EBACE Convention News 2024

SAF SUPPLY GROWS AT SNAIL’S PACE

By Curt Epstein

Apparent slow progress in boosting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplies continues to cast doubt as to whether the industry can meet the requirements of legally-binding European Union decarbonization mandates. Yesterday at EBACE, a panel discussion dedicated to the topic featured experts from Air bp, Signature Aviation, World Fuel Services, and VistaJet. They explored the entire SAF ecosystem and whether it is fit to meet net-zero commitments.

A year ago, the European Parliament and European Council reached an agreement on the ReFuelEU proposal that calls for the scaling up of the use of blended SAF starting next year. “It is a fuel supplier mandate to provide a 2% blend—beginning in 2025—of the aviation fuel that is consumed in Europe [having] a SAF component, and that ramps up through 2050 to 70%,” Keith Sawyer, Avfuel’s manager of alternative fuels, told AIN. But the exact qualifying blend ratio had yet to be determined, he added.

A similar proposal in the UK also starting early next year would set a 10% blend requirement by 2030, with a SAF usage mandate to begin in 2025 as well. Mandates on SAF use are currently in the books in Norway, Sweden, and France.

Worldwide SAF production currently equates to less than 1% of jet fuel consumption, with the vast majority of all SAF produced coming via the HEFA production pathway—synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from used cooking oils, fats, and greases. Although it is considered a first-generation SAF, some worry that there is simply not enough HEFA feedstock available.

“You have a number of players out there that are still going to be increasing the production of HEFA SAF from fats, oils, and greases, but we think that is nowhere what it’s going to take,” stated Avfuel executive v-p C.R. Sincock. “Can that take us from the sub-1% level that we are at today to 5%, 10%? Possibly, but I don’t think anybody would tell you that it’s going to take us up to 50% or even close to that.”

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COMPLETIONS

Citadel gets gulf coastal expansion Company signs lease on 10,000-sq-ft Louisiana facility | 09

FBO

‘Pearl’ in the oyster? Menzies moves ahead with its new FBO and private aviation handling venture | 12

TECH

EASy suite goes hard System provides basis for the Falcon 10X flight deck | 16

LGBTQ+

NGPA: We belong here

The National Gay Pilots Association and its affiliates make their case for pride | 18

Tecnam STOL gets OK for steep approaches

By Kerry Lynch

Tecnam’s P2012 STOL piston twin received EASA approval for steep approaches of up to 10 degrees, the company announced on Tuesday. The aircraft was designed for short takeoff and landing operations, Tecnam noted, calling the steep approach nod a significant endorsement of its design that expands the aircraft’s operability.

“With its impressive short field performance and now 10-degree approach certification, there is no inaccessible runway for the latest P2012 STOL,” said Francesco Sferra, Tecnam P2012 special mission platforms sales and business development manager.

With the aircraft’s ability to reach difficult locations, the market is “growing quite a lot,” said Pasquale De Rosa, marketing manager, adding a range of customers from small charters to medevacs.

The STOL is one of four versions of the P2012 offered to fit a range of missions. The Traveller passenger version is its top seller, with Cape Air in the U.S. ordering more than 100. The Traveller is drawing a lot of interest in Europe, particularly in Northern Europe.

Outside of Europe and North America, it is drawing interest in areas such as the Caribbean, Asia, and Australia. “The presence is quite spread all over the globe,” he said.

The model has reached S/N 80, but Tecnam still has a lengthy backlog, he said. Tecnam brought the P2012 to the static display this week at EBACE, and De Rosa said the company has designed a corporate version that would fit the market.

Tecnam’s P2012 STOL is the only twin-piston aircraft with such capabilities that complies with the latest certification amendments, it said. The 11-seat aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 3,680 kilograms (8,113 pounds) and a useful load of 1,191 kilograms (2,626 pounds).

Tecnam designed the P2012 with a single access door to ease access to the cabin. A central aisle enables each individual passenger seat to have a dedicated window. The cabin is equipped with amenities such as dual USB ports, air conditioning, reading lights, seat pockets, and cup and mobile phone holders.

The multi-mission aircraft was designed with a kit that enables quick conversion from passenger to cargo, combi, or air ambulance configuration. z

Italy’s SEA Prime incentivizes SAF

SEA Prime has introduced what it believes is the first-of-its-kind program to incentivize business aviation customers to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company, which operates the general aviation infrastructure at Milan Malpensa and Linate airports under the Milano Prime brand, has allocated €50,000 this year to partially reimburse customers to uplift the higher-cost SAF-blend fuel. These refunds are calculated at a rate of about half of the cost of the SAF component in the blend.

“Our new SAF program, the first of its kind in Europe, represents tangible support for the industry’s path towards decarbonization,” said SEA Prime CEO Chiara Dorigotti. “ENI has confirmed availability of the SAF for our customers both at Linate and Malpensa—it’s already available.”

In preparation for an influx of private aviation trafc for the 2026 Cortina Winter Olympic Games, SEA Prime plans to expand the terminal at Linate by 2,000 sq m (21,500 sq ft). That would essentially double the size of the building, which is home to four ground-handling providers: AviaVIP, Sky Services, Signature Aviation, and Universal Aviation.

The €10 million project will include remodeling of the air- and landside facades of the outside of the building, and a reorganization of the interior layout to enhance passenger movement. Dedicated doors for staf will ensure privacy and efciency of service.

Sustainability will be a key feature of the redesign, with solar panels on the roof for energy generation, energyefcient heating and air conditioning, and rainwater harvesting systems.

“The key objective of the terminal expansion is to create a modern, sustainable terminal that meets clients’ demands while respecting its natural surroundings, embodying principles of environmental responsibility and innovation,” Dorigotti explained. C.E.

DAVID M c INTOSH

The P2012 Traveller passenger version

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Upgraded Pilatus PC-24 makes EBACE debut

By Kerry Lynch

Pilatus Aircraft is marking the EBACE debut of its recently upgraded PC-24. Unveiled just before NBAA-BACE in October, the upgrades include a 600-pound increase in payload, boosting range to 2,040 nm, and a new side-facing divan that can convert into a bed.

Payload was boosted with refinements in the wing and fuselage structural elements, which reduced empty weight and increased the maximum gross takeoff weight limit. Weight was reduced by 300 kilograms (660 pounds), “which means a lot more range,” said Ursula Widmer, marketing manager at the Swiss airframer. In addition, storage space was optimized.

