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
Regulations and Government
Bolen Leads Panel on Expanding Genav in China
Event brought together senior officials from China's CAAC and the U.S. FAA, as well as the Shanghai Airport Authority, and industry leaders.
Aircraft
Milestone 7,000th Cessna Citation Delivered to NetJets
Model is also the first Citation Latitide for the fractional aircraft provider.
Aircraft
Falcon 8X Gets European Nod; U.S. FAA Approval Pending
Derived from the Falcon 7X, the 6,450-nm 8X was unveiled at EBACE 2014 and first flew on Feb. 6, 2015.
North American Bizav Flying Bounces Back in May
Flying last month surged 2.2 percent from a year ago—a full percentage point above the firm’s forecast.
Maintenance and Modifications
Hartzell Five-blade Prop OK'd with Finnoff PC-12 Upgrade
Its swept blades increase aircraft performance and reduce flyover and cabin noise, Hartzell said.
Charter & Fractional
OneJet Expanding Per-seat Bizjet Service at KPIT
The company now plans to add 10 more nonstop destinations from Pittsburgh, deployed in a metered sequence over the next two years.
Aircraft
Cessna Powers On First Citation Longitude
Milestone comes three weeks after the company successfully mated the wing and fuselage of the first Longitude.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Airbus To Dispose of All Shares in Dassault Aviation
Offering to institutional investors was also priced at €950 per share via a zero coupon bond due in 2021.
Aircraft
Nextant, Constant Hosting Beechjet Ops Conference
Conference will cover NextGen mandates, Pro Line 21 cockpit upgrade, lessons learned in engine overhaul and Beechjet systems troubleshooting strategies.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Opens New Product Support Distribution Center
Savannah, Ga. facility is home to more than 300 employees and houses more than $1.6 billion in spare parts for Gulfstreams.
Aircraft
Western Aircraft Gives New Life To Pilatus PC-12
Company is first Pilatus-authorized service center in the U.S. to complete a life extension program on a Pilatus PC-12.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Textron Aviation Installs First AeroWave System in CJ3
AeroWave service plans are “low cost and easy to understand,” with billing based on hours of use rather data consumed.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bombardier M&O Conference Opens with Shatner as Speaker
Conference opened yesterday with brand ambassador William Shatner as a surprise keynote speaker.
European Bizav Flying Dips Slightly in May
Year-to-date, business aviation flying activity in Europe is down 1.2 percent from a year-ago.
Regulations and Government
FAA: Auto Detailers Not Suited To Clean Aircraft
Auto detailing companies cannot ensure compliance with related maintenance-related procedures, says FAA.
Engines
FAA OKs Williams FJ33-5A Turbofan
Since the new FJ33 engine has been selected to power the Cirrus SF50 Vision and Flaris LAR1, it also includes sensor suite redundancy.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Zetta Jet Selects ViaSat Datacom for Its Global Fleet
ViaSat's global in-flight internet service allows full internet capabilities, including live video streaming, email access and videoconferencing.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
TrueNorth Enhances In-flight Connectivity
New service will be a “hybrid cloud solution” designed to amplify bandwidth and enhance the in-flight connectivity experience.
Safety
Wyvern Launches New Risk-management Products
New suite will provide “independent, customizable, comprehensive and systematic” in-house risk management programs for operators and their vendors.
Aircraft
Embraer To Close Legacy 650 Assembly Facility in China
More than 40 ERJ 145 were assembled in China from 2004 to 2010, and five Legacy 650s were built there from 2012 to this year.
Aircraft
Embraer Starts Legacy 450/500 Production in U.S.
Up to 600 new employees will be added at the U.S. facility for Legacy production.
Training and Workforce
Simulation Training Teams with SimCom on Paris Center
Companies will open a general and business aviation training center in Paris near Charles de Gaulle Airport this November.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Gogo Cloud Expands into Europe
Customers of Gogo Vision, the company’s in-flight entertainment service, can automatically receive updates when they visit a Gogo Cloud location.
Aircraft
Slowly but Surely, Aerion Presses Ahead with AS2 Supersonic Bizjet
Several existing core engines suitable for adaptation to the needs of supersonic flight have already been identified by the hopeful SSBJ manufacturer.
Aircraft
Flexjet Seals Agreement with Nextant at EBACE
Nextant is upgrading eight of Flexjet’s 21 400XTis to meet European mandates, as well as refresh the cabin and repaint the exterior.
Maintenance and Modifications
Western Aircraft Installs First Elite II Upgrade
Installation in Falcon 900EX updates it to meet ADS-B OUT mandate, reduce crew workload and enable WAAS-LPV and RNP approaches.
UAS Demos Self-service Flight-planning Platform
FlightEvolution allows schedulers, dispatchers and flight crews to plan every aspect of a trip without any other outside help.
Aircraft
Embraer Starts Legacy 450/500 Production in U.S.
All Phenom assembly will be also shifted to Embraer’s Florida facility as of July 1.
Aircraft
HondaJet Gets European Nod
Follows U.S. FAA approval in December and Mexican DGAC validation in March.
Training and Workforce
FlightBag App Enhances FlightSafety’s e-Courseware
New iOS app and web-based version will be available for use in pilot, maintenance technician and flight attendant courses.
