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
Second 7X Joins Flight-test Fleet
Dassault Aviation’s second conforming Falcon 7X made a 2 hour 15 minute maiden flight on July 5.
Aircraft
Beech Duke’s ‘Air’ Apparent
Rocket Engineering of Spokane, Wash., said it will soon have an STC to re-engine Beechcraft Duke BE60 twin pistons with two P&WC PT6A-35 or -21 turboprops.
Regulations and Government
Forty Pilots Indicted in Fraud Sting
Operation Safe Pilot, an 18-month federal probe into “the misuse of Social Security numbers by pilots,” ended last month with the indictment of 40 pilots–s
Aircraft
Is There a Jet in Piaggio’s Future?
A “world-ranked aircraft manufacturer” has engaged Forecast International to evaluate the market for a new business jet.
Aircraft
Flexjet Waives More Ferry Fees
Fractional provider Bombardier Flexjet is offering ferry-fee waivers to and from Europe and Hawaii for share owners of Challenger 300s and 604s.
Charter & Fractional
CitationShares Launches New Programs
Fractional provider CitationShares recently announced three new programs for its customers.
Business aviation accidents, fatalities rise in first half
According to safety analyst Robert E.
Aircraft
Epic forges ahead with jet and turboprop programs
Epic Aircraft parent company Aircraft Investor Resources (AIR) and Republic of Georgia-based Tbilisi Aviation Machine (TAM) in late July further cemented a
Aircraft
Eclipse plays with fire and doesn’t get burned
Halon fire-extinguishing agents have been used for many years to protect valuable electronics, oil and gas production facilities, military systems, aircraf
Charter & Fractional
Raytheon throws another lifeline to Flight Options
In last month’s overview of the fractional aircraft industry, several consultants characterized Cleveland-based Flight Options as the least financially sou
Maintenance and Modifications
Sale of Jet Aviation marks end of an era
On August 11 European private equity group Permira said it would buy a majority stake in Zurich, Switzerland-based aviation services company Jet Aviation f
Flexjet expands to the north
Bombardier Flexjet, the 10-year-old U.S.-based fractional business jet arm of Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, last month announced it would begin operati
Focus on Fuel: Bizjet fuel-burn
Aircraft fuel efficiency depends on many factors, not all of them directly controllable by operators.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Raises the Stakes for Fractionals
Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options last month launched Fractional First, which it describes as a “purchase and use program designed to deli
In The Works Analysis: January 2006
While business aircraft are one of the most important tools of investment bankers and venture capitalists, investing in new aircraft designs doesn’t appear
Charter & Fractional
New Owner Emphasizes Service at Avantair
Avantair’s new owner, Alfred Rapetti, has clearly defined goals for the all-Avanti fractional provider.
Charter & Fractional
Fractionals react to new NetJets contract
It’s no secret that the NetJets pilot contract ratified in late November raised the bar for fractional pilot pay.
Aircraft
In The Works: Eviation EV-20
The twinjet derivative of the former VisionAire Vantage is progressing, though not quite as quickly as previously expected.
Aircraft
In The Works: Eclipse 500
In late December Eclipse Aviation confirmed that a supplier problem has delayed certification of its VLJ from next month to late in the second quarter.
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna Citation Mustang
On January 11 Cessna began certification flights of the Mustang, some two weeks after receiving type inspection authorization.
Aircraft
In The Works: Avocet ProJet
It appears that the ProJet, an Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)-Avocet joint venture, doesn’t have much forward momentum.
Aircraft
In The Works: Diamond D-Jet
Diamond’s Williams FJ33-powered D-Jet didn’t fly as planned in October, but the first flight appears to be right around the corner.
Aircraft
In The Works: Vulcanair VF600W Mission
According to Vulcanair director of sales Remo De Feo, the VF600W Mission is still an active program, though it has been “severely delayed due to a number o
Aircraft
In The Works: Epic LT
Epic Aircraft parent Aircraft Investor Resources in December said it had resolved a row with the FAA over the status of kit-built Epic LT turboprop singles
Aircraft
In The Works: Quest Kodiak
Quest Aircraft’s Kodiak prototype (S/N 001) has logged more than 330 flight hours and is currently on schedule to receive FAA certification in the second q
Another delay for the Hawker 4000
Full FAA certification of the super-midsize Hawker 4000 (née Horizon) has slipped again–from the end of last year to early this month, a Raytheon Aircraft
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options fights unionization
Early last month the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108 filed an application letter to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for represen
Aircraft
Spectrum 33 wings its way into test flight
Just two months after being unveiled at the NBAA Convention in November, the Spectrum 33 twinjet made a 10-minute first flight on January 7.
Aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 605
About a week after the January 22 first flight of the Challenger 605, Bombardier relocated the test airplane to Wichita to begin the approximately 200 flig