The changes, she added, open more options for operators, reaching farther distances and also more easily accommodates six people with

luggage. This is attracting interest from a range of customers, including the charter market.

Pilatus began delivery of the upgraded model earlier this year and showcased it in April at the Aero Friedrichshafen general aviation show in Germany.

Most of the upgrades have been certified, said Widmer. The divan is approved for two places, but work for three is still ongoing, she said. Widmer added that the divan option has proven popular, exceeding the company’s expectations.

Along with the PC-24 twinjet, Pilatus brought its PC-12NGX turboprop single to the EBACE static display. “Both are doing really well,” Widmer said, noting that the backlog has grown for each model. “If you want to order an aircraft now, it takes around about two years until we can give you one.” z

High Tech Finishing sparkles at EBACE 2024

Houston-based High Tech Finishing is hoping to make its finishing products shine this week at EBACE 2024. The plating company flaunts more than 130 diferent finishing options and custom color-matching for interiors.

National sales manager Amanda Gilley Taylor told AIN that its appearance at EBACE follows the company’s 40th anniversary. “We also have a brand-new sample book. We’ve really enhanced our marketing,” she said.

Fiber Seal: Ready to clean up your aircraft

By Curt Epstein

Among the first-time exhibitors at EBACE this year is a company that already has three decades of experience behind it. Specializing in largecabin aircraft interior cleaning and restoration, Basel-based Fiber Seal Aircraft Services provides a range of services ranging from carpet/textile cleaning to leather touch-up and repainting.

It has handled anything from Boeing 747s to helicopters. Depending on the level of cleaning required by the customer, a job can take from half a day to a month. Initial spot cleaning can remove major stains, followed by deep cleaning extractions. Available are anti-stain, anti-static, and fire-blocking renewal treatments. Fiber Seal averages five or six jobs a week, and among the worst offenders they have encountered are curry stains, blood dripping from hunting trophies, and bathroom accidents.

While the company’s staff of five operates from a workshop at the Jet Aviation Basel MRO with access to the company’s hangars, it provides cleaning services at airports throughout Switzerland and can travel to Germany and the Netherlands. As a recognized name in the aviation textile industry, it has received requests from as far away as Singapore and Azerbaijan, said CEO Adrian Loretz, who purchased the company from its original owners a year ago.

He is looking to expand the business, possibly opening a new workshop in Nice, France, with Asia and the Middle East looming as future areas of interest.

S.R.

“We also have a new plating line, which is very unique to come out with [one] as there’s only a finite number of elements that can be used to come up with finishes,” Taylor noted. According to Taylor, the company’s focus is to continue getting their brand in front of show attendees. “We’re getting walkthrough trafc,” she said, “using it as an opportunity to just speak with other people in the industry.”

Among the company’s popular products is an emergency kit for instant onboard cleaning, with products to handle the most common stains, as well as a trio of leather care products to clean and protect areas such as seats, sofas, and wall panels.

DAVID M c INTOSH

PC-24 gets increased payload and range

UAE bizav growth boosting MEBAA show

By Kerry Lynch

The Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association is gearing up for the MEBAA Show 2024 from December 10 to 12 at Dubai World Central against a backdrop of a record-breaking year for the Emirate’s business aviation sector, the association said.

Business jet movements at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South increased by 8% year-over-year in 2023, reaching its highest level since the airport opened in 2010. In addition, that momentum has continued, with more than 4,600 movements in the first quarter.

Helping to fuel this growth is a 78% jump in

the number of millionaires in Dubai between 2013 and 2023.

MEBAA organizers said the 10th edition of the show this year is poised for significant growth in the number of exhibitors. Some 80% of previous exhibitors have already signed on to return, with new companies signing on as well. The latter group includes French regional airline Amelia (by Regourd Aviation); Mukamalah Aviation, a spin-off from Saudi; SKYNA, a

The Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association’s 2024 show will take place from December 10 to 12 at Dubai World Central.

new Riyadh-based private aviation platform; and MySky, an AI-powered spend management platform.

Greenpoint Technologies is also returning after a brief hiatus. “MEBAA presents an excellent opportunity for exchanging insights, exploring emerging technology, and uncovering trends that will shape the future of aviation,” said Bret Neely, v-p of sales and design at Greenpoint Technologies. z

IBAC gives guidance on ETS & CORSIA

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has developed a guide and is planning a webinar to help clear up confusion surrounding compliance with the European Trading Systems (ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Released this week during EBACE 2024, the guide, “Aiming for ETS & CORSIA Compliance,” guides compliance with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), its Swiss and UK counterparts, and CORSIA.

To be held June 26, the free webinar will provide an overview of the highlights of the guide and will detail scenarios that operators have encountered.

“ETS and CORSIA requirements are complex and still evolving,” said Claude Hurley,

IBAC director of environment and flight operations. “Our goal with this guide was to help business aircraft operators gain a better understanding of the potential impact of these schemes on their flight operations.”

Collaborating with IBAC on the guide was Martina Becher, ETS & More consultant.

“Having been involved in ETS compliance since 2009, observing the continuous increase of complexity linked to those regulations, we have strived to filter all the relevant information into one concise guidance document to serve as a main reference for aircraft operators globally,” Becher said.

She noted that, given that the regulations evolve, having a comprehensive document would be difficult. However, Becher maintained that the guide “will help operators determine

what to consider regarding these schemes and provide useful links to additional information and contact details for further advice.”

Hurley added, “Our role is really to help facilitate an introduction to the topic for the business aviation community as a whole.”

He noted that IBAC has received feedback from operators that it has been hard to understand whether or not they are captured by the different programs at all. However, Hurley said, “For regulators, ignorance of the law is not necessarily an excuse for not following the law and that’s the same in or outside of aviation. And so this is essentially a campaign to bring awareness to our community.”

One of the key items within the guide is a decision tree meant as an initial step on whether an operator is captured by the programs. K.L.

DAVID M c INTOSH

Busy times for AMAC Aerospace

By David Donald

AMAC Aerospace at Basel, Switzerland, is enjoying a bustling time in terms of widebody aircraft checks and MRO work. This month, five slots have been occupied with heavy business jets, comprising a VIP Boeing 747-8 undergoing a C-check and other annual inspections, a head-of-state Airbus A330-200 and another, from a private owner having a landing gear change, and an Airbus A350 undergoing a VVIP completion.

