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
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Gogo Enhances Its Bizav Entertainment System
These include free hardware for in-hangar content updates, more predicable pricing and the ability to stream content to cabin monitors.
Fuel
Phillips 66 Aviation Expands Contract Fuel Program
Its contract fuel program, Partners-Into-Plane, now allows Part 91 corporate and Part 135 charter operators to participate in the program.
UBS: Bizjet Market at Weakest Point Since 2009
Index is down 4 percent from February, at 29. This is “well below” 50, the threshold that determines strengthening (above) or weakening conditions (below).
Aircraft
Daher Starts TBM 930 Deliveries in U.S. and Europe
To date, four of the new TBM 930s have been handed over to customers, with a fifth scheduled for delivery before the end of this month.
Aircraft
Bizjet, Turboprop Deliveries Rise at Textron Aviation
Textron's aircraft division shipped 34 Citations and 26 Kings Airs in the first quarter, up one each from the same period a year ago.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Broker PrivateFly Opens U.S. Office
Fort Lauderdale/Miami was chosen as its U.S. office location to target a growing private jet audience in the area.
Aircraft
Legacy 450 Approved for Ops at France's La Mole Airport
To get the approval, the twinjet had to demonstrate strict performance requirements to operate on the airport’s short runway.
Aircraft
Flexjet Takes Delivery of Embraer's 1,000th Bizjet
Milestone comes 14 years after the company began delivering a VIP version of the ERJ-135 and 11 years since forming a dedicated bizav division.
Accidents
Pilot Incapacitation Preceded TBM 700 Landing Accident
Both the pilot and passenger were not injured in the Dec. 15, 2015 accident, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
Business Aircraft Valuation Firms Merge
Business aviation asset evaluation firms Asset Insight Inc. and SAI Valuations have merged to form Las Vegas-based Asset Insight LLC.
Aircraft
Western Aircraft Celebrates 200th PC-12 Sale
On April 15, Western Aircraft became the first authorized Pilatus sales representative to sell 200 new PC-12s.
Regulations and Government
After Heathrow Incident, BACA Calls for Better UAV Regs
Association says that "reactive" regulations for UAVs is insufficient to keep drones from colliding with aircraft.
Charter & Fractional
Lily Jet Launches Jet Card Program
The minimum buy-in for its Global 5000 jet card is 50 hours, while the maximum is 300 hours.
Environment
Aviation Partners Winglets Conserve Six Million Gallons of Jet-A
Savings equivalent to the fuel used by approximately 12 million passenger cars being driven for a year.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
One-third of Asia Pacific Bizjet Fleet Is Midsize or Larger
Overall, 37 percent of the region’s fleet of business aircraft are in the midsize to large-cabin categories.
Fuel
World Fuel Expands Partnership with Deer Jet
Under new agreement, World Fuel will provide bizav support solutions for Deer Jet’s five FBOs and handling subsidiary Honor Aviation.
Fuel
Reignwood Takes Delivery of First Twin Otter in China; Orders 49 More
Over the next 12 months, Reignwood will establish a Twin Otter completions and service facility, as well as a pilot training center, in Zhuhai.
Aircraft
Honeywell: Demand Slowing for Bizjets, Helos in China
Business jet and helicopter markets in China have cooled due a slowing economy and an anti-luxury backlash.
Avionics
EAA Gets STC for ASTM'd Dynon EFIS in Certified Aircraft
“Breakthrough” will improve flight safety and reduce avionics upgrade costs for owners of certain type certified aircraft.
Maintenance and Modifications
Soloy Acquires Turbine Bonanza Conversion STC
Soloy Aviation originally worked with Allison Gas Turbine Division to secure the original FAA STC for the Bonanza turboprop conversion.
Training and Workforce
Redbird Flight Launches Pilot Proficiency Video Series
Video series host Brittney Miculka will travel to 10 locations across the U.S. to showcase the best in aviation education.
Aircraft
Quest Kodiak OK'd in New Zealand as Company Looks to Future
Quest president and CEO Sam Hill said Asia Pacific is the second-largest market for the turboprop.
Aircraft
Safe Flight AoA Indicator Now Standard on Cessna 172s
The dash-mounted system uses an LED-lit display and features a pilot-settable reference marker.
Aircraft
Piper M600 Makes Worldwide Debut at SNF 2016
Certification and first deliveries are planned for the third quarter.
Aircraft
Sonex Unveils New B-models at SNF 2016
Sun ’n’ Fun also marks the official opening of the Sonex and Waiex B-Model order book.
Sun 'n' Fun 2016 Kicks Off; Daily Airshows Honor Vets
It will also feature 500 exhibitors, a kids zone play area, tours, aircraft displays, car shows, evening entertainment, educational aviation sessions
Scheme Designers Holds Workshops, Scavenger Hunt at SNF
Workshops will offer guidelines and best design practices for aircraft that owners and companies to use when designing aircraft livery.
Third Annual SNF Aviation Career Fair Opens April 6
Recruiters will be on site to interview for openings at their respective aviation companies.
Rotorcraft
Chilean LOIs Move Bell 505 Orders Closer to 400 Mark
Latin American customers account for nearly a quarter of the five-seat helicopter’s backlog.
Charter & Fractional
Argus Provides Operator Ratings for SimpleCharters.com
Move allows consumers to perform due diligence on aircraft charter operators when checking availability and price online at SimpleCharters.com.
