The price of carbon dioxide allowances (EUAs) under the EU Emissions Trading System rallied in May on renewed hopes that EU lawmakers may back a plan proposed by the regulator to withhold supply. EUAs for December 2013 delivery traded as high as €3.80 ($4.92) per metric ton on May 9, up from a low of €2.79 on April 17. April's low was driven by the EU Parliament's rejection of the European Commission's plan to delay or “backload” 900 million EUAs from auctions in 2013-15, and sell them in 2019-20—a move aimed at curbing a supply glut.

What better illustrates the unmanned-aircraft industry's urgent need for airspace integration? On the eve of Paris, Germany is abandoning the €1 billion ($1.29 billion) purchase of four EADS Euro Hawk signals intelligence platforms because the UAS cannot be approved to fly in civil airspace.

While much of the company’s current focus and investment involves its turbofan product line, Cessna is also in the propeller airplane business ... as long as it delivers to the bottom line. The Wichita plane maker plans to defend its leading position in light aircraft, President and CEO Scott Ernest said at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. “I’m not giving it up,” he said. But he added a caveat: “... as long as it’s profitable.”

NetJets is helping to launch Bombardier’s newest aircraft, the Challenger 350, with a firm order for 75 aircraft and options for 125 that have a total value of $5.4 billion. Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, and Jordan Hansell, chairman and CEO of NetJets, on May 20 took the wraps off the $25.9 million Challenger 350, an enhanced version of the Challenger 300 that first flew on March 2. It’s due to enter service with NetJets, fitted with the fractional operator’s custom Signature Series interior, in May 2014.

ARINC Direct this summer is planning to begin delivery of its new Xplore device, a portable unit that is designed to bring ACARS services typically found only on large business jets and airliners to a range of aircraft. The Xplore unit combines four capabilities in a portable box – ACARS messaging services, SMS and instant messaging, voice services and BlackBerry email. The device can be attached by Velcro or thumb screws to a panel mount.

A year after Jet Aviation’s completions woes had “blemished” an otherwise strong financial performance at parent company General Dynamics, Jet Aviation President Dan Clare says the business has put new systems and processes in place and that customers have been happy with the results.

Cessna’s slowdown of light jet production is just that and not a suspension, President and CEO Scott Ernest noted at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. “You don’t stop a production line,” says the executive, who spent nearly three decades overseeing supply chain matters with GE Aviation before taking the reins at the Wichita plane maker in 2011.

Fresh from January’s acquisition of the former Jet Aviation facility at London Biggin Hill, the 328 Group has developed a new dedicated business jet arm known as JETS. Under the 328 brand sits 328 Support Services GmbH, the type certificate holder for all Dornier Do 328 aircraft, plus 328 Design GmbH. The JETS brand covers a range of VIP and business aircraft support services in Germany and the U.K. The Biggin Hill buy also means that JETS now has the group’s first-ever fixed-base operation (FBO).