Orders Race In for Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition

Customers in Latin America, North America, and Asia-Pacific have signed firm contracts for the Aston Martin edition of the Airbus Helicopters H130 (née EC130T2), Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) announced today. Launched in January, the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition features interior and exterior designs created by the luxury automaker.

An existing Airbus customer in New Zealand has ordered the first example in the Asia-Pacific region for private use and VIP charter. Meanwhile, in Latin America, an ACH130 Aston Martin edition has just entered service with its undisclosed customer in Guatemala. A third, specially outfitted ACH130 for an undisclosed private customer in Canada is now in completions at Airbus’s facility in the UK.

Aeronautical designers at Airbus Corporate Helicopters and the automotive designers at Aston Martin have worked together closely for over a year to bring a new level of aesthetics and attention to detail to the single-engine helicopter model. “We are delighted with the market reaction to this superb new helicopter,” said Airbus Corporate Helicopters head Frédéric Lemos. “These orders across the world clearly demonstrate the excitement generated by our collaboration with Aston Martin.”

WingX: Bizjet Activity Reaches 85 Percent of Last Year

Aviation analyst and data research specialist WingX is seeing global business jet activity settle at about 85 percent of what it was a year ago. The figure translates into about 50,000 fewer business jet sectors since the beginning of September, WingX reported today.

Including turboprops during that same period, business aviation flight hours declined 18 percent year-over-year, with a little more than 550,000 hours logged. However, that is still a marked improvement from scheduled airline activity, which is still down about 50 percent. Cargo operations, meanwhile, are trending worldwide at about 95 percent of 2019 activity.

About 90 percent of all business jet sectors over the past six weeks have occurred in North America and Europe. But those markets are still about 20 percent down in flight hours. Including turboprops, Europe is faring better with an 11 percent decline in flights, compared with the 19 percent decline in North America. In Asia, business jet activity has rebounded to more than 90 percent of typical activity, although flight hours are down 28 percent. That indicates inter-region connections remain quiet, WingX said. The number of sectors has risen year-over-year in South America, Oceania, and Africa in the past four weeks.

Flight activity is increasing in the U.S. as is typical for this time a year, with the recent seven-day rolling trends reaching their highest point since mid-March.

FAA Continues Extension, Expansion of Covid Relief

Recognizing the ongoing difficulties associated with operating in the Covid-19 environment, the FAA is continuing to extend and expand relief requested from numerous groups for a range of deadlines ranging from renewal times to training mandates. Some of the recent major actions include the release of special federal aviation regulation (SFAR 118-2), a comprehensive package that builds on two earlier versions to provide relief from certain training, recency, testing, checking, medical duration and renewals, and student pilot certificate requirements, among other areas.

SFAR 118-2 expands the relief to additional pilots and other persons who are now coming up on their renewal and other deadlines. However, other than certain specific medical certification requirements, the latest version generally does not extend relief for those covered under the original SFAR 118 and SFAR 118-1.

In addition to SFAR 118-2, the agency also recently granted a request from NATA for an extension of exemptions from certain Part 135 crew training and checking requirements. The latest extension provides an additional one to two grace months for Part 135 pilots to meet certain training and qualification requirements that were due through Dec. 31, 2020.

Shell Signs SAF Agreement with New Production Plant

Shell Aviation has agreed on a purchase agreement for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Colorado-based Red Rock Biofuels. Red Rock expects its biorefinery under construction in Lakeview, Oregon—which will be the first commercial-scale plant to use woody biomass as a feedstock—will begin operation in the second quarter of 2021. It will have the initial capacity to turn approximately 166,000 dry tons of waste woody biomass into 16.1 million gallons per year of low-carbon, renewable jet and diesel fuels.

“This has been one of the most devastating wildfire seasons on record,” said Red Rock CEO Terry Kulesa. “One of the many potential benefits of the plant is to reduce  the waste woody biomass lying on the forest floor, which may help mitigate the spread of wildfires.”

Shell will act as the distributor for the renewable fuel, lending its technical and commercial expertise, as well as its global supply chain. SAF usage is considered one of the major pillars necessary for aviation to reach its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“To enable SAF to fulfill its potential, we need to be proactive and resolute in finding opportunities to increase availability of SAF today and tomorrow,” said Anna Mascolo, president of Shell’s global aviation division. “Increasing SAF is dependent on collaboration across the whole value chain.”

Aero Asset: Medium Helo Inventory Explodes

While used helicopter sales showed modest improvement from the second to third quarter, nearly $1 billion worth of used rotorcraft remain on the market, with a large increase in the inventory of medium twins. That’s the latest analysis from Toronto-based helicopter consultancy Aero Asset.

