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
Safety
FAA Takes More Cooperative Approach to Aviation Safety
Agency's new “compliance philosophy" will enhance the ability to find safety problems before they result in an incident or accident.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NBAA: 'Urgent Need' for FAA To Issue Small UAS Rules
Agency issued a proposed framework earlier this year, though a final rule isn’t expected until next year.
Training and Workforce
FSI Starts Latitude Training, Adds More Caravan Sims
Company starts training in full-motion Cessna Citation Latitude sim at its Wichita center.
Argus: North American Bizav Flying Surges in September
Activity last month soared by 3 percent versus a year agom, more than quadrupling the company’s forecast for 0.7-percent growth that month.
Aircraft
Pre-owned Gulfstream Market Holds Steady, Report Notes
Inventory of for-sale G450s, G550s and G650s remains in seller’s market territory at 7.6 percent, 6.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
Aircraft
One Year Later, Gulfstream G500 Program is Flying High
Gulfstream Aerospace’s flight-test campaign for its G500 program has surpassed more than 100 hours over more than 45 missions.
Safety
FlightSafety Adds GV to Upset Recovery Training Course
Course is conducted in a full-motion simulator with expanded aerodynamic model for upset prevention and recovery training.
On Air Dining Opens Halal Kitchen at London Stansted
Company said the investment in the Halal kitchen is a response to an increase in requests from an expanding Middle Eastern customer base.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets, Pilot Union Near Tentative Labor Agreement
The parties are now finalizing the negotiated language that will form the tentative agreement, which is expected to be released in the coming days.
Aircraft
Embraer Hands Over 300th Phenom 300
Over the past two years, the Phenom 300 has been the most delivered business jet in the world and is on pace to do so again this year.
Aircraft
Next-gen Avionics Upgrade Offered for Falcon 900A/B
The upgrade, which is FAA approved, includes ADS-B OUT, Fans 1/A and LPV.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tempus To Open Pilatus Mx Center at Scottsdale
The 22,000-sq-ft facility, subleased from Signature Flight Support, will offer “extensive” aircraft service for all Pilatus aircraft.
Analyst Predicts More Bizjet Shipments, Lower Values
Forecast from industry analyst Brian Foley predicts the delivery of 8,594 business jets worth $238B over the next decade.
Airports
Leesburg Remote Tower Demo Ends Data-gathering Phase
Data will now be analyzed and form the basis of a safety case report to be presented to the FAA for approval to move to phase two—active traffic control.
Aircraft
Jinggong Named Eclipse 550 Distributor for China
Company to offer sales, training and service for Eclipse parent company One Aviation in the Asian country.
Airports
Train Service Speeds Oxford Airport to London Transfer
The train service, which costs £6 each way and runs every 30 minutes, whisks passengers to the “heart of the city” in just under one hour.
Aircraft
With Deliveries Up, Cessna Preps for Longitude's NBAA Debut
Textron Aviation delivered 37 Citations and 29 King Airs during the quarter, compared with 33 Citations and 30 King Airs a year ago.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Aerospace Climbs Ever Higher in 3Q
Deliveries also soared, with 43 jets (31 large-cabin, 12 midsize) handed over versus 31 aircraft (25 large, six midsize) in the same period last year.
Charter & Fractional
TAG Aviation Forms Alliance with Bromma Business Jet
Under the agreement, TAG Aviation Europe is exclusive air charter sales agent for Bromma’s two Falcon 7Xs.
Aircraft
Learjet 85 Axed; Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries Flat
Company lost $4.9 billion in the third quarter, part of it a $1.2 billion writedown for the Learjet 85 program.
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy Midsize Jet Assembly To Start in U.S. in June
Midsize jet production will start out slowly in Florida, with just six Legacy 450/500s coming off the Melbourne line in 2017.
Training and Workforce
Embraer Inks Order for 10 Phenom 100Es from Emirates
Deliveries of these light jets, which will be used for flight training, are scheduled to begin in 2017.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NBAA: Don’t Gamble on Aviation Taxes
Association to hold Tax, Regulatory and Risk Management Conference on November 15 and 16 in Las Vegas in conjunction with its annual convention.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Honeywell Develops Apple Watch App for Cabin Control
App will be available next month and will control cabin lighting, monitor displays, temperature, flight map information and electronic shades.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
VistaJet Signs for High-Speed Jet Connex Data Service
Higher data speeds will enable passengers to use more devices and allow streaming of real-time and on-demand video to the aircraft.
Charter & Fractional
Rectrix Now Sole FBO at KBAF after Buying Five Star Jet
Latest acquisition builds on Rectrix's current presence in Westfield and will allow for the expansion of its maintenance and GA handling services there.
Aircraft
Transport Canada Gives Nod to Challenger 650
Customer deliveries are expected to start by year-end.
Aircraft
Embraer Executive Jets Celebrates 10 Years
When the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer established the executive jets division, its goal was to “be a major player” in the business jet OEM market.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Embraer Engineering Center Rapid Prototypes New Aircraft Interiors
Company facility in Melbourne, Fla., houses a laboratory for the development and testing of materials and interior components.
TRU ProFlight Opens Florida Training Center
New facility now has full-motion Citation CJ3 and King Air 350i/250 Fusion devices, but could house up to 12 simulators by 2019.
