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
Gulfstream Virtually Flies G600 Iron Bird
Iron bird allows engineers to test the flight control and mechanical systems—including landing gear, brakes and hydraulics—in a ground-based lab.
Aircraft
Phenom 300 Three-peats as Best-selling Bizjet
Embraer delivered 70 of the light jets last year, besting the next best-selling jet—the super-midsize Challenger 350—by two units.
Avionics
Jeppesen Teams with Avionics Source for Avionics, Data
Partnership will provide general aviation pilots with a single source for avionics system expertise and flight data subscriptions.
Aircraft
Embraer Executive Jets Taps Across as Mexican Dealer
Across will add aircraft Embraer business jet sales and fractional ownership offerings to its existing aircraft charter/management and FBO services.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Flies Fourth Flight-test G500
During the 3 hour, 17 minute flight, the aircraft reached its maximums of 51,000 feet and Mach 0.925.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Helo Lessor Waypoint To Add Aussie, Africa Offices
“These are important, growing markets and we are further expanding our global reach to better serve our customers,” the company said.
FBOs
Gama Aviation To Expand Facilities at Sharjah
Project will entail 108,000 sq ft in new facilities and 226,000 sq ft of apron and aircraft parking space.
Safety
Baldwin Aviation, SOS Team on Aviation Safety Program
Partnership combines Baldwin’s expertise in aviation safety data collection with SOS’s flight data management/flight operations quality assurance.
Aircraft
Bombardier Bizjet Shipments To Slide after Flat 2015
Bombardier delivered 199 bizjets last year: 73 Global 5000/6000s, 68 Challenger 300/350s, 25 Challenger 605/650s, one Challenger 850 and 32 Learjet 70/75s.
Aircraft
OneJet Names Pittsburgh as Base of Operation
Five new nonstop regional air service destinations to be added from Pittsburgh International Airport, which will be a domicile for pilots and airplanes.
Safety
Advent Anti-skid Brakes STC'd for 300-series King Airs
Company is also working on STCs for the King Air B200, Pilatus PC-12/12NG and Beechcraft T-6B/C.
Airports
Flexjet Opens Private Terminal in Naples, Florida
Opening is the first of several planned Flexjet-exclusive private terminals at airports where the fractional provider experiences the greatest demand.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Logs 5,000th Airborne Support Flight
The airborne unit has accumulated more than 16,600 flight hours and 8 million nautical miles since its inception in May 2002.
Rotorcraft
Enstrom TH180 Prototype Damaged in Hard Landing
The test pilot walked away and was evaluated at a local hospital for minor injuries.
Aircraft
Flaris Preps To Fly Conforming LAR 1 Jet this Spring
Polish company expects to begin engine testing on the five-seat single-engine jet later this month in anticipation of first flight this spring.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bombardier Promotes Milligan to Bizjet Service Sales v-p
He now oversees sales for service centers, parts services, component repair/overhaul and smart services, as well as sales support and service planning.
U.S. Bizav Flying Off To a Roaring Start This Year
Traffic climbed 3 percent in January, and projections call for a 9.1-percent YOY increase this month and a 5-percent rise during the first quarter.
ATC
NBAA Chief: Don't Hand U.S. ATC Monopoly To Airlines
NBAA supports a “third way forward" that would implement targeted solutions to identified problems to ensure America’s aviation system remains on top.
Aircraft
Quest Aircraft Gears Up for More Growth
Quest Aircraft delivered 32 Kodiak 100 turboprop singles last year, two more than in 2014.
Aircraft
After Loss of Pino, XTI Taps Johnson as Interim CEO
Johnson, who formerly was the president and COO at Cessna, will thus oversee the continued development of XTI’s TriFan 600.
Bizav Flying in Europe Gets Off To Bad Start in 2016
Flights of business jets and pistons were each down 5 percent from a year ago, while turboprops declined 1.5 percent.
Aircraft
HondaJet Nominated for 2015 Collier Trophy
The recently FAA-certified HondaJet was likely chosen for its unique over-the-wing mounted engines.
Environment
ICAO Committee Finalizing Aircraft Emissions Standards
Full aircraft emissions scheme will then be considered by all 191 ICAO member states at the UN aviation agency’s 39th Assembly in late September.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet Aviation St. Louis Upgrades Aircraft Paint Shop
New controls for climate, air quality and final finish help ensure customers get a flawless, high-gloss paint finish.
Safety
Fractional Jet Pilots Needed for Academic Research
Project is investigating why fractional jet pilots have achieved a great safety record despite the operational challenges they face.
Aircraft
Collins Fusion Avionics Upgrade STC'd for King Air 350
Upgrade immediately readies the aircraft for the future with simple airspace mandate compliance and essential capabilities for NextGen flying.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Global Jet Completes Buy of GE Capital Bizjet Portfolio
Outstanding part of the portfolio covered some 30 aircraft based in Mexico and Brazil.
Aircraft
Jackie Chan Takes Delivery of First Legacy 500 in China
Chan is also Embraer Executive Jet’s brand ambassador and has owned and operated a Chinese-registered Legacy 650 since 2012.
Aircraft
Comlux Orders Trio of New Airbus ACJ320neos
Bizleiners will be fitted with CFM Engines and are slated to be delivered green starting in 2019.
Regulations and Government
Bolen: Bizav Access to Airspace, Airports Under Threat
Bolen fears ATC privatization would cede control of airspace and airport access to the airlines, limiting business aviation's access.
