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
FAA: No More Issues Putting PC-12s on Part 135 Tickets
The issue arose when FSDOs had differing interpretations of FAR 135.163(f), which outlines electrical power requirements for single-engine aircraft.
ATC
NBAA Seeks Routes To Ease Impact of Presidential TFR
While most TFRs affect airports, “This one is primarily an airspace problem because it shuts down many of the route options in and out of New York City."
Engines
Williams FJ44 for Pilatus Jet Gets FAA, EASA Nods
PC-24 will also be the first FJ44 application to provide “quiet, efficient ground power,” eliminating the need for a traditional APU.
Argus: North American Bizav Flying Rises 3.9% in 1H17
Flight activity continues to be “very strong” in the Part 135 segment, rising 10.1 percent during the first six versus the same period a year ago.
Maintenance and Modifications
U.S. GIV Owners Have 36 Months To Retrofit Gust Locks
Action stems from NTSB safety recommendation outlined in its final report of the GIV that crashed on takeoff from Massachusett’s Bedford-Hanscom Field.
Universal: Plan Now for Bizav Ops to 2018 Winter Games
Operators should expect delays in processing times or find lack of slot availability as the event nears.
NBAA-CAN Fundraiser Gets New Look
The Fund an Angel Cocktail Reception, formerly the NBAA/CAN Soiree, will feature live and silent auctions, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and networking.
Rotorcraft
Midwest Helicopter Charter Firms Form One Sweet Company
Sweet Helicopters provides private helicopter charters and aerial production services.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
GIV Flight Proves Global Xpress Worldwide Coverage
During the flight, Global Xpress supported voice, data and streaming applications
Avionics
HAI Asks FAA To Include Helos in ADS-B Rebate Program
ADS-B OUT avionics will be required for all aircraft, including helicopters, flying in controlled U.S. airspace on Jan. 1, 2020.
Rotorcraft
CHC Inks Deal with Milestone for Super-medium Helos
The new helicopters will be configured for energy transport missions and will serve CHC customers in the North Sea and Australia.
Aircraft
Daher Offering Garmin G1000NXi Upgrade as TBM Retrofit
The upgrade will provide faster system boot-up and software loading, in addition to the ability to manage more data and display visual charts.
Aircraft
Bombardier Bizjet Shipments Down, but Globals Rise
The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 135 business jet deliveries, which would put overall shipments on par with 2016.
Charter & Fractional
FAA Recommends Committed-to-stop Point for Landings
The InFO was prompted by a Hawker 800A that crashed while attempting a go-around more than 17 seconds after touchdown on a 5,500-foot runway.
ATC
Remote Tower To Be Tested at Colorado Airport
Northern Colorado Regional Airport chosen as the test facility because of its traffic volume and the wide mix of aircraft types operating at the airport.
Training and Workforce
Bombardier Adds Challenger 300 Sim at Dallas Center
The facility can train up to 3,000 pilots and 280 maintenance technicians per year.
Aircraft
2Q17 Deliveries Down, but Sales Steady, at Gulfstream
During the quarter, Gulfstream delivered 30 jets (23 large and seven midsize) versus 36 in the same period last year (29 large and seven midsize).
Aircraft
Garmin 1000NXi Now Standard on Cessna Caravans
Features of the G1000NXi include faster processing times, improved graphics rendering and enhanced readability with LED bED back-lighting.
Aircraft
Dassault Reaches New Heights with 2,500th Falcon
2,500th business jet is a Falcon 900LX that was handed over at Dassault's Little Rock Completion Center to a long-time Falcon customer based in the U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Gama Aviation Logs 100,000th Flight for Wheels Up
Wheels Up/Gama Aviation's flight operations have the same scale as a regional airline and is fast approaching 6,000 flight sectors per month.
Maintenance and Modifications
Textron Delivers First Fully Configured Hawker 400XPR
Customer’s baseline Beechjet 400A was upgraded with new Hawker winglets, Williams FJ44 engines, refurbished interior and new paint scheme.
Aircraft
Textron Delivers More Bizjets, Fewer King Airs in 2Q17
The division recorded a $54 million profit in the second quarter versus $81 million a year ago, primarily due to lower volume and mix.
Avionics
Collins Celebrates 40th Anniversary of GPS Milestone
Forty years ago today, Rockwell Collins engineer David Van Dusseldorp successfully received and decoded a GPS signal for the first time ever.
Regulations and Government
GAMA Praises U.S. House Appropriators for Supporting GA
Committee provided $1.3 billion for aviation safety overall, which is $11.2 million above the FY2017 level and $51.7 million above the budget request.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Ships 550th G550
The ultra-long-range twinjet aircraft has amassed more than 50 city-pair speed records during its more than 10 years in service.
Regulations and Government
CBAA 2017 Promises Information-packed Gathering
Workshops to be held on CBAA’s safety and risk management systems, operational and regulatory hot topics and issues such as unconventional risk.
Aircraft
Global 7000 Program Surpasses 500 Flight-test Hours
Testing conducted over the 500 flight hours has demonstrated the capability of the aircraft's propulsion, avionics, electrical and mechanical systems.
Aircraft
First Embraer Legacy 500 Assembled in Florida Flies
“This flight also marks a key milestone for our Melbourne operations, where we expanded our production facility and doubled our footprint.”
Sutton Launches Online Aircraft Reporting System
Provides a microsite for each aircraft that allows owners and operators to view, in real time, operational expenses, flight activity and charter revenue.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ruag, Happy Design Team on 'Carboneum' Paint Scheme for Global
Designed with race and power spirit and is enhanced with honeycomb patterns.
