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
Charter & Fractional
Encompass 'Quietly' Takes Over Surf Air Cali Flights
Part 135 firm now operates Surf Air’s more than 70 daily weekday flights in California.
Regulations and Government
Astronautics To Continue Cybersecurity Work for FAA
The contract modification for Phase 1B is focused on mitigation strategies and safety risk assessments on different avionic systems.
October Bizav Flying in Europe Soars 8%
Year-to-date, segment flying is up 4 percent, or 28,000 more flights, versus the same period in 2016.
Regulations and Government
$10M Investment Positions Flightdocs for More Growth
Company provides maintenance, compliance and inventory flight departments, air medical service providers, air charter and fractional aircraft operators.
'One Belt One Sky' Highlighted at Macau Bizav Show
The expo will advocate the Macau government’s “One Belt One Sky” that seeks to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area.
Aircraft
Challenger 350 Buoys Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries in 3Q
During the quarter, Bombardier Business Aircraft delivered 31 jets, down from 36 in the year-ago period.
Aircraft
Used Bizjet Inventory Drops, but Still a Buyer's Market
Over the first nine months, used bizjet sale transactions rose 5.9 percent year-over-year, to 1,946, but jets are taking the same amount of time to sell.
Charter & Fractional
With New Hire, Victor Sets Sights on U.S. Growth
Victor said it reached its sales revenue forecast of $39 million to $41 million in 2016 and is on target to exceed $60 million this year.
Charter & Fractional
PrivateFly: Charter Customers Edge Younger, Spend More
The average age of private jet customers is now 38 years, while nearly one in five passengers are children under 16 years old.
FBOs
Argus Integrates ADS-B Flight Data into TraqPak FBO
Integration of ADS-B enables more precise aircraft tracking, as well as an increase in the number of flights tracked in the tool.
Avionics
Citing Safety, Collins Zaps 10K Approaches from Navdata
Manually edited or temperature compensated “Climb To” altitudes in the databases could "command the aircraft to turn in the wrong direction."
Aircraft
Legacy Falcon 2000 Components To Be Made in India
Components for legacy Dassault Falcon 2000s will be made in India starting in the first quarter of next year.
Airports
AsBAA Launches Chapter in Philippines
AsBAA is now preparing to assist the Philippine government to develop rules and regulations that will enhance the business and general aviation industry.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G500 On Time, but Early EIS Hopes Dashed
CFO reveals that an unnamed supplier is behind on EASA approval of an unspecified component for the G500.
Aircraft
Piaggio Avanti Brake, Wheel Retrofit in Advanced Stages
Launched last year, the upgrade includes forged aluminum wheels and steel brakes, the latter said to reduce overhaul costs by as much as 70 percent.
Teal: Bizav Market To Return to Peak Levels in 2021
Forecast calls for 11,434 business aircraft worth $272.1 billion to be delivered over the next 10 years.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Ops/Flexjet, Pilots Still Spar over Integration
Flexjet and Flight Options have operated under the umbrella of aviation parent company One Sky Flight since 2015.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Holds Firm on Bizjet Pricing in Flat Market
Third-quarter revenues at Textron Aviation fell $44 million year-over-year, as it delivered 41 Citations and 24 King Airs.
Bizav Flight Activity in Europe Continues Ascent
WingX said the Southern Mediterranean “continued to be the hub for growth in business aviation” in September.
NBAA 2017 Deemed 'All-around Success'
The event featured about 1,100 exhibitors, including more than 100 new exhibitors.
Charter & Fractional
Benefit Raises $435K for Corporate Angel Network
Live auction started off with a bidding war for the Textron Stampede off-road vehicle, valued at $27,670, that fetched $100,000.
Regulations and Government
CL604 Pilot Sentenced for Operating While Intoxicated
Fitzgerald was sentenced to 12 months and one day of prison also, fined $5,500 and given three years of supervised probation upon release.
Engines
Honeywell Gets FAA Nod for Longitude's HTF7700L Engine
Cessna’s Citation Longitude is expected to enter service early next year.
UBS Bizjet Index Jumps 10% as Pre-owned Turns Corner
Now at 53, the index score returns to its post-U.S. election high and denotes an improving market.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
C&L Videos Parody 'Airplane' in Trek to NBAA 2017
But the videos also highlight Bangor, Maine-based C&L’s aircraft servicing capabilities: interior completions , connectivity systems and paint.
Training and Workforce
Simhawk Enhances Aircraft Simulator Time Search Tool
The company also claims it now provides access to 93 percent of all civil flight simulators around the world.
Charter & Fractional
Traxxall Lands Executive AirShare Mx Tracking Deal
Aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory management system will be used for fractional provider's fleet of 47 business jets and turboprops.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Amstat Teams Up on New Business Aircraft Valuation Tool
Tool uses current aircraft specs and the same “consistent objective methodology” to value each aircraft.
Avionics
Satcom Direct Datalink Gets Latest FANS TSO Approval
FANS-1/A datalink unit simplifies pilot-to-controller communication, reduces communications error and increases efficiency in congested airspace.
Avionics
Bizcraft Operators Advised To Wait on iOS 11 Upgrade
Devices on iOS 11 using Bluetooth/plug-in GPS receivers for position data can experience loss of GPS signal when carried on aircraft exceeding 300 knots.
