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
Embraer Delivers First Mexican Legacy 500
With a range of 3,125 nm, the jet can fly nonstop from Toluca to Manaus, Brazil, or from Cancun to Vancouver.
Cirrus in the Home Stretch on Vision Jet
SF50 will gain FAA certification late this year, followed by EASA and Brazilian approvals next year.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Parent Company Chief: What Bizjet Slump?
Gulfstream's order book grew by nearly $1 billion in the second quarter, to $14.02 billion, with book to bill exceeding 1:1.
Airlines
Delta Air Lines To Offer Bizjet Upgrades to Elite Fliers
Under the new upgrade program, Delta SkyMiles members could be offered a flight on a chartered business jet operated by subsidiary Delta Private Jets.
Aircraft
Textron Bullish on Bizjet Market in North America
Textron Aviation delivered 36 Cessna Citations and 30 Beechcraft King Airs in the second quarter, compared with 36 Citations and 34 King Airs a year ago.
Safety
USAIG Adds Safety 1st Courses to Performance Vector
Safety 1st includes line services curricula developed through collaboration with NATA members and industry experts.
SkyVector Adds FAA Flight-plan-filing Capability
Pilots can use SkyVector’s drag-and-drop route builder to generate accurate flight plans based on their aircraft performance profile and winds aloft.
Aircraft
Citation Latitude Stretches Legs on Flight to Maui
The Hawaii mission took place on the heels of coast-to-coast trips earlier this month.
African Bizav Group Plans Informative Annual Symposium
New interactive formats will also encourage the audience to engage with the speakers and share their opinions.
Rotorcraft
RN-Aircraft Signs for 10 AgustaWestland AW189s
Order is the result of a framework agreement signed in December between the two companies that could see Rosneft take up to 160 AgustaWestland helicopters.
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet Teams with Apex Air for Domestic Chinese Flights
Apex Air, a CAAC-authorized business jet operator, will manage and operate a China based fleet of aircraft for VistaJet.
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Delves into Unmanned Aircraft Mx
Duncan Aviationoined the Robotic Skies network of service centers that provide certification, maintenance and repair for commercial UAS.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
AMAC Delivers Completed VVIP Boeing 747-8i
The jumbo jet’s cabin includes custom furniture, monuments, exotic materials and artwork.
Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Plans Layoffs, Citing Weak Demand
Vero Beach, Fla.-based aircraft manufacturer expects to lay off 15- to 20 percent of its more than 750 workers as sales dip in the first half of 2015.
Argus Midyear Review Shows Bizav Flying Up 1.7% YTD
Argus’ TraqPak quarterly forecast predicts that flight activity in the third quarter will be up 1.9 percent year-over-year.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety To Add Helo Training at New Denver Center
Training programs for the Airbus AS350 B3, Airbus EC130T2 and Bell 407GX are coming at its new learning center, which is slated to open in fall 2016.
FBOs
Citing N.Y. Jobs Act, Sheltair Updating Republic FBO
Sheltair is upgrading its 66,000-sq-ft hangar at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Long Island.
Regulations and Government
FSF Holding Safety Data Collection Focus Groups
Global Safety Information Project (GSIP) workshops being held in Asia-Pacic and Pan-America.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Broker Victor Acquires YoungJets, More Funding
YoungJets founder and CEO David Young was alsonamed Victor’s senior vice president for the U.S. market.
Maintenance and Modifications
GAMA Praises EASA's Streamlined Process for Repairs
Approach will simplify the process of making standard changes and repairs to a “broad swath” of general aviation aircraft in Europe.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Expands Brunswick, Georgia Mx Facility
Newly constructed 110,000-sq-ft hangar more than doubles the site’s under-roof capacity from a mixture of seven large-cabin aircraft to as many as 16.
Aircraft
Cirrus To Live-test Vision Jet Recovery Parachute in Q4
C1, the second of three conforming flight-test SF50s, is currently being outfitted with the ballistic recovery system.
Regulations and Government
DTC DUATS Warns of Possible Shutdown on July 16
the FAA “intends to shut down DTC’s connections" that allow it to provide aviation weather briefings and file flight plans.
U.S. Bizav Flying Really Accelerates in June
Business aviation flight activity last month in North America soared 3.4 percent year-over-year, according to data from Argus International.
Charter & Fractional
BACA and UK CAA Team To Tackle Illegal Charters
The Baltic Air Charter Association and the UK Civil Aviation Authority held a joint seminar to discuss foreign carrier permits and illegal charters.
Safety
Safety Standdown U.S.A. Dates Set; Registration Opens
Bombardier Business Aircraft announced that its 19th annual Safety Standdown U.S.A. will take place October 6 to 8 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Wichita.
Aircraft
Luxaviation Takes Delivery of Its First Phenom 300
now operates a combined fleet of more than 250 business aircraft, including 18 Embraer Legacy 600/650s.
Safety
ERAU's Flight Training Dept. Earns IS-BAO Stage 1 Badge
University’s Daytona Beach campus flight training department become first flight training organization in U.S. to earn distinction.
WingX: European Bizav Flying Sees Gain in June
Business aviation departures last month in Europe climbed 1.87 percent year-over-year, to 80,954, according to data from WingX Advance.
Aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 300 and 350 Get Colombian Nod
The super-midsize Challenger 300 entered service in 2004, while the updated 350 was certified by the FAA, Transport Canada and EASA last year.
