Avfuel Supplying SAF to Bizjets Traveling to NBAA-BACE

Avfuel will provide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to transient business jets traveling to the 2019 NBAA Convention in Las Vegas, in partnership with FBO Avflight at Salina Regional Airport (SLN) in Kansas, the aviation fuel provider announced today. The SAF at SLN will be available beginning October 17. Business aircraft manufacturers Embraer, Textron Aviation, and Dassault, along with “many other private operators,” have committed to fueling with the SAF en route to the show, the company said. (Gulfstream uses its own SAF supply year-round for demo flights.)

“This will be Avfuel’s fourth product demonstration of the viability of SAF specifically in business aviation,” said Avfuel manager of alternative fuels Keith Sawyer. “Avfuel is steadfast in our obligation to support the industry’s commitment to reduce its impact on climate change. We are thankful to all who are helping to make this SAF demonstration possible, including the Avflight team and the various operators who agreed to fueling with the product. We need more such willing participants in the industry to encourage production and overcome the industry’s largest SAF challenge to date: availability.”

Under their 2018 agreement, biofuel provider Gevo will supply the SAF to Avfuel.

WingX: Bizav Flying in Europe Continues ‘Steady Erosion’

The “steady erosion” in business aviation flying in Europe continued last month, as departures fell 2 percent year-over-year, to 80,113, according to data released today by WingX Advance. For the first nine months, business aviation flying in the region is down 2 percent from a year ago, the company added.

“Across the fleet, the pattern is uneven, with small and midsize jet activity taking a battering, especially from the largest markets in Western and Central Europe,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “This drop-off appears to align with the manufacturing slump in the Eurozone. There are still some bright spots in the flight activity analysis, not least Farnborough’s continued stellar growth.”

While France and Greece logged growth in flight activity, there were also “big year-over-year drops” in departures from Germany and Spain. Year-to-date, the market is flat in “top market” France and declining the most in Germany.

Business jet activity in Europe dropped by 2.3 percent year-over-year last month. Light and midsize jet activity slipped by 3 percent, while large-cabin flying fell 1 percent.

Intra-European flights fell 2 percent last month, but those from Europe to North America surged 9 percent year-over-year. Departures from Europe to Asia-Pac have slumped by 11 percent year-to-date, according to WingX.

Mx Provider ACTS Opens at Subic Bay Airport

MRO provider Aviation Concepts Technical Services (ACTS) has opened a business jet service center at Subic Bay International Airport (SFS) in the Philippines. The opening of an 18,000-sq-m/193,750-sq-ft hangar is the first phase of the company’s facility upgrade project at SFS.

“With the opening of ACTS’s facility, business jet owners and operators will have the confidence of knowing that a world-class facility, complemented with a team of certified engineers, can handle parking and maintenance of their aircraft,” said ACTS general manager John O’Meara.

SFS officials hope the ACTS facility at the former U.S. Navy base serves to become a business aviation hub in the region. “We are banking on the strategic location of Subic in the Asia-Pacific region to boost SBIA’s chances to become a regional player in the MRO business,” said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma.

The airport features a 9,000-foot runway, no slot restrictions, and is within 90 minutes flying time of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Owned by Razon & Co., ACTS has Cayman and Bermuda repair station approvals and is working toward obtaining FAA Part 145 approval.

JetAviva To Sponsor Angel Flights With Aircraft Sales

For each completed aircraft sales transaction, business aircraft broker JetAviva will sponsor and financially support a flight through Angel Flight Central (AFC), which provides air transportation for adults and children needing to travel to receive medical treatment, the company announced this week. “JetAviva’s key mission is to make a difference for our customers every day by helping them reach the goals of their businesses and enrich their personal lives,” said JetAviva CEO Tim White. “Our partnership with AFC is a natural fit to our company’s values in that we want to give back and help those who could benefit most from the power of general aviation.”

In its 2018 fiscal year, the non-profit AFC coordinated 2,663 flights covering 186,097 miles. A cadre of 330 volunteer pilots donates their time and aircraft expenses to provide the AFC flights.

Founded in 1995, AFC serves a 10-state region in the upper Midwest and is part of the Air Charity Network. In addition to coordinating medical transportation flights, it also supports humanitarian missions such as relocation flights for victims of flooding.

“Partnering with Angel Flight Central is a way for JetAviva to combine our love for aviation with our passion for helping others,” White added.

