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
Embraer Engineering Center Rapid Prototypes New Aircraft Interiors
Company facility in Melbourne, Fla., houses a laboratory for the development and testing of materials and interior components.
Engines
Marenco, Honeywell Sign Engine Agreement for SKYe Helo
This marks the first production agreement for the new Honeywell HTS900 turboshaft.
Still Stuck in Rut, Euro Bizav Flying Falls 3.4%
Business jet flights, which accounted for 59 percent of all business aviation activity last month in Europe, retreated by 5 percent year-over-year.
TRU ProFlight Opens Florida Training Center
New facility now has full-motion Citation CJ3 and King Air 350i/250 Fusion devices, but could house up to 12 simulators by 2019.
FBOs
NATA, FBO Partners Team on Industry Training
First course offered by NATA and FBO Partners—“The Essentials of Hangar Subleasing: From Risk to Revenue”—is scheduled to be out in May.
Maintenance and Modifications
Meridian Jet Center Gets FAA OK for G200/Galaxy Repairs
Meridian Jet Center is an FAA-approved Part 145 certified repair station and has similar certification from the EASA.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Opens Parts Distribution Center in Dubai
Dubai South facility will have approximately $10 million in Gulfstream parts and materials inventory by year-end.
Report: Bizav Poised for 'Significant' Growth in Africa
The African business jet fleet is the oldest in the world, with an average age of more than 19 years.
JSSI Index: Bizav Flying Up 4.3 Percent in 3Q
Flying soared in Africa and Central America—up 12.5 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively—while North America saw a 1.7-percent gain.
Aircraft
Transport Canada Gives Nod to Challenger 650
Customer deliveries are expected to start by year-end.
Charter & Fractional
Rectrix Now Sole FBO at KBAF after Buying Five Star Jet
Latest acquisition builds on Rectrix's current presence in Westfield and will allow for the expansion of its maintenance and GA handling services there.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
VistaJet Signs for High-Speed Jet Connex Data Service
Higher data speeds will enable passengers to use more devices and allow streaming of real-time and on-demand video to the aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Honeywell Develops Apple Watch App for Cabin Control
App will be available next month and will control cabin lighting, monitor displays, temperature, flight map information and electronic shades.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NBAA: Don’t Gamble on Aviation Taxes
Association to hold Tax, Regulatory and Risk Management Conference on November 15 and 16 in Las Vegas in conjunction with its annual convention.
Training and Workforce
Embraer Inks Order for 10 Phenom 100Es from Emirates
Deliveries of these light jets, which will be used for flight training, are scheduled to begin in 2017.
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy Midsize Jet Assembly To Start in U.S. in June
Midsize jet production will start out slowly in Florida, with just six Legacy 450/500s coming off the Melbourne line in 2017.
Aircraft
Learjet 85 Axed; Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries Flat
Company lost $4.9 billion in the third quarter, part of it a $1.2 billion writedown for the Learjet 85 program.
Charter & Fractional
TAG Aviation Forms Alliance with Bromma Business Jet
Under the agreement, TAG Aviation Europe is exclusive air charter sales agent for Bromma’s two Falcon 7Xs.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Aerospace Climbs Ever Higher in 3Q
Deliveries also soared, with 43 jets (31 large-cabin, 12 midsize) handed over versus 31 aircraft (25 large, six midsize) in the same period last year.
Aircraft
With Deliveries Up, Cessna Preps for Longitude's NBAA Debut
Textron Aviation delivered 37 Citations and 29 King Airs during the quarter, compared with 33 Citations and 30 King Airs a year ago.
Airports
Train Service Speeds Oxford Airport to London Transfer
The train service, which costs £6 each way and runs every 30 minutes, whisks passengers to the “heart of the city” in just under one hour.
Aircraft
Jinggong Named Eclipse 550 Distributor for China
Company to offer sales, training and service for Eclipse parent company One Aviation in the Asian country.
Airports
Leesburg Remote Tower Demo Ends Data-gathering Phase
Data will now be analyzed and form the basis of a safety case report to be presented to the FAA for approval to move to phase two—active traffic control.
Analyst Predicts More Bizjet Shipments, Lower Values
Forecast from industry analyst Brian Foley predicts the delivery of 8,594 business jets worth $238B over the next decade.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tempus To Open Pilatus Mx Center at Scottsdale
The 22,000-sq-ft facility, subleased from Signature Flight Support, will offer “extensive” aircraft service for all Pilatus aircraft.
Aircraft
Next-gen Avionics Upgrade Offered for Falcon 900A/B
The upgrade, which is FAA approved, includes ADS-B OUT, Fans 1/A and LPV.
Aircraft
Embraer Hands Over 300th Phenom 300
Over the past two years, the Phenom 300 has been the most delivered business jet in the world and is on pace to do so again this year.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets, Pilot Union Near Tentative Labor Agreement
The parties are now finalizing the negotiated language that will form the tentative agreement, which is expected to be released in the coming days.
On Air Dining Opens Halal Kitchen at London Stansted
Company said the investment in the Halal kitchen is a response to an increase in requests from an expanding Middle Eastern customer base.
Safety
FlightSafety Adds GV to Upset Recovery Training Course
Course is conducted in a full-motion simulator with expanded aerodynamic model for upset prevention and recovery training.
