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
Maintenance and Modifications
RCA Avionics Completes Acquisition of Scottsdale MRO
Deal included the Executive Aircraft Maintenance name and both the maintenance and avionics operations at the Arizona airport.
Aircraft
PlaneSense Tapped as Launch Customer for Pilatus PC-24
The fractional provider, which currently operates more than 50 PC-12 turboprop singles, will take delivery of the first customer PC-24 later this year.
Aircraft
Piper Wins 50-aircraft Order from China Air Shuttle
China Air Shuttle will begin to take deliveries in the second quarter and then distribute the Piper Archers to flight schools and genav outfits in China.
European Bizav Flying Fell Short in 2016, Says WingX
Business aircraft activity last year in Europe fell 0.3 percent from 2015, with 798,000 flights logged in the region.
Charter & Fractional
U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Hear Flytenow Case
The FAA had determined that pilots who solicit passengers using the website are “common carriers” and subject to commercial transportation requirements.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G650ER Logs More City-pair Speed Records
7,500-nm jet claims two more city-pair records—from Columbus, Ohio, to Shanghai and Taipei to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bizjet Outlook, Interest at Post-crisis Highs, Says UBS
The latest UBS Business Jet Market Index is now at 51, 12 percent higher from the previous survey and the fourth consecutive monthly increase,
Bizav Flying Up in North America, but Part 91 Lags
Business aircraft activity inched up 1.4 percent year-over-year last month in North America, according to TraqPak from Argus International.
Aircraft
Dassault Falcon Sales, Deliveries Fall in 'Difficult Market'
Net orders for Dassault Falcons stood at 21 aircraft last year, down from 25 in 2015 and 67 in 2014.
Aircraft
Broker: Used G650 Inventory Declines, along with Prices
Over the past two quarters, G650/650ER supply has decreased to 12 aircraft for sale, representing just 5.4 percent of the fleet.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tamarack Wins FAA, EASA Nods for CJ Active Winglet
Winglet system includes a wingtip extension and winglet, as well as load-alleviation technology.
Analysts: Bizjet Deliveries Down in 2016, Flat in 2017
Estimates call for 661 new business jet deliveries last year, down from 718 actual shipments in 2015, with 2017 expected to be “flat relative to 2016.”
Avionics
Max-Viz 1200 EVS Gets DO-160G Approval
The EVS display enables pilots to see when flying day or night in smoke, haze and light fog.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Cal. Ruling Frees Some For-sale Jets from Property Taxes
There are specific requirements for the exemption, including entering into a listing agreement that transfers care, custody and control of the aircraft.
Safety
Study: 12% of Pilots Could Be Suffering from Depression
Seventy-five participants, or 4.1 percent, reported having suicidal thoughts within the past two weeks before taking the survey.
Avionics
West Star Wins STC for Falcon 900B Datalink Install
CPDL-C improves communication capabilities in areas that usually require third-party HF communication relay, such as oceanic and en route airspace.
Aircraft
Bombardier Banking on Global 7000 To Boost Revenues
The new Global 7000 is expected to drive up Bombardier Business Aircraft’s revenues by $3 billion between its service entry in 2018 and the end of 2020.
Aircraft
Young Pre-owned Business Jet Inventory Stable, Says UBS
At 2,326, the number of pre-owned business jets available for sale at the end of last month was roughly unchanged from a year ago.
Avionics
AEA Survey: ADS-B Fueling Growth at Avionics Shops
89 percent of avionics shops expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months, up from 81 percent in last year’s survey.
Charter & Fractional
JetSmarter Raises $105M To Fund Further Expansion
With round of funding, JetSmarter will expand its current shared private jet flights in cities across the U.S., Europe and Middle East.
Aircraft
Embraer Delivers First Florida-assembled Legacy 450
The fly-by-wire midsize jet was delivered to an undisclosed U.S. customer, who currently owns an Embraer Phenom 300.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Cyber Security, Hypoxia Added To SM4 AvSafety Program
Global Aerospace has committed more than $3.5 million to support SM4 and help its aviation insurance clients pursue higher levels of safety since 2010.
Charter & Fractional
ExecuJet Africa Adds Helo Charter at Cape Town FBO
It will offer commercial helicopter charters for various scenic flights to surrounding vineyards and other tourist attractions.
Aircraft
Piper M600 Turboprop Single Gets Aussie Nod
This paves the way for the launch of flights by M600 owner-operators in the region.
UBS Bizjet Index Sees Post-election Surge
the index came in at 45, a 32-percent jump from UBS’s prior survey and “representing one of the largest sequential increases in its 13 year history.”
Charter & Fractional
ACI Jet Donates C172 To Youth Aviation Career Program
Santa Barbara-based non-profit organization seeks to “engage, inspire and transform youth using flight lessons as a launching pad.”
Argus: U.S. Bizav Activity Climbed Nearly 5% Last Month
North American business aircraft flying soared 4.9 percent year-over-year in November, surpassing the company’s projection of a 3.1-percent increase.
Jets Buoy European Bizav Flying in November
There were 58,111 business aviation departures in the region in November, up 0.8 percent from a year ago.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Continues Supersonic Business Jet Research
U.S. company recently issued two new patents for technologies that would enable development of a supersonic business jet.
Aircraft
HondaJet Makes MEBAA, and Middle East, Debut
Aircraft manufacturer has aircraft on display to evaluate the market for the $4.85 million HA-420 HondaJet in the region.
