Chad Trautvetter
Online Editor
Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group. He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion, the student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot magazine, he joined AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.
Latest from Chad Trautvetter
Aircraft
Aerion: viable market for SSBJ
Last month at the Paris Air Show, Reno, Nev.-based Aerion said its market research, conducted over the past nine months by aerospace market research and st
FBOs
Mercury shakeup might rebrand some FBOs
“We’re still Mercury…for now,” is the way a customer service representative at one of the chain’s 16 FBOs responded to a question about the ongoing melding
Aircraft
In The Works: Evektor EV-55
Czech aircraft designer and manufacturer Evektor-Aerotechnik, best known for a line of light piston singles, used last month’s EAA AirVenture show to begin
Aircraft
In The Works: Eclipse 500
Eclipse Aviation’s fourth conforming Eclipse 500–and the first of its two beta-test jets–joined the flight-test fleet last month.
Aircraft
In The Works: Grob G160 Ranger
Certification of the seven-seat Grob G160 Ranger turboprop single has been delayed from this quarter to the middle of next year to incorporate a new interi
Charter & Fractional
Smaller Providers Climbing Most Strongly
While the major fractionals–with the exception of CitationShares–experienced flat or negative growth, smaller providers have really climbed strongly.
Charter & Fractional
The Jet-card Effect
All of the major providers have jet-card programs: NetJets has Marquis, Flight Options has JetPass, CitationShares has Vector and Flexjet has Premier Fleet
Charter & Fractional
Industry searches for its footing
Although it is approaching its 20th birthday, the fractional aircraft industry is still very much mired in adolescence.
Maintenance and Modifications
Private Jet Mech Makes House Calls
Tampa, Fla.-based Private Jet Mech’s 24-hour, on-call maintenance service for business jet operators is nowcapable of dispatching to more than 100 U.S.
Keystone Breaks Ground on Heliplex
On July 8 Keystone Helicopter broke ground on a 173,000-sq-ft “Heliplex” at its Coatesville Airport, Pa.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Pilots Show Solidarity
According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108, the union representing NetJets pilots, 93 percent of voting members have authorized a s
FBOs
Feras To Open New Bases in Germany
Business aircraft handling group Feras plans to open seven new bases in Germany over the next 12 months.
Airports
Lydd Airport Welcomes Bizav Traffic
The UK’s Lydd Airport is trying to attract business aircraft with a new executive facility operated by FAL Aviation.
…but Embraer’s Delivery Numbers Are Down
Embraer delivered 30 airplanes during this year’s second quarter, matching its output for the first three months but lagging well behind last year’s second
Aircraft
Embraer 170 and 175 Get Canadian Nod…
The Canadian civil aviation authority on July 19 issued type certification for the Embraer 170 and 175, paving the way for first deliveries to Air Canada.
ATC
Radar Staffing Change Won’t Affect Safety
The FAA plans to halt around-the-clock technical staffing of the Pico del Este long-range radar in Puerto Rico.
Regulations and Government
Stage 4 To Take Effect Next Year
All jet and transport-category airplanes for which application of a new type design is submitted on or after January 1 next year will have to meet Stage 4
GE Buys CIT’s Aircraft Portfolio
CIT Group has sold most of its corporate aircraft financial business to GE Commercial Finance.
Regulations and Government
EC Raps Cyprus over Air Safety Rules
The European Commission (EC) last month warned Cyprus that it is one step away from being taken to the Court of Justice over its failure to implement Europ
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Farnborough Up and Running
The new FlightSafety International Learning Center at Farnborough Airport, UK, received its first group of pilots on July 18.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe To Move into New Digs
NetJets Europe expects to move into its new Lisbon, Portugal headquarters in December.
Airports
Raytheon Seeks London City OK for 400XP
Raytheon Aircraft is trying to obtain approval for the Hawker 400XP to use London City Airport.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bombardier Bolstering Parts Supply
Bombardier is looking to boost its parts distribution performance with the opening of two new “super warehouses.” A new facility opened at Chicago O’Hare I
Delta AirElite Scores a Perfect 10
Charter operator Delta AirElite is offering a 10-hour Fleet Membership program through September 30.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Aviation Software for Cellphones
Smartsoft recently released Flight WTK 2.1, a new version of weight-and-balance software for cellphones that support Java scripts.
Cessna, Bell Lift Textron’s Financials
Textron’s second-quarter revenues of $3.2 billion were up 26 percent from last year, driven primarily by double-digit gains at Bell and Cessna.
General Dynamics Soars on Gulfstream
Gulfstream parent General Dynamics’ second-quarter revenues totaled $5.2 billion, a 12-percent year-over-year gain propelled mostly by a 33-percent increas
NASA Funds Studies To Reduce Sonic Boom
NASA last month awarded grants to fund a five-month study on how to design and build an airplane that could demonstrate technology to reduce the sonic boom
Engines
Small engines may spawn a new class of turboprops
The so-called “father of very light jets,” Eclipse CEO and president Vern Raburn, knows this new class of small jets wouldn’t even be possible without suit
