New law agreed to cut aviation emissions
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal aiming to decarbonise the aviation sector and create a level playing field for a sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU aviation initiative). The new rules will require:
1) Aviation fuel suppliers to supply a minimum share of SAF at EU airports, starting at 2% of overall fuel supplied by 2025 and reaching 70% by 2050. The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally-friendly synthetic fuels, which increases over time;
2) Aircraft operators departing from EU airports to refuel only with the fuel necessary for the flight, to avoid emissions related to extra weight or carbon leakage caused by ‘tankering' practices (deliberately carrying excess fuel to avoid refuelling with SAF);
3) Airports to ensure that their fuelling infrastructure is available and fit for SAF.
The provisional political agreement is now subject to formal approval by the two co-legislators.
EBACE2023 looks to the future
Co-hosted by EBAA and NBAA, EBACE is the annual meeting place for the European business aviation community and the continent’s premier event showcasing on-demand aircraft, advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles and the multitude of services available to operators. EBACE2023 is taking off at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Geneva International Airport from Tuesday, 23 May through Thursday, 25 May 2023. Some of business aviation’s most forward-looking companies and executives will be on hand to talk about what the future holds for the industry at EBACE2023. Celebrating the industry’s brightest minds and visionary companies, EBACE2023’s Innovation Pavilion is set to showcase the future of business aviation, said EBAA Conference and Innovation Lead Rachel Clementi. Approximately 50 of the latest and most advanced business aircraft on the market will be on display throughout the upcoming 2023 EBACE2023. www.ebace.aero
CAE expands business aviation training network in Europe
CAE last week announced plans to expand its business aviation training network with a new facility in Central Europe. The centre will have a capacity for up to six full-flight simulators, offering advanced pilot training on the latest light- and large-segment business jets. The new business aviation training centre, the company’s first in the region, is scheduled to open in the second half of 2024. The company has not yet announced the country for the new hub. CAE currently has 20 training locations for pilots, crew and maintenance across Europe, including a business aviation pilot training centre in London.
"Raising the Aviation Bar" – new Eurocontrol podcast series
Eurocontrol has launched its new podcast series "Raising the Aviation Bar" bringing to the aviation community interviews with the people working on some of the key aviation challenges of our time. Podcast topics will range from the challenge of managing air traffic growth, fostering sustainability, digital transformation, data, innovation and more. The podcasts are also an opportunity to discover the more personal side of our speakers; how they have found their way into aviation, and their assessment of the situation in their area of expertise and changes happening right now.
The first episode features an interview with Steven Moore, Eurocontrol's Head of Air Traffic Management Operations focusing on one of Eurocontrol's big topics: can the European aviation network cope with the expected traffic recovery? In the podcast he speaks about the complexity of managing a network that has lost about 20% of its airspace following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and at a time of rapidly recovering air traffic. Eurocontrol is expecting to see up to 37,500 flights on peak days this summer, posing an enormous challenge to the network.
People: Lisa Atherton named President and CEO of Bell
Textron Inc. last week announced that Lisa Atherton has been named president & CEO of the Bell segment, effective April 28, 2023. Atherton succeeds Mitch Snyder, who will be retiring after more than seven years as president & CEO of Bell and nearly 20 years with the company.
Lisa Atherton was named Bell COO in January 2023 and is a member of Bell’s Executive Leadership Team. In June 2017, Lisa was named the president and CEO of Textron Systems. Textron Systems’ businesses provide solutions to the defense, aerospace and general aviation markets.
Atherton joined Textron Systems after five years with Bell. In her most recent role, she was the executive vice president, Military Business, where she was responsible for providing strategic direction and overall management for all government programs and business development efforts. Prior to that role, Atherton was the vice president, Global Military Development. She also held several other positions within Military Programs, including V-22 program manager and director of Military Programs. Prior to joining Bell, Atherton was the vice president of Area Attack at Textron Systems, where she also served as the vice president of Business Development.
Before her career with Textron, Atherton spent eight years at Air Combat Command’s Directorate of Requirements and was a contracting officer in the U.S. Air Force. Atherton earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary and a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and has also completed Textron’s Senior Executive Leadership Programs at the Thunderbird School of Global Management as well as Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. www.bellflight.com