In June, a head-of-state Boeing 777-300ER

is slated to arrive for a two-week landing gear replacement, while AMAC has also signed a contract for the major check and upgrade of a head-of-state Boeing 747-8. Part of the work will be the replacement of medical equipment within its onboard surgery suite.

The majority of the owners of these aircraft are taking advantage of AMAC’s one-stop-shop

Air Corporate opts for more Airbus helos

Airbus Corporate Helicopters is presenting the ACH160 Line Lounge configuration at its booth at EBACE 2024. The helicopter on display is the first of five ACH160s manufactured for Air Corporate. The Italian operator placed an order for 43 of the rotorcraft at EBACE 2023. “Air Corporate has renewed its trust in the 160 by signing additional aircraft,” remarked Frederic Lemos, head of ACH, during a presentation on Tuesday. Lemos added that Air Corporate contributed to the process of designing the aircraft to meet its needs, calling this version “the best blend in terms of mission efciency, comfort, and value retention.” Paolo Serini, CEO of Air Corporate, spoke about the company’s selection of the ACH160, saying that the helicopter was chosen because of its speed, light weight, and passenger comfort. Alexandre Ceccacci —general manager of Airbus Helicopters in Italy—also announced the signature of two additional ACH145s at the event. J.R.

This VIP Boeing 747-8 is currently undergoing a C-check at AMAC Aerospace’s facility in Basel, Switzerland.

approach, with cabin and system repairs and upgrades taking place alongside the scheduled maintenance work.

One of AMAC’s largest jobs of recent times is nearing completion with the end-of-lease redelivery of five Airbus A330s to the Royal Canadian Air Force, which is leasing them. The aircraft underwent C5 heavy checks and numerous inspections and repairs. They were also fully painted—three in military grey and two in a VVIP government scheme.

AMAC’s large Basel facility is not the only one with lots of work. Its installation in Bodrum, Turkey, has just landed an end-of-lease inspection covering seven Airbus A320-214 narrowbodies. Tasks include a range of inspections, including 12-year checks. Engines and cabins will be removed for detailed inspection and restoration, and wet areas will be rigorously examined. Work on the seven aircraft begins in July but is staggered to ensure a yearlong continuous workflow. The aircraft will be painted before going back to the customer.

AMAC Aerospace Turkey has also achieved a notable milestone by being approved for work on the Dassault Falcon 6X. The facility is no stranger to the Falcon family and has just completed a C-check and cabin interior upgrade on a Falcon 2000 Classic.

Away from AMAC Aerospace’s core MRO business, one of its subsidiaries—Gamit— has secured a 10-year contract for its Records Online Asset Management (ROAM) software by DRF Luftrettung. The new customer is one of Europe’s largest air rescue and helicopter emergency medical service organizations, operating from 30 locations across Germany. z

Citadel Completions expands in Louisiana

By Curt Epstein

Large business aircraft completions and MRO provider Citadel Completions has expanded its facility at Chennault International Airport (KCWF) in Lake Charles, Louisiana. There, the company has signed a three-year lease with the airport authority on an additional 10,000-sq-ft facility, one of the few remaining available structures on the field.

This will allow it to relocate its supply chain management and warehouse center, freeing up enough space in 115,200-sq-ft Hangar D to accommodate an additional maintenance bay suitable for narrowbody aircraft. “That brings in another A320, A319, or 737 and it has enough room for us to do more maintenance there, and

frankly meet the customer demands that we are seeing out there on the market,” explained

Neil Boyle, Citadel’s senior v-p and general manager, added that the company’s main focus is on private jet maintenance. “Because of the requests for so much maintenance on VIP business aircraft, and the outfitting and refurbs, we’ve decided it’s time to get the warehouse off the floor.” According to Boyle, the company’s backlog extends to mid-2025, despite running two shifts a day.

Citadel, which began operations six years ago, also operates the even larger Hangar H at KCWF with 118,000 sq ft of space, enough for a Boeing 777 and an Airbus A340, with room for several smaller aircraft. In anticipation of its increase in business resulting from the

expansion, it plans to hire 20 more employees.

“We stick with the Boeing and Airbus product right now and really focus on maintenance and re-completions,” Boyle told AIN. “There’s not a lot of maintenance facilities doing A340 maintenance, we’re very good at that, and for the [Boeing 777]. Anywhere from dropping the engines and gear changes, all of that very heavy maintenance. This crew is very proficient in turning that.”

Despite its U.S. location, a large portion of the company’s business comes from Europe and the Middle East, and Boyle is hoping to meet with many new and existing clients this week at EBACE. z

AIRCRAFT LIGHTING INT’L

SD expands options for connectivity

By Matt Thurber

The FAA has granted supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for installation of Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple Ka-band tail-mount antenna on Gulfstream’s G650. The satellite system and service provider also announced that it will begin flight testing a phased-array electronically steered antenna (ESA) operating on the Eutelsat OneWeb low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite network in August.

Avcon Jet will be the launch customer for the Plane Simple ESA installation and plans to equip multiple aircraft in its fleet for the OneWeb service.

“Our market has been 3,000-nautical-mile-plus aircraft,” said Satcom Direct president Chris Moore. These aircraft are large enough to accommodate a tail-mounted antenna such as Satcom Direct’s 12-inch Plane Simple mechanically steered antenna, which

is manufactured by QEST. “Our phased-array antenna enables us to sell a different type of service,” he said.

Satcom Direct also offers geostationary earth orbit (GEO) Ku-band satcom service with Intelsat FlexExec airtime, as well as Viasat Ka-band satcom, each using a dedicated Plane Simple tail-mount antenna to provide a dual-dissimilar-band system.

“Having GEO [satcom] on the tail and LEO on the fuselage makes a lot of sense,” Moore said.

Passengers expect to have full connectivity while flying long legs on ultra-long-range business jets, and Satcom Direct can fulfill that need with three systems managed by its router. “Everyone else is selling a proprietary solution that just does one thing. This gives the customer a choice.”

The Plane Simple ESA, made by Gilat Satellite

Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple Ka-band tailmount antenna is now certified for installation on Gulfstream’s G650.

Networks, measures 16 by 35 inches, is just three inches tall, and can fit on smaller aircraft such as the HondaJet and single-engine turboprops. A Satcom Direct modem unit is also required.

