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
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
China's New Aircraft Tariffs Hit G550, G650, and BBJ1
25 percent aircraft import tariffs imposed today by China are the result of an escalating tit-for-tat trade war with the U.S.
Accidents
Citation CJ4, Cessna 150 Collide at Non-towered Airport
The two people aboard the Cessna 150 were killed; no injuries were reported among the five on board the Cessna Citation CJ4.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet Pilots To Vote on Union Decertification
Move comes more than two years after the company’s 600 pilots voted for representation by IBT 1108.
NARA: U.S. Tax Law a Boon for Aircraft Sales
NARA-certified brokers have recognized a change in the marketplace just in the first few months of 2018 since the U.S. tax reform was enacted.
IJET Expands European Reach with Spanish Venture
Its new office in Mallorca will serve Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American business aircraft operators.
Charter & Fractional
My Aircraft Reporting System Adds Features, Customers
New features include the capability to automatically integrate with any flight information or accounting software in real-time.
Aircraft
Embraer Executive Jets Delivers First Phenom 300E
This follows recent type certifications of the light jet from the FAA, EAA and Brazil’s ANAC.
Gulfstream Expands Student Leadership Program
Aviation/STEM-themed program in Dallas will expose more than 300 local students each year to work readiness and leadership skills, and info on careers.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
FDS Gets Hollywood Nod for HD Streaming on Bizjets
To load the tiered content, aircraft operators insert a solid-state drive into the do Capsule, enabling up to 22 passengers to simultaneously watch movies.
Aircraft
Supersonic Bizjet Launch Inches Closer, Says Analyst
Supersonic business jets are "still moving at the very subsonic speed of technology, regulation and money,” though.
Avionics
Amstat: Less Than 40% of Bizav Fleet Ready for ADS-B
Specifically, they said 39 percent of U.S.-based business jets and 38 percent of U.S. based business turboprops are currently known to be compliant.
Avionics
SmartSky 4G System Wins FAA PMA Nods
SmartSky partners can develop new STCs more rapidly using the PMA’d components.
Bizav Has an Image Problem, Survey Says
Just one in three business aviation professionals believe the sector has a positive image, while 64 percent describe it as either “negative” or “neutral.”
Regulations and Government
FAA Mulls Options for More-transparent Aircraft Registry
The FAA “wants to provide as much transparency as possible” in the registry, while also taking into consideration aircraft owners’ privacy concerns.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
U.S. Tax Reform Narrows Business Use of Aircraft
Law expanded bonus depreciation, but also significantly narrowed or eliminated activities that previously qualified as business use.
Preowned Business Jet Market Finds Balance
Now that buyers and sellers are on even ground, prices of used jets have stabilized.
Avionics
ADS-B Will Bring Reckoning to Preowned Bizjet Market
U.S. operators of 13,425 business jets—one-third of the in-service fleet—currently have no ADS-B upgrade plan in place.
Several New Features Coming To ABACE 2018
This includes a reconfigured show layout, expanded exhibitor chalets, aircraft making ABACE debuts, and additional sessions.
Avionics
Gogo Sees Rising Demand for In-flight Connectivity
Demand for in-flight connectivity was up across all business aircraft segments, but was especially robust for light jets and turboprops.
Maintenance and Modifications
Safe Flight Developing Tailstrike Warning System
Safe Flight’s Tailstrike Warning System uses ground clearance and angle of attack (AoA)—a relationship that can even provide predictive alerts.
ATC
DOT IG: FAA NextGen Development Projects Lack Oversight
Since Fiscal Year 2008, Congress has appropriated more than $1.7 billion for NextGen developmental projects.
Avionics
Pentastar Broadens Connectivity Options for Gulfstreams
“Connectivity is vital for business travelers to be truly productive,” noted Jesse Beard, Pentastar Aviation’s director of engineering and inside sales.
Avionics
Jeppesen Charts Added To GoDirect Flight Bag Pro App
Honeywell's GoDirect Flight Bag Pro allows business aviation pilots to create flight plans, view weather, and access flight briefing information.
Aircraft
Denmark Firm Named Nordic Sales Rep for Daher TBMs
Its sales territory includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Charter & Fractional
Horizon Air Group Rebrands as Leviate
The company, which started out as just a charter broker in 2015, has added capabilities from whole aircraft brokerage to aircraft operations since then.
Airports
Landing, Parking Fees Set To Rise at 14 Greek Airports
This includes airports in Aktion, Chania, Corfu, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, Lesbos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki, and Zakynthos.
Aircraft
Cessna Wraps Up Initial Wind Tunnel Tests of SkyCourier
First flight of the SkyCourier is slated for next year, with service entry planned in 2020.
Charter & Fractional
Luxury Yacht Seized in Zetta Jet Bankruptcy Case
Global law firm DLA Piper has seized the luxury yacht Dragon Pearl, which it claims was purchased with "misappropriated" Zetta Jet funds.
Avionics
In-service Bombardier Bizjets Get More Upgrade Options
Enhancements include avionics upgrades that elevate situational awareness or meet regulatory compliance, as well as cabin improvements.
Avionics
Jet Aviation Installs JetWave Datacom in Global 6000
JetWave operates on Inmarsat Aviation’s GX Ka-band network to provide high-speed onboard broadband connectivity.
