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
Bizav Could Lead U.S. Recovery, Says NBAA Chief
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen exuded much optimism for the business aviation industry in 2021.
Environment
Two More Cali FBOs To Offer Permanent SAF Supplies
Two more FBOs in California—Monterey Jet Center and Signature Flight Support Oakland—will soon offer permanent supplies of sustainable aviation fuel .
Aircraft
Piaggio Aerospace Sale Now Down to Five Final Bidders
Five entities from three continents have made it to the final bidding process to acquire Piaggio Aerospace, with offers to purchase due on March 5.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
SmartSky Lands $32M in Additional Funding
SmartSky Networks has closed on more than $32 million in additional funding as it aims to launch its air-to-ground connectivity by year-end.
Training and Workforce
Legacy Flight Training Adds Piper M600/SLS Simulator
Piper Aircraft M600 factory training provider Legacy Flight Training has added a Frasca M600/SLS simulator at its Vero Beach, Florida learning center.
Regulations and Government
Baldwin Offers New Safety Tool Free To All Clients
Baldwin Safety and Compliance is now offering its Internal Evaluation Program to clients at no cost.
Argus: North American Bizav Flying Looking Up in 2021
Argus Intl TraqPak analysts estimate that North American business aircraft flight activity will increase 25.4 percent year-over-year in the first half.
Aircraft
Pilatus Hands Over First High-density PC-24
The first Pilatus PC-24 with a higher-density, 10-seat configuration was delivered to a “customer in the western United States” in late January.
Aviation Hiring Again on the Rise, Says JSfirm
Aviation hiring is rising once again following the lull caused by the pandemic, according to online aviation recruiting company JSfirm.
In-person EBACE Show Cancelled, Virtual Programming Planned
This year’s in-person EBACE show is the latest casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic, but co-organizers NBAA and EBAA plan to hold a virtual event in mid-May.
FutureFlight On The Radar
U.S. Advanced Air Mobility Market To Generate $115 Billion Revenues Annually by 2035
But a new study from Deloitte and the Aerospace Industries Association warns that the U.S. could miss out on the opportunity without an adequate national strategy.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up To Go Public in $2.1B Deal
Wheels Up soon will be a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) thanks to a definitive agreement with a special-purpose company.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Finishes 4Q Strong, but 2020 Deliveries Down
Gulfstream Aerospace finished the fourth quarter on a strong note, but aircraft deliveries for the full year still slipped by 15.7 percent, to 127 jets.
Accidents
Wrong Engine Shutdown Causes Global Express Fatal
A fatal crash of a USAF-operated Global Express was caused by the crew's error in identifying the failed powerplant and shutting down the operating engine.
Safety
CAE Seeks To Enhance Evidence-based Training Offerings
CAE has tapped The LOSA Collaborative to perform line operations safety audits of CAE customer-operators to enhance the former’s evidence-based training.
Aircraft
Jeffries: Bizjet Deliveries To Rise Marginally in 2021
Jeffries Equity Research’s 10th semi-annual business jet survey calls for 3.7 percent growth of new jet deliveries this year.
Avionics
Safe Flight Buy Expands Loar Group's Aero Product Range
Loar Group has added flight instrumentation, guidance, and controls manufacturer Safe Flight Instrument Corp. to its aircraft component businesses.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NBAA Lauds IRS Rule Exempting Managed Aircraft from FET
NBAA is praising issuance of a pre-publication final rule by the U.S. IRS that clearly exempts managed business aircraft from federal excise taxes.
Accidents
Aviation Groups Release Runway Excursion Reduction Plan
A broad set of recommendations were released January 12 to help preventing runway excursions, the top accident type for all aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Satcom Direct Logs 500th Global Xpress Activation
Satcom Direct has activated its 500th terminal for aerospace customers subscribing to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network through the Jet ConneX service.
Regulations and Government
DOT Secretary Chao Resigns, Citing 'Avoidable Event'
U.S. DOT Secretary Elaine Chao this afternoon announced her resignation, citing “a traumatic and entirely avoidable event" yesterday on Capitol Hill.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Buys Mountain Aviation, Quadrupling Citation X Fleet
Wheels Up continues buying spree, picking up Mountain Aviation following acquisitions of TMC, Gama Aviation, and Delta Private Jets over the past 18 months
BJT Survey: Private Flying Set for Post-pandemic Climb
58 percent of BJT reader survey respondents said the pandemic has curtailed their private flying, but 79 percent said they expect to fly more post-Covid.
Regulations and Government
FAA Greenlights Pfizer Covid Vaccine for Pilots, Controllers
The FAA on December 12 determined that pilots can receive the Covid-19 vaccine under the conditions of their FAA-issued airman medical certification.
Aircraft
Aerion Breaks Ground on Florida HQ and Production Park
Aerion Supersonic has started development of its $300 million, two-million-sq-ft headquarters complex at Florida’s Orlando Melbourne International Airport.
MEBAA Show Now Canceled; Organizer Plans for 2022 Event
The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) today canceled its biennial MEBAA Show, citing the ongoing pandemic.
2021 Paris Air Show Canceled Due To Covid Concerns
Organizers of the Paris Air Show today announced that the 2021 edition, slated for June 21 to 27, has been nixed due to uncertainly over the pandemic.
Engines
50,000th Pratt PT6 Engine Rolls Off Production Line
The 50,000th PT6 turboprop engine has rolled off the production line, while the engine fleet has logged more than 410 million hours.
U.S. Bizav Flying Levels Off, but 2021 Climb Expected
Business aviation traffic in North America is expected to hover around 88 percent of normal over the next two months, but 2H21 is expected to be better.
Avionics
Western Logs 1st Avance L3 Aftermarket Install in PC-12
Western Aircraft has completed the first aftermarket MRO STC installation of the Gogo Avance L3 connectivity system in a Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single.