The firm found that retail sales volume in the third quarter increased 40 percent quarter-over-quarter, but that was still down 17 percent from the 2019 quarterly average. Meanwhile, supply for sale increased 8 percent compared with the second quarter and 13 percent from the 2019 quarterly average. The deal pipeline contracted 30 percent versus the second quarter and was 60 percent smaller than third-quarter 2019. Retail sales in the light twin market increased by 75 percent in the third quarter versus the second quarter, but the preowned supply remained stable. 

Light twins are proving to be the most liquid category, with the Leonardo A109E and Bell 429 posting absorption rates of one year or less. But move up in weight class and problems emerge—supply in the medium twin market increased by 45 percent and retail sales decreased by 33 percent in the third quarter versus the second quarter.

World Fuel Adds Four Network FBOs

World Fuel Services has welcomed four new locations to its branded dealer network, bolstering its presence along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and the Great Plains.

Beach Aviation Services operates three FBOs in South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), Grand Strand Airport (CRE), and the smaller Conway-Horry County Airport. It is the lone service provider at all three gateways, which are located along the 60-mile stretch of picturesque coastline known as the Grand Strand, and offers complete aircraft services with NATA Safety 1st-certified staff.

“From our modern facilities to our dedicated team members, customers can expect a world-class experience when traveling through Beach Aviation Services,” said Scott Van Moppes, Horry County’s director of airports. “We look forward to our new relationship with World Fuel Services and the continued success of MYR and CRE as the premier general aviation gateways to coastal South Carolina.”

At South Dakota’s Huron Regional Airport, Fly Jet Center is also the sole FBO on the field, specializing in quick turns. The facility offers a passenger lounge, flight planning area, eight-seat conference room, pilots lounge, heated 11,000-sq-ft hangar, and an FAA Part 145 repair station.

“These new locations will provide our flight department customers with exceptional facilities and customer service for anyone traveling to these regions,” said Steve Dryzmalla, the fuel provider’s senior v-p for business aviation bulk fuel.

LGBTQ Aviation Org Calls For More Diversity Training

The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is using the backdrop of National Diversity Week this week to call for continued and expanded training in diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Whether it's combating racism, gender stereotypes, or homophobia and transphobia, we believe in the importance and value of diversity, equity, and inclusion training that benefits everyone,” said the group in a statement.

Through its Inclusion Training Team, NGPA has conducted numerous workshops and classes for employee unions, airline leaders, and on aviation university campuses. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion training has come a long way over the decades,” said NGPA co-chair Steve Tustin. “At the NGPA we focus on promoting an inclusive environment for everyone throughout Inclusion Training Teams and focus on the benefits that diversity brings to aviation.”

Established in 1990, NGPA is an international organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer aviation enthusiasts and professionals that provides education, outreach programs, and events aimed at encouraging LGBTQ people to begin aviation careers. It also seeks to foster equal treatment of LGBTQ persons through advocacy and outreach, as well as promote aviation safety and provide a social and professional network for its members.

XO Aims To Give Artists Boost During Pandemic

On-demand charter provider XO has launched a program to expose chefs, musicians, and authors to its membership base as a means “to build their reputations and prepare for a post-pandemic future.” Called “Heights of Talent,” the program begins with a call for submissions from chefs of their recipes and entrees that XO’s hospitality experts will judge.

The program supports artists whose work and careers were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “We are thrilled to announce our new Heights of Talent competition that will bring recognition and much-needed exposure to creative individuals in music, the culinary arts, and literature after a challenging year,” said XO’s marketing leader, Amanda Cohen. “The program reflects the values of XO and our parent company, Vista Global, as we extend our commitment to ‘New Heights’ where creative talent can gain exposure and notability in our flying community.”

Submissions for “New Culinary Heights” are open until October 21. Three winners will prepare their winning entrees aboard a selected XO flight and will feature in its press materials and social media channels. New contests will be held every other month.

Webinar: Making Bizav Environmentally Sustainable

Making aviation environmentally sustainable is now a business opportunity, as much as an unavoidable imperative. Social, political, and market pressures are converging to provide fresh impetus for business aviation to reduce its environmental footprint. Our webinar will consider the key paths to cutting carbon emissions, including new fuels, as well as other efficiencies within the industry’s operations. Join us on October 15 at 1:30 p.m. EDT as AIN senior editor Charles Alcock moderates this discussion with Keith R. Sawyer, manager of alternative fuels at Avfuel.

Case Builds for Hydrogen-powered Aircraft

The high-profile backing of Airbus with the announcement of its new ZeroE project to get a hydrogen-powered airliner into service by 2035 has raised the profile of this carbon-free alternative to jet fuel. But other pioneers, including ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen, are advancing different approaches, such as converting existing aircraft to run on hydrogen and these might make it to market around 10 years earlier.