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.
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1. FAA Releases Plan for Transition to Unleaded Avgas
August 4, 2026
As required by the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, the FAA has released “The Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline.” This initial version of the plan will be updated as new information is incorporated and phases of the plan are completed.
Phase 1 requires completion of FAA approvals and authorizations for the three candidate unleaded fuels that have been fielded or are under development. “Phase 1 also includes comparison testing and reporting to facilitate more informed decision-making by the end users,” according to the FAA.
The three fuels in Phase 1 are GAMI’s G100UL, which has been supplemental type certificate (STC)-approved for all spark-ignition piston aviation engines; Swift Fuels 100R, STC-approved for several engines but not yet for high-performance engines that require the detonation-protection features in 100LL; and LyondellBasell/VP Racing’s UL100, for which the companies hope to gain an FAA fleet-wide approval later this year covering certain aircraft and engines but not yet high-performance detonation-sensitive engines.
The FAA and industry have partnered on the transition to unleaded avgas through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions initiative. As part of this effort, the FAA is testing the three fuels at its William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This testing is “part of the first phase of the transition to address key questions concerning performance and compatibility,” and the FAA will update the transition plan after this phase is done.
Meanwhile, both Swift Fuels and LyondellBasell/VP Racing are working with the FAA under the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative on the fleet authorization program. The FAA is also working to expedite rollout of high-octane unleaded fuel using the STC pathway, for both GAMI’s G100UL (which is already STC-approved for high-octane engines) and Swift’s 100R.
During the transition to unleaded avgas, which is supposed to happen by the end of 2030 in the continental U.S. and 2032 in Alaska—although the FAA has indicated that these deadlines may slip—the FAA is “encouraging airports to introduce unleaded fuel alternatives while requiring maintaining 100LL availability for aircraft through the transition.”
The FAA is also holding airports to grant assurance obligations that require them to “continue to offer leaded 100LL until safe, fleet-wide unleaded alternatives are widely and locally accessible.”
FAA Releases Plan for Smooth and Safe Transition to Unleaded Avgas | Aviation International News
2. Australia Plans To Introduce Annual Aircraft Registration
July 30, 2026
The Australian government intends to introduce a digital annual registration requirement for all VH-registered aircraft starting next July. Before implementing the requirement, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is seeking comments from the aviation industry. Currently, there is a one-off registration that remains valid indefinitely, supported by periodic updates. “In practice, this approach has proven inefficient and unreliable,” said CASA.
Introducing an annual VH aircraft registration scheme “will support safety outcomes and data accuracy,” according to CASA. “Cost-recovery arrangements will be finalized following consultation.” An annual fee will start on July 1, 2028, one year after the annual registration requirement starts. “The levy would help CASA administer the scheme and maintain the digital registration system,” the authority said.
There are three options proposed for structuring the annual registration cost: a $72 flat-rate levy applied to all VH-registered aircraft; between $50 and $250 per aircraft under a weight-based levy calculated using aircraft mtow; and between $40 and $500 per aircraft under a weight and category model.
“Your feedback will help us refine the scheme and ensure it is practical, effective, and suitable for the aviation industry and broader community,” stated CASA. Comments are due by August 13.
Australia Plans To Introduce Annual Aircraft Registration | Aviation International News
3. New FBO To Land at Puerto Rico’s San Juan Airport
July 30, 2026
BlueSky San Juan, a $54 million FBO project, has broken ground at Puerto Rico’s San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (TJSJ). Spearheaded by industry veteran José Maldonado—who previously built the Pazos FBO at TJSJ, which was later sold to Jet Aviation—the complex represents the largest business aviation development on the island in more than a decade.
The facility—scheduled for completion in third-quarter 2028 as the third service provider on the field—will feature an 8,000-sq-ft terminal, with executive and pilot lounges, conference and flight-planning rooms, and concierge services. An onsite U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection facility will allow international arrivals to clear U.S. customs directly at TJSJ before continuing to the U.S. mainland.
Also included will be a trio of 20,000-sq-ft hangars with 30-foot-high doors, capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets, and enough privately financed ramp to accommodate the largest commercial passenger aircraft.
Located off Runway 10, the FBO will allow aircraft to taxi directly to it within seconds of landing, minimizing ground movement and facilitating quick turns.
“Business aviation continues to evolve, and Puerto Rico needs infrastructure that supports the next generation of international operators,” said Maldonado, BlueSky San Juan’s senior partner. He added that the facility has been designed “to deliver an elite experience while reinforcing Puerto Rico’s strategic role as the Caribbean gateway to the U.S. mainland.”
New FBO To Land at Puerto Rico’s San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín Int’l Airport | Aviation International News
4. Aviation Groups Unite To Address Runway Incursions
July 29, 2026
Three international aviation industry groups are coordinating to reduce runway incursions worldwide, after years of high-profile close calls put renewed pressure on regulators and airport operators to act. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), and Airports Council International (ACI)—organizations representing airlines, air navigation service providers, and airports, respectively—have launched a joint initiative.
“This initiative brings airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers together to identify runway risks earlier and take coordinated action,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s senior v-p of operations, safety, and security.
The Joint Runway Safety Initiative centers on three areas: collecting better safety data, including near-collision reports and input from frontline staff; giving more weight to local runway safety teams, where airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers work out local risks together; and sharing lessons learned so effective mitigation can be adopted across airports with similar operating environments. The groups said the effort builds on existing programs, including the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI) and the ICAO Global Runway Safety Action Plan, and will draw on tools such as ACI’s Runway Safety Team Implementation Package and IATA’s Runway Incursion Safety Risk Assessment.
“Runway safety depends on clear communication and coordinated decisions across the airport environment,” said Andrea Sack, CANSO’s senior v-p of global operations.
The initiative follows years of heightened attention to runway safety in the U.S. as well as globally. FAA data showed that reported U.S. runway incursions alone have numbered close to 1,700 annually over the past six recorded years, with 1,758 in 2024. The NTSB issued more than a dozen related safety recommendations to the FAA in 2024, including calls for cockpit-based surface alerting technology. In March 2025, a U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General audit found that the FAA analyzed incursion data on an airport-by-airport basis rather than agency-wide, making it harder to catch risks before they spread.
“Airports sit at the center of this challenge, where every part of the aviation system converges,” said Darryl Dowd, ACI World’s v-p of safety, security, and operations. “Local knowledge and sustained collaboration are what turn safety guidance into real reductions in risk, and ACI is committed to supporting our members as they put these tools to work.”
The initiative also draws on the runway safety checklist (co-developed by ACI and CANSO), a gap-analysis tool for airlines developed under GAPPRI, and IATA’s operational safety audit program, which reviews airline risk assessments and mitigation measures. Together, the three organizations represent a broad swath of the industry: IATA counts more than 370 member airlines accounting for roughly 85% of global air traffic, ACI represents more than 800 members operating over 2,200 airports in more than 160 countries, and CANSO’s members support more than 90% of the world’s air traffic.
Global Aviation Industry Groups Launch Joint Runway Incursion Initiative | Aviation International News
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