Welcome back to the Aviation Newsletter, your go-to podcast for the pulse of everything that flies. I'm Luna, and this podcast is powered by the team at Starrime. Whether you're a lifelong aviation enthusiast, a frequent flyer or simply curious about the world above the clouds, we're truly grateful to have you with us. This year, we'll continue to bring you deeper insights, compelling stories from the industry and updates on the technology shaping the future of flight.
We always welcome your thoughts and feedback in the comments. The podcast remains available in both English and Chinese.Thank you for being on this journey with us. Now, let's explore what's making news in aviation today.
Advanced Air Mobility Edges Toward Commercial Launch（excerpts）
By CHARLES ALCOCK • Managing Editor
March 7, 2026
Seasoned observers of the approach path to bringing eVTOL aircraft into service can be forgiven for having to suppress yawns. Self-proclaimed frontrunners in this crowded field—mainly start-ups hungry for fresh capital—have long teased investors with the prospect of commercial returns being just around the corner, only to then quietly concede that the certification process and other groundwork for the advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem is taking longer than they had hoped.
In China, two eVTOL models are already certified and flying restricted missions. Meanwhile, U.S. manufacturers such as Joby and Archer are forging partnerships in the UAE with a view to launching some early trial operations there ahead of FAA certification. How that will work remains unclear, but that hasn’t quieted the cheerleading.
Closer to home, multiple U.S. states, teamed with private sector partners, are bidding to launch early use cases through the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (EIPP) unveiled in June as part of the Unleashing American Drone Dominance executive order. The states seeking to embrace the new mode of transportation include Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, New York, Nevada, Utah, and Ohio.
According to SMG Consulting, which focuses intently on the AAM sector, between five and seven EIPP flight-test programs could get underway this year. According to company founder Sergio Cecutta, these are expected to focus mainly on cargo or emergency medical operations and might, in some cases, include revenue-earning flights. In his view, the initiative is significant in giving aircraft manufacturers the chance to test real-world operating environments before certification.
However, SMG has ruled out any powered-lift eVTOL passenger-carrying aircraft completing FAA type certification in 2026—as has been widely anticipated, at least by the AAM start-ups concerned. Cecutta told AIN that, based on the number of flight hours required in certification-conforming aircraft with type inspection authorization (TIA), it will take at least another 18 months before the FAA pilots conduct the flights needed to conclude the approval process.
As part of its New Year’s predictions, SMG envisioned that both Joby and Beta Technologies (with its Alia CX300 model) will begin TIA “for credit” flights in 2026. In China, the company expects Aerofugia, AutoFlight, and Volant to achieve the same milestone.
Advanced Air Mobility Pioneers Edge Toward Long-awaited Commercial Launch | Aviation International News
Aviation Fuel Prices Climbing amid Middle Eastern Chaos
By CURT EPSTEIN • Business Aviation Services Editor
March 5, 2026
The turmoil in the Middle East resulting from the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran is impacting the world fuel markets, as Iran vowed it would shut down commercial shipping traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Over the past week, the price of Brent crude oil jumped by 15%, from $70.77 a barrel to more than $81, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by nearly $9 a barrel.
Spot prices for Jet-A in the U.S. averaged $3.23 a gallon yesterday, up from the five-day average of $2.70 per gallon. Retail jet fuel prices at some Northeast U.S. business aviation hubs reached $10 per gallon, while at Los Angeles-area Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) they were hovering around $7.
“In the initial reaction to the events, no petroleum market has been spared,” said Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst with energy commodity analyst OPIS. “Gasoline prices are up, the national average for retail diesel has topped $4 per gallon, and jet fuel prices have skyrocketed over the course of the past several days.”
Cinquegrana told AIN that while fuel prices may spike, he does not expect operators to encounter any shortages. “Despite the higher prices, U.S. product supplies are expected to be fine, as U.S. refiners are particularly advantaged compared to others around the world.”
