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
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.
Aircraft
NetJets Takes Delivery of Capstone Challenger 650
NetJets’ acceptance of its 25th Challenger 650 fulfills more than $10 billion in firm orders placed by the fractional provider between 2010 and 2012.
Aircraft
Aerocor Expands Aircraft Buyer's Guide Library
Aerocor has expanded its digital aircraft library from just the Eclipse 500 to all single-pilot-certified Citations and the Beechcraft Premier I/A.
Charter & Fractional
AINdebrief Episode 17 | July 17, 2020
FIA Connect, Dassault Falcon 6X, Charter Fraud, Textron Aviation Layoffs, ADS Airs Concerns about UK Aerospace Industry
Safety
Bombardier Safety Standdown Going Virtual for 2020
Bombardier's Safety Standdown 2020, originally slated for August 25 to 27 in Wichita, will be held virtually this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
N. American Bizav Flying Continues Post-Covid Climbout
North American business aircraft flight activity gained back another one-third of Covid-19-related losses in June, as flying increased 40 percent from May.
Charter & Fractional
Qatar Executive Launches Fixed-rate Charter Program
Qatar Executive's new Diamond Agreement program allows customers to pre-purchase flight time at fixed-hourly rates on its long- and ultra-long-range jets.
Avionics
Honeywell Gets TSO Approval for RDR-7000 Wx Radar
Honeywell Aerospace has received FAA TSO approval for its IntuVue RDR-7000 weather radar and is now working to complete STCs for 15 aircraft by year-end.
Aircraft
Trio of Flight-test Dassault Falcon 6Xs Taking Shape
The first three pre-production Falcon 6Xs are taking shape, and the program is on track to achieve first flight early next year.
U.S. Bizav Flying Boosted by July 4 Holiday Traffic
Business aviation traffic in the U.S. was down only 7 percent over the extended Independence Day holiday weekend, according to data from WingX Advance.
Aircraft
Bombardier Delivers 350th Challenger 350
Bombardier is celebrating the 350th delivery of its super-midsize Challenger 350, a milestone reached six years after the 3,200-nm twinjet entered service.