Flight testing will be done on a Cessna CitationJet and a Caravan, and Satcom Direct expects to switch on its OneWeb LEO service in the first quarter of 2025. Plans call to add STCs for a variety of airplanes, including Gulfstreams, Embraer Phenom 300s, Bombardier jets, and others. “We’ve already got a backlog of orders,” Moore said.

To make the OneWeb service attractive, Satcom Direct plans to offer various packages such as a three-year hardware service bundle for $15,000 per month that includes all of the equipment and unlimited service. OneWeb service offers up to 195 Mbps downloads and 36 Mbps uploads. z

AviaVIP adds Omega Aviation to European FBO network

European FBO network AviaVIP has acquired Bulgarian business aviation handler Omega Aviation. Omega provides exclusive private aircraft handling and crew lounge services with an FBO at Sofia Airport (LBSF), as well as VIP handling at Varna (LBWN), Burgas (LBBG), Plovdiv (LBPD), and Gorna Oryahovitsa (LBGO). The move brings the AviaVIP brand—which was launched at EBACE last year—to 55 locations in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

“We are thrilled to welcome Omega Aviation to the AviaVIP family,” said Laurent Levaux, president of parent company Aviapartner Group, adding that the acquisition reflects its commitment to its clients. “We firmly believe that expanding in Bulgaria, based on our foundation of customer service excellence, is crucial in meeting the growing business aviation needs of the region.”

In conjunction with the acquisition, the company has completed its integration under the MyHandling software and now ofers a single, user-friendly interface for customer operations across its entire network.

“Traditional methods of communication such as emails and phone calls no longer sufce when it comes to communicating with FBOs,” said Luis Escribano, AviaVIP’s head of operations. “Our modern approach helps to minimize any risks associated with outdated methods.” Through the platform, he noted that the company’s operation team should experience a 20% to 40% reduction in workload when communicating with all the locations.

AviaVIP also recently completed a major renovation program that resulted in the complete refurbishment of 14 FBOs in Spain (Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Jerez, Alicante, Menorca, and Málaga); France (Nice, La Rochelle, and Marseille); and the Netherlands (Amsterdam). “Our objective is to renovate at least five new VIP infrastructures annually, ensuring that AviaVIP consistently enhances the quality of its services,” said Jerome Ferasin, the company’s chief strategy and sales ofcer. He added that upgrades are in store for its locations in Rome and Brussels later this year. C.E.

Microliner may get an aeromed redesign

By David Donald

Aero-Dienst is teaming with Munich-based Vaeridion to study an air ambulance version of the latter’s Microliner nine-seat electric-powered aircraft, as well as to develop a maintenance concept for the aircraft’s propulsion system and batteries. Aero-Dienst has an established maintenance network in Germany and Austria, in addition to being a major air ambulance operator.

The Microliner is a relatively conventional high-wing T-tail aircraft design. Its electric power unit comprises two or more batterydriven, isolated electric motors driving a single tractor propeller. The main benefit of this configuration is the robustness of the power

unit against motor failures. Vaeridion began functional validation tests of a two-engine system in April, and it is aiming to certify and deliver the aircraft by 2030.

Aero-Dienst and Vaeridion will jointly conduct a feasibility study of using the electric conventional takeoff/landing (eCTOL) aircraft for air ambulance operations. Aero-Dienst’s experiences in both aeromedical and maintenance sectors will be leveraged to design concepts for internal layouts, as well as study both operational and maintenance scenarios.

“With this cooperation agreement, we want to contribute to the further development of aviation and check the aspect of sustainability as an option for our ambulance fleet,” said

IBGAA conference moves to K-Club

The Irish Business and General Aviation Association is moving its annual business aviation and luxury tourism conference to the K-Club near Strafan in County Kildare. The luxury hotel and golf center became world-famous in 2006 when it hosted the Ryder Cup, with Europe enjoying victory for a third consecutive year.

“We have enjoyed a terrific two years at Adare Manor,” remarked Josh Stewart, IBGAA’s founding executive chairman, “but we thought it important to showcase to our industry other amazing venues that Ireland has to ofer.”

The IBGAA event will take place on November 14 and be expanded to include an afternoon gathering on the preceding day at Weston Airport with static displays of business aircraft, helicopters, and cars. The airfield is located in Dublin’s outer suburbs and is a 15-minute drive from the K-Club. A welcoming reception will be held there in the evening prior to the conference. Once again, Gulfstream Aerospace is the headline sponsor.

IBGAA, NBAA, and EBAA have been campaigning against a pro-

Aero-Dienst CEO Oliver Kosing. “The use of eCTOL ambulance aircraft would offer a tactical advantage for patient repatriations, as patients and med crew could be transported faster than with ground transportation in an ambulance, and emission-free.”

In the meantime, Aero-Dienst is expanding its maintenance services. From the end of June, the company’s Vienna facility will begin performing line maintenance on the Embraer Phenom 300. The Part 145-approved facility, which began operations in 2006, can perform scheduled and maintenance work up to 2,400-flight-hour and 48-month inspections. It also offers component, battery, and wheel maintenance, as well as 24/7 AOG service. z

K-Club near Straffan in County Kildare will host the IBGAA meeting.

posed ban on general aviation at Dublin’s international airport. Last month, the Irish Aviation Authority announced that there would be no caps on general aviation trafc for the 2024/25 season, despite a cap being put in place on commercial passenger trafc that limits the annual number to 32 million. Fewer than 18,000 GA passengers are handled at Dublin, although the business supports more than 2,000 jobs and contributes nearly a billion euros to the Irish economy. D.D.

The

Vaeridion’s Microliner, a nine-seat electric aircraft.

Worldwide airline ground handler

Menzies Aviation has formed the Pearl Executive Aviation FBO division, which boasts 40 locations in Europe and Africa.

Menzies launches Pearl FBO division

By Curt Epstein

Menzies Aviation, which provides ground handling for airlines at more than 250 airports around the world, has unveiled Pearl Executive Aviation, its new private aviation handling and FBO division.

Satcom

Forming the core of the FBO chain is Menzies’ purchase of Flystar Flight Support, a provider of business aviation services in the Balkans. Menzies also operates several FBOs in Africa and has a network of private aviation lounges at airports it services, all of which will be rebranded under the Pearl banner.

Direct intros monthly pricing plan as Plane Simple antenna testing continues

A new portfolio of pricing plans was launched by Satcom Direct this week at EBACE 2024. The plans cover the Plane Simple electronicallysteered antenna (ESA) family that is set to enter service early next year.

