek Kaushal, the company's CEO.

DPI is showing off its latest innovations this week at NBAA-BACE, including what it says is the first-ever “aviationized” Apple TV and an “app-less” NFC cabin control system.

The Apple TV, which the company is unveiling for the first time at NBAA-BACE, has been flying on an Airbus A319 this year.

AIN Media Group is already planning news coverage for air shows and conventions in 2025. As you experience this week's NBAA-BACE show, please spare a minute or two to tell us what you think of our coverage and how you consume the content we deliver each day.

The digital flip-through issues of AIN’s award-winning NBAA Convention News are now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from NBAA-BACE 2024, whether you’re in Las Vegas attending the show or watching from afar.