Welcome to our July 2024 Aviation News brief! Much has been happening in the aviation industry, from pilot layoffs to disagreements between the US and Europe over sustainable aviation fuel. Let’s take a look.
Wright State University Launches New Aviation Program
Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, the hometown of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright, is launching a new aviation program. Starting in the fall of 2024, students can pursue careers as flight instructors, airline pilots, or technical positions in the aviation industry through the new aviation degree offerings.
The program includes a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Technology, an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Science and Technology, and a Minor in Aviation Studies. Partnering with First Flight Aviation at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, Wright State provides opportunities for students with or without prior flight experience. Click to read more about this exciting new program and how to apply.
Boeing Insists Starliner Mission "Going Well" Despite Delays
Boeing maintains that its first crewed mission of the Starliner capsule is "going well" despite delays in returning its astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). The company emphasized that the delay is part of the test flight program, not a failure. "The mission is still going and it is going well," Boeing stated on Wednesday. They assured that the Starliner is "performing well" and could return to Earth at any time if necessary.
Initially scheduled to leave the ISS a week after docking on June 6, the mission faced delays due to five helium leaks and thruster issues. The return has been pushed to July, with no precise date given. Boeing and NASA reject the term "stranded" used by some news outlets to describe astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' situation. Click the link to read more.
Wheels Up Lays Off Pilots Amid Industry Challenges
Wheels Up has confirmed a significant layoff of pilots, estimated between 11% and 20%. The company issued a statement to Private Jet Card Comparisons, attributing the layoffs to broader industry factors. "The sharp decline in our pilot attrition rates in the first half of this year, due in part to a reduction of pilot hiring at the commercial airlines and pilots choosing to stay at Wheels Up, created the staffing imbalance that led to today’s actions," the statement read.
Wheels Up emphasized the importance of aligning its pilot roster with the size of its fleet and noted that recent industry abnormalities have made staffing forecasts challenging. Despite receiving a $500 million funding package from Delta Air Lines and appointing a new management team, Wheels Up has continued to report losses. However, executives remain optimistic about returning to profitability by the end of the year.
The company's fleet includes around 170 aircraft, comprising 59 Beech King Air turboprops, 43 Cessna Citation X super-midsize jets, and 35 Hawker 400XP light jets. Recently, Wheels Up has made adjustments to its flight operations, including reducing daily minimum flight times and cutting back the number of peak days for entry-level program customers. Click the link to learn more.
Airlines Grapple with Sustainable Aviation Fuel Standards Amid Global Discrepancies
Airlines see sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the key to decarbonizing the industry, with global governments providing incentives and mandates to boost production. However, conflicting definitions of what qualifies as "sustainable" are causing investment uncertainties.
Fuel producers and airlines are struggling to navigate the complex landscape. Currently, used cooking oil is widely accepted as a SAF source. Yet, concerns arose after reports of fake oil flooding the U.K. market, prompting the British government to cap SAF production from this method. A larger issue is brewing between the EU and the U.S. In Europe, regulators are excluding crop-based feedstocks like corn, soy, and sugarcane from new SAF mandates. Conversely, the U.S. allows fuels from these inputs to qualify for tax credits if they meet certain requirements.
This disparity leaves airlines, investors, and SAF producers in a difficult position. "For airlines and for businesses that travel internationally, it does create a lot of confusion and uncertainty," said John Dees, senior decarbonization scientist at Carbon Direct.
Starting next year, EU flights must use at least 2% SAF, increasing to 20% by 2035 under the ReFuelEU mandate. Meanwhile, the U.S. offers tax credits for SAF achieving significant emissions savings. The main challenge lies in agreeing on what constitutes SAF and its environmental impact. Click the link to read more in the Wall Street Journal.
United Airlines Executive Stresses Collaboration with Oil Industry for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
United Airlines' chief sustainability officer, Lauren Riley, emphasized the necessity of oil industry collaboration to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) economically viable. In an interview with the Financial Times, Riley highlighted the lack of infrastructure as a significant hurdle for SAF providers, noting their limited access to pipelines and traditional logistics support. "Oil companies are a critical part of the solution," she stated.
Currently, SAF, primarily made from recycled cooking oil, costs at least twice as much as traditional jet fuel. Despite United Airlines' commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, only 0.1% of its annual fuel usage is sustainable. Riley underscored the need for the market to scale up rapidly, as global SAF production was just 150 million gallons last year compared to United’s 4.2 billion gallons of conventional fuel usage.
Riley expressed optimism about new technologies, such as "power to liquid" e-fuels, which use electricity to create synthetic hydrocarbons. However, she acknowledged the high costs and low production levels of these innovations. Despite the challenges, Riley remains confident in reaching the net-zero goal by 2050, citing remarkable ongoing innovations.
Click the link to read more on the Financial Times.
