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
Europe Could Lead Recovery in Bizjet Market, Says JetNet
Buyer sentiment is most optimistic in Europe, with 61.8 percent in this region saying that the business jet market is past the low point.
Aircraft
Nextant Aerospace's Next Act: the Challenger 604
The 604XT is being announced first as an avionics retrofit package, with more details to come in October about other potential improvements.
Maintenance and Modifications
Embraer Executive Jets Expands Service in Russia
Embraer appointed Moscow-based JF Service as its new authorized service center for Legacy 450s and 500s in Russia.
Aircraft
Piaggio Renews Focus on Business Aviation
Piaggio has been ramping up operations at its new production facility at Riviera Airport in Villanova d’Albenga, Italy.
Aircraft
Cirrus Vision Jet Earns EASA Nod and Logs First European Delivery
EASA approval comes seven months after the U.S FAA certified the single-engine Cirrus Vision Jet.
Maintenance and Modifications
Vector Showcases MRO Solutions
Vector offers OEM-approved support for several business aviation powerplants and helicopters.
Aircraft
Air Hamburg Is Launch Customer for Embraer Legacy 650E
Aircraft has upgraded Honeywell Primus Elite Advanced Features avionics suite with synthetic vision and autothrottles as standard equipment.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet’s UK Division Gears Up for Growth
Company plans to offer tailored international programs to European-based business aircraft owners.
Aircraft
Pilatus Starts Production of PC-24 Jets
First production airplane is already painted in its final livery, and certification and the first delivery planned for the fourth quarter.
Maintenance and Modifications
Helicopter Operator Starlite Opts for Traxxall Mx Tracking
Company's missions include relief work, helicopter emergency medical service, medical evacuation, and on/offshore oil and gas support.
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet Jettisons Aircraft Positoning Fees
Depending on location, positioning fees can add tens of thousands to the overall cost of a flight, says the company.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
European Bizjet Fleet To Double by 2025, Says Global Jet Capital
Global Jet Capital: Around 41 percent of the region’s business aircraft fleet is composed of midsize to large-cabin jets.
Aircraft
M600 Turboprop Single Provides Lift to Piper's Sales Revenues
The addition of the M600, with three handed over in the latest quarter, “drove revenue up significantly.”
Aircraft
Piaggio Rolls Out New Customer Service Solutions for Avantis
Solutions include avionics upgrades, new maintenance programs and an improved landing gear system available for retrofit.
Aircraft
Textron Starts Fabricating Cessna Denali Test Articles
Engineers have started fabrication of the first static, fatigue test articles and initiated testing with the fuel system iron bird.
Aircraft
Outfitted Gulfstream G500 Makes European Debut
Aircraft flew from Savannah to Paris in 7 hours and 40 minutes, covering the 3,788-nm/7,015-km distance at an average speed of Mach 0.90.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet's European Operation To Add Legacy 600s by Year-end
Legacy 600 was chosen for its super-midsize cabin and nearly 3,800-nm range, allowing flights from London or Paris to Northern Africa and Middle East.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Delivers First B-registered G650 in China
This follows type certificate validation from China’s Civil Aviation Administration for Gulfstream’s flagship G650 and G650ER in mid-February.
Regulations and Government
NBAA: MEL Rule in Europe Stems from New Part NCC
“We are working with the FAA, ICAO and EASA to find a way forward,” said NBAA vice president of regulatory and international affairs Doug Carr.
Charter & Fractional
As B Corp, Reynolds Jet Takes More Socially Active Role
All net profits will go to providing no-cost private aircraft transportation for certain patients to and from Cincinnati Children’s Hosptial.
Aircraft
GAMA: 1Q Bizjet Shipments Rise, Turboprops Plunge
Overall, the general aviation industry shipped 434 airplanes worth $3.6 billion in the first three months.
Aircraft
Textron Ceases Production of Cessna Citation Mustang
More than 470 of the entry-level jets were delivered during its 12-year production run.
1Q17 Bizjet Revenues and Deliveries Slide at Bombardier
Bellemare termed Global sales in the quarter as “soft,” but added that it’s midrange Challenger models are doing “extremely well.”
Aircraft
Global 7000 Program on Track as Third Aircraft Flies
FTV3 joins a flight-test program that has been demonstrating “excellent system reliability” since it got under way in November.
Charter & Fractional
Higher Share Sales Drive 19% Revenue Jump at NetJets
Also driven by an increase in services revenues attributable to increases in pass-through costs and a 2 percent increase in flight hours.
European Bizav Flying Rises on Wings of AOC Operators
AOC flights surged 4 percent last month and have increased in each of the last six months.
Airports
Construction Work Displaces EBACE 2017 Static Display
Attendees have to take a shuttle bus from the exhibit hall to a new-location static display area due construction of the airport passenger terminal.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA OKs Five-blade Composite Prop for Piper M600
The five-blade Hartzell composite propeller is now being offered as a Piper factory option for 2017 on new M600s.
Airports
Group Seeks Proposals for Third FBO at Addison Airport
When complete, the facility will have 120,000 sq ft of hangar, office and shop space, 6.9 acres of ramp space and a 22,000-sq-ft FBO terminal.
Avionics
Duncan Aviation Sees Surge in ADS-B Upgrade Bookings
According to Duncan’s latest estimate, 6,000 business aircraft in the U.S. still need to be equipped with ADS-B OUT before Dec. 31, 2019.
