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
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet Officially Rolls Out Global Access Program
Program can be added to existing fractional ownership contracts or acquired via stand-alone leases, with hourly rates that decrease with distance flown.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Expands Role for Aviasur in Chile
Santiago-based Aviasur now offer the complete Beechcraft and Cessna product lines to the Chilean market.
Avionics
Genesys HeliSAS STC'd for Retrofit on Robinson R66s
Stability augmentation system reduces single-pilot workload while providing precise “hands off” control of the aircraft during all modes of flight.
Safety
ICAO's New Bizav Fatigue Guidelines Shaped by NBAA, FSF
New guide provides science-based best practices to address fatigue in business aviation.
FBOs
Astra Aviation Opens Facility in Zimbabwe Capital
The new facility, Astra’s ninth in the region, includes a 28,590-sq-ft/2,656-sq-m hangar.
Aircraft Resale Association Nears 100 Members
All of the associations 98 members are required to follow a “strict” NARA code of ethics
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Swiss Re Adds Genav Insurance Team in SoCal
Team includes dedicated general aviation underwriters, assistants and claims representatives.
Regulations and Government
FAA: Aircraft-UAS Encounters Continue To Rise in U.S.
Aircraft pilots, ATC personnel and others reported 583 possible hazardsor encounters with UASs in U.S. airspace between August 22 and January 31.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Brazil Services First Argentina-reg Aircraft
The large-cabin Gulfstream worked on is based at Ministro Pistarini International Airport near Buenos Aires.
Aircraft
Falcon 8X Nearing Certification Finish Line
French aircraft manufacturer is preparing to begin deliveries of the ultra-long range trijet this summer.
Regulations and Government
New Tower Lighting Standards Literally for the Birds
Previous FAA standards for tower lighting allowed white and red steady-burning lights, the latter of which was found to attracts migratory birds.
Aircraft
Analyst Raises Alarm over Rising Used G650 Inventory
Deutsche Bank downgraded Gulfstream Aerospace parent General Dynamics due to concerns about the effect of rising pre-owned G650 inventory on new sales.
Regulations and Government
NBAA Asks Bizav Community To Support Senate FAA Bill
The bill also rejects privatizing the air traffic control system, which NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen termed as a “risky scheme."
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet Moving Global Headquarters to Malta
Move expands on the jet charter firm's relocation of its operations center to European country in 2013.
Charter & Fractional
Ercolanese Tapped To Lead Bizav Services Firm ACASS
Over the past eight years, Ercolanese was a member of Bombardier’s business aircraft senior leadership team.
Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Lowers Prices on M-class Singles
Price of M500 cut by nearly $400,000, to $1.99 million, while entry-level Matrix was lowered to $899,000.
Regulations and Government
U.S. Congress Passes FAA Extension
This extension will give the House and Senate time to reach agreement on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Delivers First G650ER into China
Jet handed over to Minsheng Financial Leasing, which now operates 64 Gulfstreams in China.
Argus: North America Bizav Flying ‘Leaps’ in February
Business aviation flight activity in North America climbed by 6.9 percent year-over-year; excluding Leap Day, it was up 3.3 percent.
Charter & Fractional
All-you-can-fly Club Beacon Comes Crashing Down
After starting service last summer, Beacon ceased operations at the end of January.
Aircraft
EASA OKs Bombardier Challenger 650
The 650 is equipped with new 9,220-pound-thrust GE CF34-3BMTO engines that provide 5 percent more takeoff thrust than those on the Challenger 605.
Rotorcraft
Honeywell Downgrades Helicopter Delivery Outlook
Survey indicated that Latin America led all global regions in the rate of new aircraft purchase plans, despite an economic slowdown in Brazil.
Rotorcraft
Honeywell Sees Dip in Civil Helicopter Market
Honeywell's latest forecast envisages some 400 fewer new helicopter sales over the new five years, compared with its 2015 forecast.
Charter & Fractional
2015 Revenues Climb, Profits Fall at NetJets
Revenues at NetJets jumped 5 percent thanks to higher aircraft sales, but profits fell in part due to costs of a contract signing bonuses for its pilots.
Maintenance and Modifications
Composite Inner Barrel for Learjet 60 Now in Production
Quiet Technology Aerospace's solution fixes corrosion issues with the original aluminum honeycomb inner acoustic barrels in the aircraft’s PW305 engines.
Rotorcraft
Marenco Swisshelicopter Flies Second SKYe Prototype
P2, which is now the main test vehicle, has been fitted with a new rotor head and blades intended to reduce vibration and complexity on the rotor head.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Advent Aerospace Hires Barber To Help Expand Company
25-year business aviation industry veteran Brian Barber Barber will help Advent’s management team identify new markets its composite structures business.
FBOs
Firm Offers 30-day Terms for Bizav Handling in Russia
Company said its program “has no competitors in the Russian business aviation market,” where cash-on-demand for bizcraft services and fueling is the norm.
Aircraft
Aurora Jet Partners Accepts Milestone 75th Learjet 75
Milestone comes just slightly more than two years after the twinjet received FAA certification.
Training and Workforce
FSI Adds Bizjet Sims, To Start S-76 Training in Asia
Gulfstream G650 sim in Delaware OK'd by FAA and Dassault Falcon 2000LXS sim in Paris gets U.S. and European nods.
