Rolls-Royce and its partners have run a Pearl 700—the turbofan engine that powers the Gulfstream G700—on 100 percent hydrogen fuel as part of longer-term work to develop a hydrogen combustion engine for narrowbody airliners by the mid-2030s. Working with the UK’s Loughborough University and German aerospace research agency DLR, the aero engines group said tests on a full annular combustor proved that hydrogen can produce maximum takeoff thrust.

According to Rolls-Royce, the breakthrough is based on new fuel spray nozzles that control the combustion process. “This involved overcoming significant engineering challenges as hydrogen burns far hotter and more rapidly than kerosene,” the company explained in a statement issued on Monday. “The new nozzles were able to control the flame position using a system that progressively mixes air with the hydrogen to maximize the fuel’s reactivity.”

“This is an incredible achievement in a short space of time,” said Rolls-Royce chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini. “Controlling the combustion process is one of the key technology challenges the industry faces in making hydrogen a real aviation fuel of the future.”

The next step for the partners is to incorporate the learnings from both sets of tests to develop a full gas hydrogen ground test on a Pearl engine. Beyond that, they intend to conduct ground tests on the same type of turbofan using liquid hydrogen.

Jet East has obtained Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency authorization, the Solon, Ohio-based business aircraft MRO company said. The approval allows Jet East to perform maintenance services on Mexico-registered aircraft at its facilities in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Dallas.

The locations of Jet East’s MRO operations align perfectly with the demand for aircraft maintenance near Mexico, said the company, adding, “These geographical advantages enable Jet East to provide prompt and reliable maintenance services to customers from Mexico, ensuring minimal downtime for their aircraft.”

Monterrey, Mexico's second-largest aviation hub lies 575 miles from Jet East's Dallas facility, while Toluca, another prominent aviation center, sits in relatively close proximity to the company’s facilities in Texas and Florida.

“We are thrilled to have obtained the Mexican authorization, which strengthens our position as a leading provider of aircraft maintenance services," said Jet East international sales director Ozzy Torres. “We look forward to welcoming customers from Mexico so they have the opportunity to experience the Jet East difference as they entrust us with their aircraft maintenance needs."

Apart from Dallas and West Palm Beach, Jet East also operates maintenance hangars in Millville, New Jersey; Statesville, North Carolina; and Solon.

The Greater Wichita Partnership will promote the Air Capital of the World at the upcoming 2023 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). The convention is slated for October 17 to 19 in Las Vegas.

NBAA-BACE will serve as a platform for showcasing the Greater Wichita region’s advanced aviation capabilities and its network of more than 450 suppliers. The event is expected to draw more than 20,000 industry professionals, aircraft owners, manufacturers, and customers. The Greater Wichita region holds the distinction of being the top manufacturing metro in the U.S., accounting for 35 percent of all general aviation aircraft production in the country.

Textron Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, and other employers from the region will maintain a significant presence at NBAA-BACE this year. Their participation underscores the critical role Wichita plays in the national aviation landscape.

The Greater Wichita Partnership, a consistent exhibitor at NBAA-BACE since 2005, will spearhead a delegation of 14 local companies and organizations integral to the region’s dynamic aviation ecosystem. Among these are Aerospace Systems & Components, NIAR, Aircraft Covers Unlimited, Ortega Aviation Services, Aviation Consulting & Engineering Solutions, Park Aerospace, Bodycote, Pinnacle Aerospace, Mid-Continent Aviation Services, and Southwind Global Aviation.

A report released on Monday by maintenance group AAR warns that the aircraft mechanic shortage has reached a critical point and urges employers to “break down silos” and collaborate with high schools, colleges, nonprofit groups, and elected officials to expand early access to aviation maintenance curriculum and training.

Discussing ways to close the so-called "mid-skills gap," the report includes case studies and addresses opportunities to attract talent under the updated FAA Part 147. The regulation removes a seat time requirement that measures competency based on hours and paves the way for more collaboration and additional training locations.

Chicago-headquartered AAR partnered with nonprofit Choose Aerospace to release a general aviation curriculum based upon the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards into high schools and colleges. The report recommends the agency further update regulations to allow AMT candidates who complete a general aviation curriculum in high school to take the FAA general exam, one of the written tests needed to become certified. It also calls on lawmakers to pass immigration policies that allow aviation companies to recruit talent from abroad to meet demand.