One of the plans is an industry-first offer that comprises 36 monthly payments of $15,000 and covers the ESA hardware and connection to the Eutelsat OneWeb low-earthorbit Ku-band satellite network that ofers 195 Mbps download and 36 Mbps upload speeds. No additional payment is required upfront.

The ESA is a low-profile system that permits owners of smaller aircraft to enjoy the benefits of high-spec connectivity. Many will do so for the first time, so the company ofers entry-into-service guidance, 24/7 customer support, and customized training.

“With our new plans, which are similar to the cellphone model many of us sub-

scribe to, we are changing the parameters for business and general aviation connectivity by providing a more transparent and easy-to-administer connectivity option,” said Satcom Direct president Chris Moore. “We know that smaller airframe owners are often more cost-conscious, run operations with just one or two aircraft, and need services requiring minimal administrative management, while larger aircraft operators constantly seek enhanced fiscal management solutions. With our monthly pricing models, we are addressing both requirements.”

Flight testing of the ESA is scheduled to begin in August as part of validation flights with the Cessna Caravan and Cessna Citation CJ1. Customers can easily equip or enhance existing satcom installations with the ESA terminal because the hardware comprises two line-replaceable units. D.D.

“We are offering fast-track and business-to-consumer services at airports generally, plus now Pearl Executive Aviation, which is targeting to serve our private aviation customers and selling fuel and providing services at airports in general for private jets that are arriving there,” said Philipp Joeinig, the group CEO of Menzies Aviation and chairman of Pearl.

“We are starting with 40 locations, and we are planning to increase that number by 50% over the course of the next 18 months.”

He told AIN this week at EBACE 2024 that the company has a list of 22 of its airports where it plans to open FBOs during that span. “We have some selected airports in Africa, we have some in Europe, and some in the UK where we are very strong already, and we have the option to have good facilities for our general aviation customers, pilots, and crew.”

Menzies has a presence in five Asian countries as well, and it will then turn its attention to that region. “Asia is the one that comes next after Europe and Africa, but it’s definitely on the radar,” said Joeinig. “At the end of the day, it is important that you can host both crew and passengers at an airport in your own lounge, in your own facility, and you can provide flight support like flight planning, fuel services, and ground handling. We are targeting to provide [these services] to our customers through Pearl Executive.”

General Aviation Services grows in Africa

By Curt Epstein

UK-based trip support provider General Aviation Services (G.A.S.) has expanded its footprint to include Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique, it announced this week at EBACE 2024.

The company—which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and marked its debut at EBACE last year—serves customers by providing permits and groundhandling solutions across the African continent, while offering reliable and cost-effective fuel options globally.

Its business clientele includes trip support

companies, aircraft charter and management operators, air ambulance, and cargo flights.

“EBACE provides an unparalleled platform for us to connect with our existing customers and forge new partnerships,” said founding director Mohammed Tewfik. “We are excited to showcase our expanded services and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to supporting our customers’ missions across Africa.”

The company now lists offices in London, Mwanza (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda), Moroni (Comoros), Maputo (Mozambique), Gaborone (Botswana), and Windhoek (Namibia). It works directly with the civil air authorities in

General Aviation Services announced this week that it has expanded its footprint to include Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique. Other offices are located in London, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Comoros.

all 54 African countries to arrange landing and overfly permits, and since 2020 it has arranged more than 12,000 such documents.

G.A.S. also announced its integration with Leon flight management software, allowing those customers to access its services directly through their flight management screen. This permits these customers to make immediate changes to flight plans, saving time and reducing logistical challenges.

“Our integration with Leon underscores [our] commitment to leveraging technology for the benefit of our customers, simplifying the mission planning process and ensuring efficiency,” said Tewfik. z

Viasat showcases innovations and industry partnerships

Viasat is emphasizing its commitment to enhancing connectivity solutions and strengthening partnerships within the business aviation sector this week at EBACE 2024. The company is celebrating the approval of Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple Ka-band tail mount terminal for the Gulfstream G650, a major milestone in the rollout of SD’s antenna series. This technology, compatible with Viasat’s next-generation GX satellites, ofers enhanced connectivity capabilities for business aviation.

Claudio D’Amico, business area global director at Viasat for EMEA and Asia, highlighted the terminal’s ability to support high-speed broadband for various in-flight applications. “These terminals will enable customers to take advantage of the full spectrum of the Inmarsat GX constellation,” he told AIN

D’Amico also discussed Viasat’s ongoing eforts to evolve its connectivity solutions, particularly for super-midsize jets such as the Embraer Praetor 600 and Gulfstream G280. The company’s strategy includes expanding coverage to the Middle East, South America, and

Hawaii by early next year. This expansion aligns with Viasat’s goal to meet the increasing range requirements of these airframes and deliver seamless connectivity on major routes.

Reflecting on the company’s achievements and future plans, D’Amico emphasized the importance of collaboration within the business aviation ecosystem. “Our ‘business aviation principles partner campaign’ is a way to thank the whole ecosystem for all the things we’ve done together and continue to do together and evolve,” he said.

With more than 5,000 jets already equipped with Viasat’s connectivity solutions, the company remains focused on designing customercentered service plans that adapt to evolving needs.

Next year’s planned launch of three high-capacity Viasat-3 satellites will further enhance the company’s ability to deliver comprehensive connectivity solutions. “We’re consolidating all of that capacity to deliver even more to Jet ConneX customers in the near future,” D’Amico concluded. J.R.

Jetcraft is optimistic on preowned bizjet market

By Drew Limsky

Call it trickle-down demand. As highly anticipated new business aircraft come to market, the models they are replacing will be there to replenish the preowned market inventory. That’s according to Chad Anderson, the president and CEO of the global sales broker Jetcraft, who oversees the company’s sales, inventory, and corporate strategy.

“It has been very busy for us, in a good way, and I don’t think it’s just Jetcraft,” Anderson told AIN. “I think similar industry counterparts are seeing plenty of activity in the same vein as we are. I was also looking at some figures recently, and one number that surprised me was that in the first quarter, our industry closed 253 deals and that’s up from first-quarter 2023.

“If you step back and think about it, the obvious reason is that now we finally have some more supply. The demand, to me, is about the same this year as it was last year, but the benefit to the buyers is that there’s more supply that allows us to fulfill their appetite through a bit more reasonable process and a timeline that buyers can live with.”

