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
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.
Environment
World Fuel Rolls Out New Jet Fuel Carbon Offset Program
World Fuel Services has rolled out an enhanced carbon offset program that makes it easier for flight departments and FBOs to meet their carbon targets.
Regulations and Government
Nosewheel Steering Failure Leads To Runway Excursion
A Global 6000 experienced a runway excursion following a nosewheel steering failure and “inadvertent application of right braking” while landing.
Aircraft
HondaJet Pilot Training Begins in Europe at FSI F'boro
FlightSafety International is now offering factory-authorized training for the HondaJet HA-420 in Europe at its Farnborough learning center.
Aircraft
Embraer, Porsche Team on Phenom 300E, 911 Turbo S Pair
Embraer and Porsche have announced a limited-edition Phenom 300E and Porsche 911 Turbo S pairing.
Aircraft
Pilatus PC-12 NGX Flight Training Device Gets FAA Nod
The first FAA level-6 flight training device for the new Pilatus PC-12 NGX is now available for pilot training at Simcom’s facility in Scottsdale.
Avionics
Duncan, KGB Team on FDR/CVR Data Integrity Service
Duncan Aviation and KGB Aviation Solutions have teamed to provide a new data analysis service that ensures FDRs and CVRs meet recording requirements.
Avionics
FreeFlight Adds Digital-to-Analog Radar Alt Convertor
FreeFlight Systems has unveiled a digital-to-analog convertor that allows replacement of legacy radar altimeters with a lighter-weight digital system.
Safety
Corporate Angel Network Nets $275k in Virtual Auction
The Corporate Angel Network’s (CAN) Fund an Angel Virtual Auction raised more than $275,000 through sponsorships, auction items, and donations.
Aircraft
Gulfstream 3Q Deliveries Find Post-Covid Foothold
Third-quarter aircraft deliveries at Gulfstream Aerospace continued to edge closer to pre-Covid levels, but were still down 15.8 percent from a year ago.
Maintenance and Modifications
Tamarack Logs First European Atlas Winglet Install
Tamarack Aerospace has performed the first European Atlas active winglet installations on a pair of Cessna Citation CJs at its new London facility.
Maintenance and Modifications
C&L Boosts Leadership as MRO and Parts Businesses Grow
C&L Aviation Services has promoted Todd Williams to general manager, where he will oversee all aspects of the company’s growing regional and bizav MRO biz.
Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Continues Incremental Recovery
Business aircraft flying in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean last month ticked up 1.2 percent from August, but is down 16.6 percent year-over-year.
Avionics
Max-Viz EVS STC'd for Airbus AS350 Helicopters
Astronics’s Max-Viz 1200 and 1400 enhanced vision systems have received FAA and Transport Canada approval for installation in the Airbus AS350.
Aircraft
Dassault Falcon 6X Rollout Set for December 8
Dassault Aviation will roll out the first Falcon 6X on December 8 at its production facility in Bordeaux-Merignac, France.
Aircraft
Elliott Aviation Begins TBM 940 HomeSafe Retrofits
Elliott Aviation has delivered the first of 23 TBM 940s with Garmin’s Autoland system, which is branded by Daher as HomeSafe on these aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Orders Race In for Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition
Customers in Latin America, North America, and Asia-Pacific have signed firm contracts for the Aston Martin edition of the Airbus Helicopters H130.
Environment
CAE Achieves Carbon Neutrality
CAE has laid claim as the first Canadian aerospace company to become carbon neutral.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G700 on Track as T4 Enters Test Fleet
The fourth flight-test Gulfstream G700 took to the air on October 2. To date, the four aircraft have logged 600 flight hours.
Coleal Ousted in Bombardier Consolidation Move
David Coleal is out at Bombardier as the company streamlines its senior leadership team as it transitions to a "pure-play" business jet manufacturer.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Satcom Direct Upgrades Network Ops Center
Satcom Direct has added a network operations center to aggregate, collate, and analyze data generated by business aircraft activity.