“We have the facilities to grow. We just need the talent,” said Ryan Goertzen, AAR’s v-p of workforce development. “Companies that invest in training must look to solve the issue not only for themselves but for the industry.”

AEG Fuels can now help clients obtain landing permits instantly for Dubai’s two major airports—Dubai International (OMDB) and Al Maktoum International (OMDW)—following official registration with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority as a local trip-support provider. The streamlined landing permit process for OMDB and OMDW is much faster than the typical two to three days required when not dealing with a locally registered provider, according to AEG.

The jet fuel marketer and aircraft trip-support provider can facilitate travel at more than 3,000 locations and is open 24/7. AEG also has obtained expedited approval capability with other countries in the Middle East, and it partners with Boeing’s Jeppesen unit to keep track of worldwide information related to business aircraft travel.

“This allows us to offer tailored solutions to clients for all their trip requirements and provide a seamless experience wherever their travel takes them,” said Issa Zuriqi, AEG's director of sales and business development for the Middle East and Africa. “This latest achievement is a great asset operationally for our customers coming into Dubai. We know that time is critical in the aviation industry and having shorter wait times and a streamlined process when traveling to and through the UAE is a huge benefit to operators.”

Hundreds of representatives from member companies of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) will descend on the NBAA-BACE show, a day after they attend the group’s annual fall meeting in Las Vegas on October 16.

IADA will share a booth with 28 IADA-accredited dealers and 22 IADA-verified products and services members. Meanwhile, seven IADA manufacturer members and two dealers will be showcasing their own preowned aircraft displays. Six dealers will occupy their own indoor exhibits, along with 26 IADA-verified products and services members.

"Our aircraft dealers, who currently dominate the resale industry with an impressive 50 percent market share and annual sales amounting to over $11 billion, are eagerly looking forward to another vibrant NBAA-BACE experience in Las Vegas," said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “Additionally, we will issue our association's insightful Third Quarter Market Report during the convention,” he added.

The quarterly IADA Market Report covers IADA-accredited dealers’ perceptions about the marketplace taken from its survey of IADA members and sales data reported monthly by IADA dealers.

IADA's dealers consist of the top 17 percent of the world's experts who handle 50 percent of used business aircraft sales. IADA-accredited dealers buy and sell more aircraft by dollar volume than the rest of the world’s dealers combined, averaging more than 1,300 transactions and $11.8 billion in volume per year.

Yingling Aviation expects to complete its second major expansion project this year—the 14th building at its facility at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport—by January, the company said today. Following a “significant” renovation, the 17,000-sq-ft warehouse will increase Yingling’s total facility space to more than 320,000 sq ft.

As a result of the expansion, Yingling has begun hiring more than 80 new employees—specifically A&P mechanics, sheet metal technicians, avionics technicians, and program managers. The company will use this facility for sheet metal repair for flight control surfaces, major structural components, precision cutting on avionics panels, modification, and other services. Yingling added its 13th hangar at the airport in January.

“We’re excited to see Yingling grow and are happy to partner with them on necessary property improvements,” said Wichita Airport Authority director of airports Jesse Romo. “They’ve made great investments at the airport and continue to develop jobs along the way. This is a win-win situation that’s good for both the airport and for the community.”

According to Yingling president Andrew Nichols, the company’s growth shows no signs of slowing. “For our community, customers, vendors, and potential employees, we are looking forward to announcing more exciting news in the coming months,” he said. “The momentum is there, and we are not slowing down. There is more to come.”

This year's edition of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association’s (TBMOPA) annual convention broke an attendance record, with 323 attendees descending on the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs earlier this month. Also, the ramp at TBM-authorized dealer Cutter Aviation at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS) was packed with nearly 90 TBMs, representing the full line of the turboprop single, from the original TBM 700 to the latest TBM 960 model.

Four days of educational sessions focused on flight operations, best practices, expert briefings, and refresher courses, as well as many networking opportunities. Airframer Daher continued its support for the event, sending a team led by Nicolas Chabbert, the senior v-p of its aircraft division, and Raphael Maitre, the v-p of customer support.

“TBMOPA’s annual convention is one of the priority gatherings for Daher each year, providing a unique opportunity to bring together customers, suppliers, and our network of authorized service centers,” said Chabbert. “TBMOPA has always put the emphasis on flight safety, and I want to particularly recognize the association’s emphasis on this important topic during the past 12 months through an even more comprehensive program under the leadership of chairman Andrew Cragg.”