Aviation Updates you might have missed!

UK launches ambitious SAF mandate for greener skies

The UK has taken a landmark step toward decarbonizing aviation with the introduction of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate, which became effective this month. Aiming to reduce the sector’s carbon emissions, the SAF Mandate requires that by 2025, at least 2% of jet fuel used in UK flights must come from sustainable sources, increasing to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.

SAF is derived from sustainable sources like household waste and used cooking oil and generates an average of 70% fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. By 2030, the mandate hopes to supply 1.2 million tonnes of SAF annually to UK airlines, enough to circle the globe 3,000 times.

Part of the government’s “Plan for Change” agenda, the SAF Mandate is expected to create thousands of skilled jobs, drive economic growth, and position the UK as a leader in clean energy. A revenue certainty mechanism is also being developed to attract investment in domestic SAF production plants, with a consultation slated for early this year.

Minister for Aviation Mike Kane heralded the mandate as a “significant milestone,” emphasizing its role in making aviation more sustainable and boosting the economy.

United Airlines to integrate Starlink across global fleet

United Airlines has unveiled its plan to reshape inflight connectivity by integrating Starlink, the world’s fastest and most reliable inflight internet system, into its global fleet. The rollout begins with testing next month, followed by the first commercial flight equipped with Starlink aboard a United Embraer E-175 this spring.?

Initially, the airline aims to upgrade its entire two-cabin regional fleet, with mainline aircraft integration slated to start shortly after, completing the transition by 2025. This rollout positions United as the first major U.S. carrier to offer complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi to all MileagePlus members.

“We have big plans for our MileagePlus members, and Starlink is at the heart of it,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “This will transform the flying experience and unlock exciting new benefits for our members.”?

Starlink provides consistent, low-latency internet at speeds up to 350 Mbps, allowing passengers to stream, browse, game, shop, and video call, even in remote areas. Passengers can enjoy gate-to-gate connectivity on multiple devices, making inflight Wi-Fi seamless and accessible.

United’s collaboration with SpaceX is the airline industry’s largest Starlink integration agreement to date, covering over 1,000 aircraft. This adoption positions United ahead of the competition in inflight connectivity.?

Winter Storm Blair grounds over 25,000 flights across the U.S.

A powerful winter storm, dubbed Winter Storm Blair, has disrupted travel and daily life across the central and eastern United States, impacting over 60 million people. The storm's hazardous conditions have led to widespread cancellations and delays, with approximately 2,200 flights cancelled and over 25,000 flights delayed nationwide, according to FlightAware.

Winter storm warnings have been issued across twelve states, stretching from Kansas to New Jersey. Blizzard-like conditions in Kansas and Missouri have created treacherous roadways, while eastern states brace for heavy snowfall and ice.

The National Weather Service warns of severe ice accumulations up to 0.5 inches, posing a risk of prolonged power outages and other damages. Regions in Kansas anticipate more than a foot of snow, increasing travel risks.?

Major airlines have already activated travel waivers to assist affected passengers, Delta Air Lines offers free rebooking for flights from 12 central U.S. airports between January 3-6, while American Airlines extends its policy to 45 cities, allowing changes for tickets purchased before January 1 for travel through January 9. Other airlines such as United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are following suit to assist affected passengers in one way or another.?

A2Z debuts the world’s first multi-use BVLOS drone network

A2Z Drone Delivery has debuted the world’s first multi-use drone dock network operating beyond-visual-line-of-sight, allowing a single operator to manage a fleet of four drones for multiple purposes, including autonomous waterway patrols, water rescue, and regional retail delivery. Partnering with the Anji Bureau of Water Resources in China, this initiative marks A2Z’s first deployment as a drone service provider.

Initially, the network uses A2Z’s AirDocks and Longtail UAVs to autonomously patrol 37 kilometers of Anji City’s urban waterways. They monitor for illegal activities, including dumping and unauthorized construction, while reducing manpower and emissions. Equipped with high-resolution and infrared cameras, the drones relay data to operators in real-time, with AI tools assisting in identifying areas of concern.

“Not only has this drone infrastructure network enabled us to better monitor the impacts of urban life on our water resources, but we have also opened the door to other advanced drone services for our county’s residents.,” said ChongShan Wan, director of the Anji Bureau of Water Resources.

When not patrolling, the fleet conducts water rescues using onboard winches to deliver flotation devices. Future plans include expanding the network across Anji County, and protecting reservoirs while providing additional retail delivery services.

Vertical Aerospace accelerates eVTOL progress with Monolith’s AI

Bristol-based eVTOL innovator Vertical Aerospace has announced a partnership with Monolith, a London-based AI software provider, to streamline and improve the testing and simulation of its VX4 aircraft. Monolith's advanced AI tools will help Vertical accelerate its development timeline and refine engineering precision, a crucial step toward the VX4's targeted certification in 2028.

Dr. Richard Ahlfeld, Monolith’s CEO, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “With Monolith, Vertical will model complex systems faster and accelerate test campaigns, enabling the company to learn more about design performance while reducing development and testing time.”

Vertical's VX4, a four-passenger, piloted eVTOL is considered a frontrunner in urban air mobility. Having achieved its first untethered flight in November 2024, Vertical is leveraging AI to optimize testing processes.

The partnership’s initial focus is on the structural testing of the VX4’s pylons, a crucial area following issues during an earlier test in 2023. Monolith’s AI-driven “Next Test Recommender” algorithm will help Vertical engineers prioritize critical tests and improve efficiency.

Beyond the VX4, this partnership could influence future Vertical Aerospace models, potentially paving the way for new designs with increased capacity and range just two years post-certification.