Anderson’s optimism represents a turnaround after a difficult two years, which can be summarized as too many buyers and too few airplanes, which he colorfully described as “a bit of a knife fight in a phone booth.” He cited a confluence of three elements that results in a healthy preowned market: “More younger inventory available, at prices that rationalize, under timelines that are manageable—those are three important ingredients that have enabled us to do more deals in the first quarter of this year than we did last year.”

According to Jetcraft, Gulfstream is a key market-mover. “Inevitably,” he said, “you’re going to see more G650s going to market because of the Gulfstream G700 deliveries. The beauty of it is there’s a lot of good demand for the G650, so I think you’re going to see sales of the G650 increase, just because more inventory

is going to come to market.”

Anderson explained that global instability makes long-range aircraft more attractive—and more necessary—than ever: “Obviously, those airplanes will go transcontinental, and some people absolutely require those longer-range airplanes because you can no longer overfly Russia, depending on where you’re going. There is a legitimate need now for some of that ultralong-range capability that both the Bombardier 7500 and the Gulfstream G700 offer.”

He cautioned that the private aviation industry in general is succeeding not because demand has increased, as it did in 2022 after the pandemic roughed up the market in 2020. “Demand in Europe and demand in the Americas is about the same as it was in 2019,” Anderson explained. “Basically, you had the big dip and then you had the big spike—2022 was our industry high— and now we’re kind of back to normal. What’s changed more than anything is the supply.”

From Jetcraft’s perspective, the European market is “a little bit muted at the moment. The higher level of demand that we’re seeing expand is in Southeast Asia; for us, it’s been a

Chad Anderson, president and CEO of Jetcraft

bright spot.” Anderson is also seeing increased activity in China.

“China is actually coming back with buyers,” he said. “For a long period of time, they were only sellers. They’re back to being a buyer of aircraft on occasion. The Americas— North and South America—have consistently been the buoy of demand.”

With regard to Southeast Asia, Anderson focused his enthusiasm on Singapore. “Singapore is the new financial center for Asia, just like Dubai is the financial center for the Middle East. A lot of the Chinese principals who were running into obstacles in China, in many cases, are moving some of their companies to Singapore and Malaysia to get a more free-trade-type, democratic-type approach to their business. And they’re buying airplanes.”

And demand in South America, particularly Brazil, comes as a cause for celebration: “We’ve never been better in South America than we have been lately.” z

Shine bright like a Diamond

Diamond Aircraft’s DA50 RG, a piston-powered single-engine airplane, has a fully integrated Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck and is powered by a Continental Aerospace Technologies CD-300 engine.

EASy suite paves way for Falcon 10X’s Nexus

By David Donald

Dassault’s EASy flight deck is arguably the most advanced flying today. Powered by Honeywell’s Primus Epic platform and displayed on four large Honeywell screens, EASy is an intuitive, digital system that was first introduced on the Falcon 900EX in 2003, but it has been continually improved to maintain its place at the head of the field with the current EASy IV.

The system naturally provides the basis for the Nexus flight deck that will be installed in the forthcoming Falcon 10X, although Dassault test pilot Philippe Duchateau told AIN this week at EBACE 2024 that it will be better, with more features and options.

In its original form, EASy was revolutionary in introducing a graphical interface rather than traditional alphanumeric data entry. A trackball for each pilot is used to drive a cursor across the central multifunction displays and their own primary flight display.

All relevant information and checklists are held in the system and can be accessed via drop-down menus. Time-sensitive offboard data, such as weather, can be requested and downloaded rapidly.

EASy is also “window-able,” allowing the pilots to tailor their displays to how they prefer for the phase of flight or the task at hand. Flight plans can be programmed via the system, and existing ones can be retrieved from the system and amended.

Updating flight plans in flight can be achieved very rapidly. A useful feature is the “What if?” menu that allows the pilots to compute in seconds the ramifications of flight plan alterations. For instance, the fuel remaining upon arrival at the destination following an increase in cruise speed can be rapidly computed to see if it is feasible.

EASy IV—which is on the Falcon 6X and 8X and soon could be available as a retrofit for

earlier Falcons—introduced several improvements, including more powerful computers. The definition at which map displays and airport/approach charts can be viewed is significantly enhanced.

Additionally, the incorporation of cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) increases situational awareness by showing ADS-B-equipped ground vehicles, as well as other taxiing aircraft. Navigation on the ground at large airports is further clarified by each taxiway and ramp being named on the map display, with route highlighting available at a click of the trackball control.

and there is a night mode display. Daily transoceanic tracks can be easily uploaded, and EASy IV facilitates the joining of these tracks.

Supporting the EASy system is the tabletbased electronic flight bag, which can host other apps, such as the Falcon Ways fuel-burn optimization tool. It also hosts Falcon Perf, which provides the mandatory second source for key performance calculations for takeoff and landing.

For the Nexus flight deck in the Falcon 10X, Dassault is introducing even more enhancements. The biggest di fference is a change to touchscreen control, although smaller touchpads are also provided in the center console because the accuracy of touch control on the screens can be negatively affected during turbulence.

Nexus will feature a system check function in which the system itself analyzes the

Runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROASS) is also a feature in EASy IV, constantly computing runway distances and providing aural alerts and visual alerts in the primary flight and head-up displays if it detects a possibility of a runway excursion. Landing factors include varying runway friction coefficients, which can quickly be loaded into the system on receipt of the relevant information from air traffic control.

The Jeppesen charts held in the system— updated every 28 days—are more detailed,

Dassault’s EASy IV flight deck provides the basis for the Nexus system on the in-development Falcon 10X.

inputs being made by the pilots. An alert is flagged up by the system if it thinks it has found an erroneous entry, requiring action by the flight crew to either override or concur. In this way, the ultimate decision is always a human one.

In addition, Nexus is moving to an Open World architecture that can allow more outside apps to be used with the system, although full integration would require detailed work with Honeywell to ensure there were no conflicts with the existing functions. z

Charter Pricing Trends within Europe since 2019

Avinode: Air charter set to soar this summer

By Charles Alcock

Forward-looking charter flight demand projections released this week by Avinode point to fluctuating market conditions in June and July. The European Championship soccer tournament in Germany and the Paris Summer Olympics are the main bright spots for operators’ bookings.

