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
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
Embraer Legacy 500 Approved for Ops at London City Airport
The Legacy 500 that performed this demonstration is the 1,000th business jet that Embraer has delivered, and joined Flexjet’s fleet last month.
Aircraft
HondaJet Gets European Nod
Follows U.S. FAA approval in December and Mexican DGAC validation in March.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet To Start European Ops by Year-end
Raymond Jones will head Flexjet’s non-U.S. operations as managing director for international.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Expanding Upset Recovery Program
Added will be the Cessna Citation CJ3; Gulfstream G450 and G650; Beechcraft King Air 350; and Pilatus PC-12.
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.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety International Expands Gulfstream Training
Rejected takeoff course is now available for GIV, GV, G450, G550 and G650, while G650 sim training to be added at Farnborough center.
Maintenance and Modifications
Honeywell Taps FlightSafety International for Maintenance Training
FlightSafety will offer training for Honeywell engines, auxiliary power systems, avionics, satcoms and environmental control systems
Training and Workforce
APG Adds Temporary Obstacle Tool to iPreFlight App
Tool allows iPreFlight users to enter temporary obstacles at known locations for inclusion in runway analysis performance calculations.
App Makes Perfect Aircraft Holding Patterns a Breeze
Holding Pattern Computer app takes the wind into account and also calculates whether to turn left or right to enter the pattern.
Regulations and Government
Fake Nav Invoices on the Rise, Flight Planner Warns
Red flag are incorrect email domain names; asking for a copy of an invoice or payment; or a notification of a change in payment bank account information.
Airports
NetJets Partners with London Heliport
Now rebranded NetJets London Heliport, the port also recently celebrated its 500,000th movement.
Avionics
Upgrade for Kings Airs with Pro Line 21 Adds SVS, ADS-B
The three packages have been tailored to meet the needs of all Pro Line 21-equipped King Airs and include ADS-B OUT and synthetic vision.