Chicago Executive Completes Runway Project

Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) has completed a two-month-long reconstruction project on its secondary 4,415-foot Runway 12/30. Since July, 4,000 tons of asphalt has been overlaid on the existing runway footprint, providing a new and stronger landing surface.

In addition, the $1.7 million project—funded 90 percent through FAA grants, with the state and airport picking up the remainder—also included the installation of more than 60 lighting and marking upgrades. Multiple runway holding position signs and directional arrows were replaced with new LED fixtures, holding position, and other mandatory surface signage were repainted consistent with the new LED indicators, and a mandatory runway holding position sign was added.

“This improved runway will further support our airport operations,” said Andrew Wolanik, the airport’s operations and maintenance supervisor. “All of these modern improvements, combined with my staff’s commitment to year-round safety and reliability, will keep Chicago Executive Airport at the cutting edge of general aviation operations for decades to come.” 

A reliever for Chicago O’Hare International, PWK is located just 10 miles away and sees approximately 80,000 flights a year.

FBO Veteran Michael Dolphin Flies West

FBO industry veteran Michael Wayne “Mike” Dolphin, 73, died peacefully at his home on Monday. He was born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida.

Dolphin's career began with Yankee Airlines in Pittsfield, then he moved to Richmor Aviation in Hudson, New York, where he established his reputation. He ultimately served as president of Jet Systems at Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in White Plains, New York, until retirement several years ago. Dolphin was well known in New York-area business aviation circles for his hard work, energy, and sense of humor. He was always active in promoting and supporting business aviation and the FBO industry.

A pilot for more than 50 years, Dolphin logged more than 18,000 hours, much of that as a recreational pilot, including in his personal Cessna 210 single. He was also an avid motorcyclist, in addition to enjoying dogs, boating, and cars. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Marian “Mimi” Dolphin; daughter Tracey Arasimowicz (Edward), of Fort Myers, Florida; son Todd Dolphin (Kristy), Odessa, Florida; sister Judy Ryan, Lenox, Massachusetts; four grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Buddy.

Services for Dolphin will be held on Saturday at the Dery Funeral Home in Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to the Berkshire Humane Society.

Omni Handling Prepares To Expand in Portugal and Spain

Slot restrictions at the main airport serving the Portuguese capital Lisbon have prompted FBO group Omni Handling to expand in other parts of the country. Within the next two or three months, Omni is preparing to open new facilities at Funchal on the island of Madeira and also at Santa Maria in the Azores. Meanwhile, it is seeking to make use of Beja Airport, which is 90 miles from the center of Lisbon and has an 11,319-foot runway.

Plans to build a new main airport for Lisbon at Motijo, which is a 15-minute drive to downtown, have been delayed for various reasons and are now expected to take several more years to complete. In addition to Beja, Cascais Airport,  with its 4,539-foot runway is another option for smaller business aircraft.

In December 2018, Omni Handling was acquired by undisclosed new owners and since then has been pursuing a new development strategy supported by fresh investment. According to Omni Handling CEO Ricardo Pereira, these may also include establishing new operations in neighboring Spain.

APS Adds UPRT Course for Av Inspectors, Regulators

Aviation Performance Solutions (APS), which has been providing pilots with upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) since 1996, has added a training course designed specifically for aviation safety inspectors and regulatory authorities. The company cited growing demand from regulatory authorities needing to understand the proper implementation of a safe and effective on-aircraft and simulator-based UPRT to overcome aviation’s number one cause of fatal accidents: loss of control in-flight (LOC-I).

Since UPRT is now being mandated for airline pilots worldwide, regulators and inspectors must gain a thorough understanding of proven UPRT solutions to effectively evaluate and offer corrective guidance to airlines and flight schools beginning to implement UPRT. According to APS, “The APS NAA UPRT course immerses participants in a fully developed, proven-effective and comprehensive UPRT program that spans the spectrum of career-long UPRT implementation while adhering to all regulatory standards and requirements, as well as proven best practices for safe and successful upset training.”

Regulatory authorities are offered hands-on training allowing them to directly observe and experience the critical factors of an integrated regulatory-compliant UPRT course. One of the most important aspects of this new training program is that it allows NAA inspectors and auditors to gain a comprehensive perspective of the key safety concerns inherent in providing and administering UPRT programs. Participants in the APS Aviation Inspector/Regulator UPRT program experience firsthand the operational controls and processes necessary to ensure that a UPRT is delivered safely, but also mitigates the dangers of negative training.

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