The business aviation marketplace sees charter demand receding by 8% compared with the same period in 2023 for flights from both Europe to North America and to Africa. Demand is envisioned as being 12% down for trips between Europe and the Middle East, but flights within Europe are expected to increase by 2%.

Breaking down demand for European charter bookings by the country of arrival, Avinode’s analysis shows a 43% spike in Germany, with Austria looking at 37% year-over-year growth, followed by Portugal at 7%, France at 5%, Switzerland at 4%, and the UK at 2%. Demand for the next two months is flat for arrivals in Spain and is expected to dip by 6%

in Italy and 1% in the Netherlands. Avinode head of insights and analytics Harry Clarke also released data showing shifts in flight hour pricing trends since early 2019. For both one-way and round-trip bookings, these show average rates climbing from between € 3,300 and € 3,500 in January 2019 to around € 4,300 to € 4,800 this month. Projections for June and July see some softening in pricing. z

Web Manuals big in European bizav ops

With a global client base of 643 customers and ofces in New York, San Diego, Singapore, and Sydney, aviation digital document management provider Web Manuals is one of the leading companies in the field.

Much of the company’s growth in the business aviation arena has been closer to its headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, with Europe contributing 102 business aviation customers. Eight of them have joined this year already. Web Manuals has 187 business aviation customers globally, making the European contingent 55% of the total.

“Our steep upward growth trajectory reflects our quality service and first-class digital solution, designed to increase efficiency and streamline safety management,” said director of EMEA operations Julia Larsson. “Beyond this, an increasing number of business jet operators are starting to recognize the importance of using a digital documentation system.

“As regulators such as the FAA begin to mandate safety management systems that help identify and assess risks, the role of digitalization has become central to aviation safety, not just in Europe but around the world. We are proud to support more than 600 organizations globally to take the next step and incorporate digitalization into their compliance processes.”

Flash of inspiration

D.D.

Alpha Chocks now offers a reflective-painted version of its original fold-flat chocks. “I was running into chock problems because they were heavy, big, and not reliable,” company founder and designer Daniel Stieger told AIN “When I retired, I said, ‘Okay, now I will solve this problem.’”

NGPA brings the pride

By Sarah Rose

The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA)—and its counterpart associations Aviation Pride UK and the European Pride in Aviation Network—are hoping to bring a message of inclusivity to EBACE 2024.

“It’s all about showcasing our message and our mission, which is to build support and unite the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. We’re super excited because particularly in the last year, there’s been a lot of work on international outreach,” Will Robson of Aviation Pride UK told AIN.

“Mexico has just started a chapter. We’ve

Aviation support firm ACASS has signed up a Falcon 8X operator.

also got a chapter out in Australia. So the community is building and as we know with everything, with inclusive team diversity, strength, and numbers.”

Last year, when U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) remarked during a Senate committee hearing that it was no comfort to the public if their pilot was a ‘“transgender witch,” NGPA called his comments transphobic and committed itself to “ensuring every pilot, and aviation professional, is empowered to freely express and bring their whole selves to work.”

Robson said the organization remains focused on that mission statement and encouraging inclusive workspaces to the

ACASS inks two contracts for large bizjets

Montreal-based aviation support service company ACASS is announcing the signing of two new contracts—a Bombardier Challenger 605 on the private Bermuda registry and a Dassault Falcon 8X on the San Marino registry.

“The multiple registry options we ofer our clients align with the highly customized nature of all our aviation support service oferings,” said Claudio Peer, v-p of aircraft management and charter sales for ACASS. “Each registry has its own features and benefits, which we align with our clients’ unique requirements.”

“Our business model is based on ofering our clients a holistic range of business aviation services and options, so they never feel limited or constrained,” said ACASS CEO

Andre Khury. “Multiple registry options give our clients more flexibility and more freedom to achieve their individual goals. And they genuinely appreciate the knowledge and support we provide in setting them up on the right registry.”

In 2022, ACASS received its second consecutive International Standard for Business Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) Stage 3 registration renewal from the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). ACASS received its initial Stage 3 award—the highest-level registration issued by IBAC—in 2017.

ACASS provides business aircraft sales, acquisition, leasing, and management, as well as aircrew stafng and charter services. S.R.

companies participating at EBACE.

“I think a lot of the issues that we’re facing trying to put across those messages and values into other organizations is mainly due to a lack of education. I think a lot of people don’t intend to be exclusive, but quite often it’s just been a way of the past,” he noted. “One thing that we can do is show that there are ways to turn what you’re currently doing into an inclusive workforce. That’s part of what we’re doing with advocacy outreach with different organizations.”

Robson is also aware that the industry can be “very conservative. Last year when we exhibited [at EBACE], I was sort of just walking the floor and I would chat with people, and a lot of times people would just sort of say, ‘Well, why do we need this type of organization?’”

For him, the answer to that question comes from personal experience. “I was scared of coming out in the airline environment. The first question would always be, ‘Well, have you got a girlfriend?’ For a long time, I had this fake girlfriend that I used to tell people [about]. I didn’t have that confidence to say, ‘No, I’ve actually got a boyfriend,’” he said.

“So I had to go along with it and that actually puts me in jeopardy when it comes to safety because it’s now sort of putting me on the back foot with wanting to speak out.”

Those experiences taught him the importance of visibility within the industry. “The visibility is important, educating people with terminology, pronouns, and how people actually feel when they have those conversations with people,” he said.

“Because at the end of the day, it comes down to safety, but also when you want to sort out a productive workforce and something that’s truly inclusive, you need to be having those conversations—whether you’re from the U.S. or the UK.” z

DAVID M c INTOSH

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Carbon reduction? There’s an app for that

By Charles Alcock

In global terms, the proportion of aircraft operators—and more specifically those in the business aviation sector—monitoring and recording their carbon emissions remains relatively low. The European fleet is assessed to make up around 15% to 17% of the worldwide total, and the majority of these are counting carbon dioxide emissions—mainly since they are required to do so under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), for which the annual threshold is 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Swiss-based sustainability specialist Azzera was founded with the objective of making it more straightforward to do the right thing, regardless of whether this action is mandated or voluntary. CEO and founder Puja Mahajan told AIN that operators worldwide increasingly want to account for their impact on the environment and demonstrate more resolve to mitigate it.

“We’re seeing more clients from outside Europe who are starting to look at reporting,” she said. The ICAO-led voluntary Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) program is part of this trend.