Aviation Fuel Prices Climbing amid Middle Eastern Chaos | Aviation International News
Data Shows Scale of Middle East Bizjet Displacement
By CHARLES ALCOCK • Managing Editor
March 5, 2026
While business aviation in the Gulf states remains largely grounded by the ongoing military conflict with Iran, data from WingX reveals the extent to which traffic patterns have shifted since Friday. In the week spanning February 23 through March 1, overall business departures from airports in the wider Middle East region declined by 10%—from 1,086 in the previous week to 981.
The data released on Thursday shows that despite the dip in traffic caused by the outbreak of hostilities early on Saturday, 371 aircraft did depart from Middle East airports. Many of these appear to have been moved to seemingly safer locations within or close to the region.
For example, Oman, through which a partially-open air corridor is now being used for some evacuation flights, saw a 220% increase in business jet arrivals between February 27 and March 1, while Cyprus had a 92.9% increase, followed by Greece (35.3%) and France (14.3%). Turkey received almost a quarter of the flights leaving the region, though its airports actually had 20.5% fewer arrivals than the same period in 2025, which WingX suggested means the country is seeing some negative impact from the conflict.
“Overall, the 30.8% decline in total outbound flights versus the same period last year underscores the severity of the demand shock in the Middle East,” WingX stated.
As of 7:15 p.m. UTC on Tuesday, WingX’s live parking data showed 164 business jets grounded at airports across the Middle East with an average duration on the ground of 4.5 days. By 12:25 p.m. UTC on Wednesday, the number of aircraft fell to 140 with an average parking duration of 4.9 days.
The majority of these jets were in Istanbul and Dubai, with others spread across the Gulf, as well as in Israel and other Turkish cities. International SOS warned that the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile in Turkish airspace highlighted the threats to operations beyond the core warzone, with the potential to trigger wider involvement by NATO states under the terms of the organization’s Article 5.
ExecuJet Middle East told AIN that its FBOs at Dubai International (OMDB) and Al Maktoum International (OMDW) airports have remained operational. “Our teams remain focused on supporting clients and operators while closely monitoring the evolving situation and coordinating with the relevant aviation authorities,” a spokeswoman said.
Since the conflict started, International SOS has evacuated more than 300 people and has responded to more than 2,200 cases on behalf of clients. Requests include difficulties in securing vital medications for stranded travelers.
WingX Data Shows Scale of Middle East Business Jet Displacement | Aviation International News
FAA Accepts ‘Zero Engine Taxi’ Certification Plan
By HANNEKE WEITERING • Science & Technology Editor
March 5, 2026
The FAA has approved Green Taxi Aerospace’s certification plans for its “Zero Engine Taxi” system for airliners. In a March 3 announcement, the Plano, Texas-based start-up said the FAA had reviewed and accepted the compliance checklist summary and conformity plan drafted and submitted by StandardAero, Green Taxi’s certification partner.
Green Taxi’s system uses electric motors installed in an aircraft’s landing gear to maneuver the aircraft during ground operations without powering on its main engines. The motors draw power from the auxiliary power unit, allowing aircraft to push back and taxi using purely electric power.
According to Green Taxi, the FAA’s concurrence will allow certification work to proceed under StandardAero’s organization designation authorization (ODA), enabling the Scottsdale, Arizona-based MRO specialist to conduct delegated certification activities on the FAA’s behalf as the Zero Engine Taxi program progresses toward its first supplemental type certificate (STC).
The company says the system could reduce fuel burn, emissions, and engine wear while removing the need for pushback tugs. Green Taxi estimates airlines could save as much as $300,000 annually per aircraft through reduced fuel consumption and maintenance.
For its first retrofits, Green Taxi is targeting regional jets such as the Embraer E175, for which the company expects to obtain STC approval next year. In late 2025, Green Taxi partnered with Delta Air Lines to begin exploring operational deployment of the technology.
FAA Accepts Green Taxi’s Certification Plan for Zero Engine Taxi System | Aviation International News
The audio and content of this podcast shall not be used for AI model training or any other purposes. That's all for this episode of Aviation Newsletter. Thank you for listening. Podcast by Luna. Sound Edited by Jovie. Aviation Newsletter is brought to you by the Starrime team. You can catch our podcast on all major podcast platforms. We also look forward to seeing your comments. See you soon.
