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
Falcon 8X Enters Service with First Delivery to Amjet
The 6,450-nm/11,945-km Falcon 8X—a stretch derivative of the 7X—was certified by the EASA and U.S. FAA in June.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Zetta Jet Gets First Global 6000 with Jet Connex, Venue
Air charter firm has main offices in Los Angeles and Singapore, as well as sales and support offices in New York, London, Beijing and Shanghai.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Adds Falcon 8X Training at Paris Center
FlightSafety provides training for all current-production Falcon aircraft using a fleet of 26 full flight simulators at its learning centers.
Aircraft GSE Firm Tronair Sold To Golden Gate Capital
Its products include towbars, towbarless tugs, wheel chocks, aircraft jacks, lavatory servicing carts, ground power units and aircraft tooling.
Avionics
Constant Aviation Now Offering Pro Line 21 Retrofit for Beechjets
The upgrade addresses pending regulatory and obsolescence issues, in addition to offering a “cost effective” platform.
Aircraft
Cessna Delivers 5,000th Light Business Jet
Milestone aircraft is a Citation M2 that was handed over last week to Helitrip Charter, which is leasing the aircraft to UK charter firm Catreus.
Engines
QTA's Composite Inner Barrel STC'd for Gulfstream G200
Retrofit provides a solution to corrosion issues with the original aluminum honeycomb inner acoustic barrels in PW300-series engines.
Aircraft
Gulfstream To Drop G150, Focus on Large Bizjet Market
The G150—a derivative of the G100/Astra SPX—is manufactured under contract by Israel Aerospace Industries in Tel Aviv.
Avionics
Bombardier Wave Now Available for Retrofit in Globals
The first customer aircraft retrofitted with the Wave system installed within Bombardier’s network was recently performed at the Singapore service center.
Safety
Bizav 'Has Long Way To Go on Safety,' Says NBAA Chief
The Safety Standdown is an opportunity “to for us to move beyond the reactive, find ways to use the data to identify challenges and mitigate them."
Aircraft
Piper M600 Wins Mexican Nod
This marks the first approval of the new turboprop single in Central and South America.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
$178B Needed To Fund Bizjet Deliveries over Next Decade
Global Jet Capital claims the bulk of these purchases will rely on loans and leases.
Safety
Saudia Private Aviation Taps Wyvern for Risk Management
Under the agreement, Wyvern will provide updated operational and technical manuals to SPA that comply with newly implemented regulations.
Mayo Clinic Pilot Health Service Added to USAIG Safety Program
ProPilot functions as the flight department's out-of-house medical director, working supportively and proactively to sustain pilots’ medical certification.
Aircraft
Milestone 800th TBM Delivered to Elliott Aviation
According to Daher, the TBM 700 was the first civilian pressurized single turboprop aircraft to be certified, entering full production in 1991.
Charter & Fractional
XOJet Allies with JetSmarter for Real-time Booking Apps
As part of the alliance, XOJet has named JetSmarter as the exclusive digital distribution channel for the company’s fleet of midsize jets.
Rotorcraft
UBS: Pre-owned Helicopter Inventory Dips a Bit in August
There were 1,364 pre-owned helicopters available for sale at the end of August, which equates to 6 percent of the installed base.
U.S. Bizav Flying Roars Back to Life in August
All aircraft categories saw increases last month, with large-cabin jets leading the way with a 6.1-percent year-over-year surge.
Regulations and Government
Survey: Nearly 50% Might Sell Bizcraft if User Fees Implemented
Looking at the Presidential slate, half believe that Donald Trump would act in the best interests of business aviation.
Aircraft
Beechcraft Hawker 400XPr Upgrade STC'd by FAA
Upgrade includes winglets, Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 retrofit avionics and replacement Williams International FJ44-4A-32 engines.
FBOs
Talon Air Joins Signature FBO Network as Affiliate
Talon Air's facility at Republic Airport includes more than 100,000-sq-ft of hangar, executive terminal and office space.
Charter & Fractional
Clay Lacy Aviation, Key Air To Merge
The combined company will forward as Clay Lacy Aviation, representing more than 75 aircraft in 15 U.S. locations, two FBOs and four maintenance centers.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Formalizes Care Program, Intros Teal Airplane
Wheels Up Cares will raise awareness and funds for causes important to the company and its members.
Charter & Fractional
Argus-rated Operators, Brokers Get Break on AOG Protect
AOG Protect limits financial losses associated with charter flights that have been grounded for mechanical or other issues.
Regulations and Government
Corporate Pilot Launches Cuba Handling Company
Cuba Handling will secure aircraft permits, flight logistics, visas and passenger itineraries for private aircraft operators.
Maintenance and Modifications
AirFlyte Adds Falcon 900, Global Express to Mx Roster
The MRO also has a maintenance base in Sarasota, Florida, and is setting up an aircraft maintenance shop at Hanscom Field, near Boston.
Maintenance and Modifications
Comlux America Reports Busy Year for Bizliner Work
So far this year, the facility has completed three VIP bizliners a “steady stream” of maintenance and upgrade projects.
Aircraft
Quest Lands Chilean Approval for Kodiak 100
Earlier this year, Quest named Santiago, Chile-based Aeroservicio as its authorized Kodiak sales representative for Chile.
ATC
Fans 1/A Aircraft on NAT Will Need To 'Confirm' Route
Message acts as a means to check the downlinked route from the aircraft against the route held in the flight data processing system.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Launches College Football Air Shuttle Service
Shuttle flights are scheduled to arrive two hours before kickoff and return one hour after the game ends.
