Directional Aviation | August 19, 2020
When most air travel in the United States effectively stopped in March, some private jet operators feared the worst, expecting coronavirus, along with the recession to come, would decimate their businesses. Instead, for many, the summer of 2020 has held up surprisingly well.
“Business is very good, better than expected,” said Gregg Slow, president of FXAir, a charter company owned by Directional Aviation, one of the biggest brands in private aviation. “We had our best month in company history in June followed by second best in July, for revenue. What would normally be 8 to 10 percent new business is now 50 to 60 percent new business.”
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AVIATION TECHNOLOGY
Iris Automation | September 17, 2021
Iris Automation today announced the company has partnered with Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) for the integration of its Casia detect and avoid (DAA) system with DMI's family of hydrogen powered systems and drones. The joint solution will enable DMI's clients to operate safer advanced missions like beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and accelerate the Korean manufacturer's entrance into the US market.
Iris Automation's Casia allows an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) to see and react to the aviation environment around the aircraft. Casia detects other aircraft using computer-vision algorithms to classify them, makes intelligent decisions about the threat they may pose to the drone and then triggers an alert to execute maneuvers to safely avoid collisions.
With its leading hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, DMI commercial UAVs are BVLOS-capable and well suited for long endurance flight applications. Drone operations are both eco-friendly and sustainable when powered by hydrogen, as opposed to petroleum.
DMI will provide US customers with the option of Casia integrated with its drones or as a combined purchase with their stand -alone powered systems. The two companies will also collaborate on professional services to advance compliance with emerging US aircraft regulatory requirements.
Doosan has developed industry leading hydrogen fuel cell drone technology that delivers the endurance and performance necessary to enable autonomous UAV flight, without carbon emissions. We are excited to bring this innovation to the United States market, and to partner with a safety innovator like Iris Automation.
- Soonsuk (Fran) Roh, manager of Americas and Oceania business development at Doosan Mobility Innovation
This partnership opens a new pathway for enterprise operators to evolve their operations from traditional platforms to sustainable and safety-focused BVLOS UAS systems that deliver real business outcomes today, while protecting their environmental and accident safety reputation.
- Lori DeMatteis, vice president of sales & marketing at Iris Automation
About Doosan Mobility Innovation
Doosan Mobility Innovation creates the world's first commercialized hydrogen fuel cell system for drones, which have two hours of flight time - four times longer flight time than battery drones. With two hours of flight time, DMI's hydrogen drones are utilized in various industrial fields including utility inspection, delivery, emergency monitoring, and public safety. Based on this green technology, DMI has successfully launched our products in the USA, China and Korea in 2019 and DMI is ready to expand our business to the rest of the world.
About Iris Automation
Iris Automation is a safety avionics technology company pioneering on- and off-board perception systems and aviation policy services that enable customers to build scalable operations for crewed and uncrewed aircraft; unlocking the potential of countless industries. Iris' Casia system runs either onboard the aircraft or in a ground-based configuration. We work closely with civil aviation authorities globally as they implement regulatory frameworks ensuring BVLOS is conducted safely, partnering on multiple FAA ASSURE and BEYOND UAS Integration Programs and Transport Canada's BVLOS Technology Demonstration Program.
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AIR TRANSPORT
Flexjet, 4AIR | May 18, 2021
Flexjet LLC, a global leader in fractional private jet travel, reported today that it has reached carbon-neutral flight operations as a result of its collaboration with 4AIR, the first and only rating system focusing on holistic sustainability in private aviation. Flexjet has been buying credits to offset carbon emissions from all flights booked by its US-based Owners since January 2021. Flexjet's checked credits will finance carbon offset projects that will negate the effect of emissions generated by its aircraft at no extra cost to its owners, due to 4AIR's expertise and assistance.
Although some big private aviation companies have put the financial pressure of carbon offsets on their clients, Flexjet is shouldering the burden. In reality, Flexjet started offsetting 100% of CO2 emissions from all of its US-based aircraft for its Owners in January, including emissions from the company's internal airline, Project Lift, which transports Flexjet pilots to their flight assignments.
This offset program is provided at no extra cost to Flexjet owners. By the end of 2021, the company expects to have offset 400,000 metric tonnes of carbon. This action has an immediate impact on the environment, not in a matter of decades.
And, because Flexjet sees sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a crucial piece of the global warming puzzle, the organization is collaborating with 4AIR to provide Owners with the option of upgrading their sustainability commitment by using SAF for flights where it is available.
Flexjet has taken immediate measures to reduce Owners' environmental impact while allowing them to fund the technology of tomorrow's sustainability by offsetting all flights and providing SAF.
4AIR's industry-leading validated offsets support a half-dozen programs, including solar, wind, and forestry efforts. The Cookstove Project in Rwanda, for example, provides fuel-efficient cookstoves to families in rural Rwandan communities who cook over open fires within their homes. By using these stoves instead of open fires, households can decrease the amount of wood and coal burned, the amount of time they may spend gathering the fuel (in some cases hours each day), the toxic air pollution emitted into their homes, and the emission of carbon dioxide – a leading cause of global warming.
Flexjet chose 4AIR to handle carbon credit offsets, standards, verification, validation, and retirement by the most recognized and internationally leading organizations that issue and register credits.
The 4AIR rating system provides benchmarks that are compliant with international criteria and compatible with industrywide carbon reduction goals. The system has several stages, each with specific, science-based goals, independently verified results, and increasingly greater impacts on sustainability. Flexjet has pledged to the 4AIR Bronze standard for 2021, which means that all of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be offset with verified carbon offset credits.
About Flexjet
In 1995, Flexjet entered the fractional jet ownership market for the first time. Flexjet has fractional jet ownership as well as leasing. Flexjet's fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as fulfilling the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, as well as the first and only organization to receive 22 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, and IS-BAO Level 2 compliance. Flexjet's fractional service offers an exclusive selection of commercial jets, some of which are among the youngest in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of about six years. Flexjet launched Red Label by Flexjet in 2015, which includes the industry's youngest fleet, flight crews devoted to a single aircraft, and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors.
About 4AIR
4AIR is an industry leader, providing solutions for development that go beyond simple carbon neutrality. Its industry-first policy aims to resolve all types of climate impacts and offers a simplified and verifiable path for private aviation industry members to pursue successful aircraft emissions counteraction and reduction.
The 4AIR framework has four tiers, each with specific, science-based goals, independently verified results, and increasingly greater impacts on sustainability, making it simple for private aviation users to achieve sustainability through access to carbon markets, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, support for new technologies, and other strategies.
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