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
Maintenance and Modifications
Epic Adds Broadie's Aircraft to Service Network
Epic Aircraft has tapped Broadie’s Aircraft at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport as its authorized service center for the central southwest U.S.
Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft's Vision Jet Gets Another Upgrade
Cirrus Aircraft has unveiled an upgraded G2+ Vision Jet with optimized engine performance, Gogo in-flight connectivity, and new exterior paint options.
Aircraft
Epic E1000 GX Obtains FAA Nod
Epic Aircraft’s new E1000 GX, which includes the Garmin GFC 700 and Hartzell five-blade composite prop, has received FAA approval.
Charter & Fractional
Luxaviation Opens Office in French Riviera
Luxaviation France has expanded to the French Riviera with the opening of an office on July 1 at Cannes Mandelieu Airport
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Now a Public Company Trading on NYSE
Private aviation charter and aircraft ownership services company Wheels Up successfully closed its IPO and will use proceeds to expand.
Aircraft
Garmin G1000 NXi for Phenom 100/300 Gets EASA Nod
EASA has approved the Garmin G1000 NXi upgrade for Embraer Phenom 100s and 300s equipped with the Prodigy Flight Deck.
Aircraft
Elit’Avia To Sell HondaJets in France, Parts of Africa
Honda Aircraft has chosen business aircraft sales and charter/management firm Elit’Avia as the HondaJet sales rep for France and 16 African countries.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Pauses Light Jet Sales as Flight Demand Booms
NetJets has “temporarily paused” fractional share sales and leases for the Citation XLS and Phenom 300, and sales of all jet cards, due to high demand.
Regulations and Government
French Court Acquits Pilots in 'Air Cocaine' Case
The pilots of Dassault Falcon 50 F-GXMC—which was loaded with 1,500 pounds of cocaine—were acquitted on appeal by the French court of Aix-en-Provence.
Aircraft
Pilatus Refines PC-24 with New Cabin, Avionics Features
Pilatus has announced a slew of new cabin and avionics features for its PC-24 twinjet based on customer feedback from 50,000+ hours of fleet operations.
Aircraft
Third Dassault Falcon 6X Joins Flight-test Fleet
The third flight-test Falcon 6X took to the skies on June 24, edging Dassault Aviation’s 5,500-nm jet closer to 2022 certification.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Adds G600 Completions at Dallas Facility
Gulfstream Aerospace is adding G600 completions operations at its Dallas Love Field facility to accommodate growing demand for its newest large-cabin jet.
In-person ACA Air Charter Expo Returns in September
The Air Charter Association plans to return to holding its Air Charter Expo (ACE) in an in-person format on September 14 at London Biggin Hill Airport.
Avionics
Global 7500 Customer Opts for Leonardo Anti-missile Pod
Leonardo has been contracted to install its Miysis directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system on a Bombardier Global 7500.
Avionics
Plane Simple Antenna To Make STC Debut on Falcon 2000
Satcon Direct’s tail-mounted Plane Simple Ku-band satcom antenna will first be STC’d for Dassault Falcon 2000-series jets.
Aircraft
Emergency Vision System STC'd for Embraer Praetor Jets
VisionSafe’s Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS) is now STC’d for the Embraer Praetor 500 and 600.
Environment
SAF Lowers Contrail Formation by Up to 70%, Says NASA
Research says aircraft burning a 50/50 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend produce 50 to 70 percent fewer ice crystal contrails at cruising altitude.
Airports
Million Air KHPN Sues County over Second Hangar Delay
Million Air is suing Westchester County for $30 million for refusing to greenlight construction of its planned second hangar at Weschester County Airport.
Avionics
Garmin Gets FAA Nod for GFC 600 Autopilot on Cessna 441
Garmin’s GFC 600 digital autopilot has received FAA STC approval for Cessna 441 turboprop twins.
Peyton Manning To Chair 2022 Special Olympics Airlift
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning has signed on as the honorary chair of Textron Aviation’s 2022 Special Olympics Airlift.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NGPA Offering $150k in Aviation Scholarships
NGPA, which supports the worldwide LGBTQ+ aviation community, said its aviation scholarships for the 2021 cycle total more than $150,000.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Wintrust Adds Business Aircraft Finance Division
Wintrust Asset Finance announced a new division, Wintrust Commercial Finance Aviation Group, that will focus on financing solutions for business aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
SmartSky ATG Network Goes Live in Southeast Corridor
SmartSky has stood up its first fully operational coverage zone—a contiguous portion of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina—for its ATG broadband network.
Safety
European Firm Offers Lower-cost Upset Recovery Training
Upset Training Solutions International is now offering lower-cost upset prevention and recovery training for aircraft pilots in Europe.
Aircraft
Directional Aviation's eVTOL Strategy Coming into Focus
Directonal Aviation principal Kenn Ricci gives more insight into the planned eVTOL urban air mobility service under its new Halo subsidiary.
Safety
Garmin Enhances Risk/hazard Reporting in FltPlan SMS
FltPlan safety management system now offers more categories for risk/hazard reporting and presents data in an easier-to-use format for aviation managers.
Airports
Ross Aviation Breaks Ground on Scottsdale Hangar
Ross Aviation broke ground last week on a 56,000-sq-ft hangar and two adjacent 3,000-sq-ft office buildings at its Scottsdale, Arizona Municipal Airport.
Recovery in Bizav Flying Continues To Gain Steam
The recovery in business aircraft flying is surging above pre-pandemic levels in some places, with the U.S. charter market taking the lead.
Aircraft
C&L Wins Deal for ERJ-135/145 Semi-private Conversions
C&L Aviation Services has signed a contract for multiple ERJ-135 and -145 “semi-private” aircraft modifications.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Joins IBAC as Industry Partner
Aviation training provider FlightSafety International (FSI) has joined the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) as an industry partner.