Azzera’s Celeste software was specifically created to help aircraft operators on the basis that “the first step is to understand your footprint.” The system calculates emissions for each flight and identifies offsetting options such as purchasing carbon credits through schemes that Azzera vets. It can also source sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for operators and record whether these were purchased in a specific location for a flight or remotely through book-and-claim.

New SAF Inventory Management System

On May 22, Azzera introduced an SAF inventory management and tracking feature. According to the company, the new functionality will help aircraft operators to manage and track their uplift of SAF and assess its

Azzera CEO Puja Mahajan said the company’s emissions calculator software is expanding to provide more support for business aviation.

contribution to emissions reduction.

Users can access SAF data and have a clear view of factors such as where SAF is purchased, and in some cases stored, and which routes were flown with it. It can also be used for book-and-trade transactions.

Business aircraft operators Metrojet, ASL Group, Elit’Avia, and Axis Aviation are already using the new capabilities.

“The average European operator has to deal with CORSIA, as well as the EU-ETS, the UK’s ETS, and Switzerland’s ETS,” said Mahajan, by way of explaining the complexity of requirements. “Celeste automates all of that.” z

German Av Services team is in it for kicks

Team Spirit! In honor of Germany’s hosting of the UEFA Euro 2024 next month, German Aviation Services (GAS)—which operates 10 FBOs in the country with convenient access to all the stadium venues—is literally and figuratively looking to score this week at EBACE. Led by CEO and founder Andreas Becker, the company is ra f ing o f an o f cial tournament soccer ball each day at the show.

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continued from page 1

SAF supply

Daniel Coetzer, CEO of Titan Fuels International, noted slow growth in the European SAF market, which is HEFA-based. “A lot of these refineries are getting financed and subsidized by the governments to upgrade and produce SAF, but still I think we are at the same level that we were a couple of years ago. We still don’t have a very good [feedstock] to make this stuff from,” he said.

“You ask people what they use to produce the SAF and they come up with old cooking oil and stuff like that; there is just not enough. We’re all going to be overweight from eating all those french fries.”

Luckily, other technologies and production pathways are ramping up to take advantage of different feedstocks. Among the pathways set to come online is alcohol-to-jet, which uses feedstocks such as ethanol created from crops such as corn or soy.

“It’s a bit fraught politically in terms of what people want to consider as renewable, and that’s something that every country is going to take a different opinion on,” Sincock told AIN. “Honeywell recently announced improvements to its Unicracking technology, which uses the Fischer–Tropsch process, to enable the processing of a wider range of biomass feedstocks, including forestry residues into SAF.

According to the company, more than 50 sites globally have licensed its SAF technologies, with those refineries projected to exceed a combined capacity of 500,000 barrels of SAF per day when fully operational.

Further down the road is power-to-liquid, which uses electricity to produce SAF from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. “I tend to feel like it is the ultimate solution because it is completely scalable, nobody is ever going run out of carbon dioxide, and we’re probably not going to run out of water, and we’re probably not going to run out of electricity, although of course electricity that is used has to be renewable,” said Sincock. “I think that it’s just going to take a variety of different approaches.”

“There’s a total of 59 renewable refineries on the books, either conversion (brownfield) or new (greenfield) refineries by Total, Repsol,

SkyNRG in the Netherlands, ENI in Italy,” noted Sawyer. “You’ve got a raft of projects, not only in the EU but in the UK as well, so it’s going to be interesting to see where it all goes, but clearly the mandates will be phased in.”

While the product has been flowing, Coetzer has still encountered problems sourcing it in Europe. “I had a customer who wanted to buy some bulk [SAF], a couple of containers, and it’s just not there,” he told AIN, noting that conventional fossil-based jet fuel has had a long head start. “SAF is still new—it just arrived on the market.”

Mandates versus Capacity

Coetzer questions the timing of the mandates and whether the producers will have the capacity to meet them. “I think everybody hopes they can be reached, but the technology is just not there,” he stated. “I don’t think the industry was consulted enough when this was done and put in place. Even if they were consulted, the advice was not taken seriously. Some legislators want to push this too fast and you must first walk before you can run. They are trying to run before they can walk and they are going to fall over.”

Presently, approval for SAF usage only extends to up to 50% blends with conventional jet-A, due to the aromatic compounds present in petroleum that enable the seals in legacy aircraft fuel systems to properly function. In its neat, unblended form, SAF can provide up to 80% life cycle carbon dioxide reductions compared to fully petroleum-based jet fuel.

That reduction margin remains a tantalizing glimpse of the fuel’s potential benefits, and testing by airframers such as Gulfstream and Embraer has proven that their new

aircraft can operate on neat SAF. But until such approval is given and production rises to make the distribution of pure SAF a viable possibility, such levels of CO2 reduction will remain just a future possibility.

Blended SAF is presently available at approximately 30 airports in Europe, and the regulations coming in place will favor the larger ones. “Fuel suppliers are required to supply this fuel and give priority to airports of 800,000 or more passengers a year, so those legally will be the first supply points,” Sawyer explained.

With Paris hosting the Summer Olympics in July, the company announced this week at EBACE that it will now be providing permanent supplies of SAF at three French airports: Paris Le Bourget (LFPB), Bordeaux-Mérignac (LFBD), and Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne (LFLC). Produced in France from used cooking oil at a 30% blend, the SAF offers a 2.5-tonne reduction in carbon emissions per 4,000-liter load.

European operators are becoming more savvy about SAF, according to Noel Siggery, AEG Fuels’ senior director of general aviation sales and supply for Europe. “I think there has been a transition over the last few years from ‘What is SAF?’ to ‘We understand what SAF is; now, where is it coming from, what are the sustainability impacts, and does it meet EU ETS requirements?’”

Among its customers, AEG—which distributes fuel in North America but functions largely as a fuel marketer in Europe—is experiencing limited but growing demand for SAF. “Many more of the larger type general aviation operators are tendering with an element of SAF as part of their procurement process,” Siggery told AIN. z

Eco-protesters are back

Protestors calling for an end to private aviation gathered outside PalExpo late yesterday at the end of the second day of EBACE. The authorized protest was far smaller than the demonstration outside the 2023 show. It was peaceful and speakers decried the impact of business aircraft carbon emissions. There had been no repeat of last year’s illegal invasion of the static display in which a large group of unauthorized protestors blocked aircraft, causing some damage. C.A.

DAVID M c INTOSH