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
North American Bizav Flying Continues Covid Recovery
Business aircraft activity last month in North America was off by 21.2 percent year-over-year as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to weigh on air travel.
Aircraft
Honda Aircraft Brings Airshow Experience Online
Honda Aircraft has launched an online airshow that allows visitors to see and experience the HondaJet much in the same way they might at a real live event.
Aircraft
F1 Team Now Drives and Flies with Honda
With its recent acceptance of a HondaJet Elite, Italian F1 team Scuderia AlphaTauri is now powered by Honda on the track and in the air.
Aircraft
USAF Issues Contracts for Supersonic Air Force One
Exosonic and Hermeus have been awarded contracts for faster-than-the-speed-of-sound aircraft by the USAF Presidential and Executive Directorate.
Aircraft
Surf Air Mobility Lands $200M IPO-linked Funding Boost
Surf Air Mobility, which aims to accelerate zero-emission flight, today announced a $200 million investment commitment from Global Emerging Markets Group.
Aircraft
IS&S Gets FAA Nod for Eclipse SVS/Autothrottle Upgrade
IS&S has received FAA approval for its synthetic vision system installation and autothrottle upgrade package for Eclipse 500/550s.
Aircraft
Otto Aviation Reveals Celera 500L Business Airplane
Otto Aviation this week unveiled the Celera 500L, a six-passenger pusher-prop business airplane powered by a single 500-hp Red A03 diesel engine.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Launches Business Aircraft Sales Division
Wheels Up has launched a new business unit that offers aircraft brokerage, acquisition, trade, and advisory services.
Avionics
AEA: GA/bizav Avionics Sales Fall 23.6 Percent in First Half
The Aircraft Electronics Association attributed the steep decline to the pandemic.
Engines
QTA Delivers 200th Composite Jet Engine Inner Barrel
Quiet Technology Aerospace has delivered its 200th inlet cowl upgrade that features a carbon-fiber replacement inner barrel.
Regulations and Government
Colorado Adds Wx Cameras to 130 Mountain AWOS Sites
Pilots can now visually observe weather in the Colorado Rockies from 52 new aviation weather cameras installed on a network of 13 mountain AWOS sites.
Aircraft
Daher Taps Elliott Aviation for HomeSafe Retrofits
Daher has selected Elliott Aviation to perform retrofit installs of HomeSafe emergency autoland systems on TBM 940s eligible for the upgrade.
Aircraft
AINdebrief Episode 20 | August 8, 2020
Covid Lowers Aircraft Emissions, WingX Bizav Data, Beechcraft King Air 360, Aspen Avionics Joins Airo, Bombardier 2Q, FAA Releases 737 Max Recert Road Map
Maintenance and Modifications
Bluetail App Update Enhances Mx Records Management
Bluetail’s latest version of its business aircraft record digitization platform enhances aircraft records management functions.
Aircraft
StandardAero Launches Bizjet Engine Trading Division
The company has formed a business unit to support operators with comprehensive engine trading solutions to help extend lifecycles for legacy bizjets.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Launches New Flagship King Airs
Textron Aviation announced the King Air 360/360ER, an upgrade of the 350/350ER that includes autothrottles, digital pressurization, and a redesigned cabin.
Aircraft
Embraer Consolidates Business Jet Product Line
The manufacturer has quietly consolidated its product line to focus on its Phenom light jet and Praetor midsize jet offerings.
Business Aviation Bounces Back, Showing Resiliency
Business aircraft utilization has made a recovery from its Covid-19-induced low in April that can best be described as a reversed square root symbol.
Aircraft
PC-12 NGX Gets Canadian Nod, Deliveries Start in UK
The upgraded Pilatus PC-12 NGX has received type certification from Transport Canada, and dealer Oriens handed over the first NGX in the UK.
Aircraft
Gulfstream 2Q Deliveries Up, but Sales Dogged by Covid
In the second quarter, Gulfstream handed over 32 airplanes—one more than a year ago—but sales remained "difficult" due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Charter & Fractional
Directional Aviation Launches Premium Air Charter FXAir
Directional Aviation has launched FXAir as a premium product that “redefines and rescopes on-demand air charter.”
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Reinstates Europe Fleet, Plots Path for Growth
NetJets is reinstating most of its fleet in Europe and all NetJets Europe pilots and cabin crew who were furloughed in April.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Opens New Farnborough Service Center
Gulfstream’s new service center at Farnborough Airport is now open and took in its first aircraft, a Middle East-based Gulfstream G450, for service.
Avionics
Garmin Cyberattack Affects Aviation Data Services
A reported ransomware attack that shut down several data services at Garmin over the past day includes those in its aviation portfolio.
1H Falcon Deliveries Flat, but Will Be Down for 2020
Dassault Aviation delivered 16 Falcons in the first half, one fewer than a year ago, and now plans to deliver only 30 business jets this year.
Regulations and Government
Innovation Key To Helping Aerospace Climb Out of Covid Crisis
Though Covid-19 has delivered a “body blow” to the aerospace industry, it will come back better and stronger thanks to the industry’s innovative spirit.
Engines
Safran, ZF Aviation Team on Ardiden 3-based Turboprop
Safran Helicopter Engines and ZF Aviation Technology have signed an MoA to offer a turboprop engine based on the Safran Ardiden 3 turboshaft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Duncan Ups Falcon’s Seating Capacity, Shaves Weight
The company rose to the challenge when a customer asked it to reduce the weight of his Falcon 900EX while also increasing its seating capacity.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Jetcraft Taps F/List for MicroShield 360 Applications
The business jet brokerage is the launch customer for an interiors specialist's treatment program.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Broker Offers Expedited Pre-trip Covid Testing
Paramount Business Jets is providing the tests through a new partnership with The COVID Consultants.
