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
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.
Aircraft
One Year Later, Gulfstream G500 Program is Flying High
Gulfstream Aerospace’s flight-test campaign for its G500 program has surpassed more than 100 hours over more than 45 missions.
Accidents
AIN Blog: Is IS-BAO Worth the Paper It’s Printed On?
Pieces of paper won’t prevent an accident, but a safety culture backed by documentation that is believed in and adhered to will go a long way.
Aircraft
Pre-owned Gulfstream Market Holds Steady, Report Notes
Inventory of for-sale G450s, G550s and G650s remains in seller’s market territory at 7.6 percent, 6.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
Argus: North American Bizav Flying Surges in September
Activity last month soared by 3 percent versus a year agom, more than quadrupling the company’s forecast for 0.7-percent growth that month.
Training and Workforce
FSI Starts Latitude Training, Adds More Caravan Sims
Company starts training in full-motion Cessna Citation Latitude sim at its Wichita center.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NBAA: 'Urgent Need' for FAA To Issue Small UAS Rules
Agency issued a proposed framework earlier this year, though a final rule isn’t expected until next year.
Safety
FAA Takes More Cooperative Approach to Aviation Safety
Agency's new “compliance philosophy" will enhance the ability to find safety problems before they result in an incident or accident.
Safety
'Miracle on the Hudson' Pilot To Speak at NBAA 2015
November 18 appearance will mark the second time Sullenberger has spoken at an NBAA event.
Avionics
Jet Aviation St. Louis Gets STC for CL604 Fans 1/A
Fans 1/A upgrade can be done “with minimal downtime and cost,” during either a scheduled or nonscheduled maintenance event.
Aircraft
Global Jet Capital Buying GE Capital's Bizjet Portfolio
Deal for GE's portolio of $2.5 billion in business jet assets expected to close in the next several months.
Survey: 40% of Bizjet Pax Plan To Fly More in Next Year
Survey respondents said “saving time” was the number-one reason that they fly on business aircraft.
Training and Workforce
Textron's TRU Simulation Opens Florida ProFlight Center
New Lutz, Fla. facility already has Citation CJ3 and King Air 250/300i ful-motion, level-D sims and will add three more next year.
Aircraft
Flexjet Takes Delivery of First Embraer Legacy 500
Delivery marks the first fly-by-wire aircraft in the fractional provider's fleet.
Aircraft
New Supersonic Age in Flight Coming, Says Aerion Chief
Company developing the Mach 1.5+ AS2 supersonic business jet, which is now expected to be certified in 2023.
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy To Land at Flexjet This Month
Fractional provider will take delivery of five 500s by year-end, while Legacy 450 deliveries will begin in June next year.
Accidents
NTSB: Premier I Accident Pilot Impaired by Illegal Drug
Twinjet hit trees, crashed and was consumed by an explosion and post-crash fire on Dec. 13, 2013, while returning to land at Atlanta-area Airport.
Argus: Bizav Flying Up in August, but Short of Estimate
Business aviation flight activity last month in North America managed just a razor-thin year-over-year gain of 0.5 percent.
Aircraft
Software Update Boosts Gulfstream G280 Performance
Upgrade allows slower approach speeds, shorter landing distances and enhanced flight management system performance.
Aircraft
Mubadala Takes Full Ownership of Piaggio Aerospace
Abu Dhabi-based company purchased the minority 1.95-percent share held by Piero Ferrari
Aircraft
Now Fitted with Engines, First Global 7000 Takes Shape
In addition to the new engines, installation of the wiring harnesses and functional test procedures have begun on FTV1.
