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
Aircraft
JetNet iQ: Covid-19 Could Halve 2020 Bizjet Deliveries
Business jet deliveries this year could be down by 12.5 percent to almost 50 percent year-over-year due to the Covid-19 crisis, according to JetNet iQ.
AINdebrief Episode 3 | April 10, 2020
AINdebrief looks at bizav traffic drops due to Covid-19, defending the bizjet, air catering considerations, Leonardo completes Kopter acquisition.
ATC
NBAA Debunks U.S. Airspace Closure Rumors
A rumor about an imminent U.S. airspace shutdown promulgated by an aviation blogger earlier this week has been debunked by NBAA.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Maintains Production while Fighting Covid-19
Gulfstream Aerospace is keeping open its production lines and other normal operations while also donating and making medical equipment.
CBAA Cancels Annual Convention Due To Covid-19
Due to Covid-19, the Canadian Business Aviation Association has canceled its annual convention and exhibit, CBAA 2020, that was planned for mid-June.
Former CAN Exec Director Peter Fleiss Flies West
Peter Fleiss, the executive director of the Corporate Angel Network until 2016 and highly regarded executive in the bizav industry, died on April 4.
AINdebrief Episode 2 | April 3, 2020
AINdebrief looks at Covid-19's impact on bizav, CARES Act, 2020 AIN FBO Survey, and Appareo Insight app.
WingX: Worldwide Bizav Flying Falls 30% in March
Worldwide business aviation departures fell 30 percent year-over-year last month as the Covid-19 crisis took hold, according to data from WingX Advance.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Makes Special Delivery Run for Mount Sinai
A pair of NetJets Bombardier Global 6000s flew to China to pick up surplus N95 masks and other medical equipment for Mount Sinai Health System.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Aircraft Insurance Pause Not Worth Risk, Says Broker
While aircraft insurance policies can be put on hold during extended periods of grounding, the cost savings don't outweigh the risks for most, broker says.
Maintenance and Modifications
Episode 1 | March 27, 2020: Covid-19's Effect on Aviation, Standard Aero Engine Exchange
AINdebrief looks at news about Covid-19's effect on aviation and Standard Aero's engine exchange program.
Embraer To Make Ventilator Parts To Combat Covid-19
Embraer will manufacture parts for the ventilator/respirator industry under a coalition that aim to increase availability of equipment to combat Covid-19.
Aircraft
Aboulafia: Large Bizjet Demand Could Fall 20% in 2020
Large-cabin business jet demand could drop 20 percent this year as a result of Covid-19, while the light and midsize segments could see more modest dips.
FBOs
Harrods Temporarily Closing London FBO/MROs
Harrods Aviation is temporarily closing its FBO/MROs at London Luton and Stansted bases in response to the UK government’s Covid-19 guidelines.
Regulations and Government
Hawaii and Florida Quarantine New Arrivals
Hawaii and Florida have taken further action to temper the Covid-19 outbreak by issuing mandatory 14-days quarantines for certain new arrivals.
JSfirm Adds Passive Hiring Feature
JSfirm has created a “passive job feature” for aviation companies that are looking to hire but have temporarily put those plans on hold due to Covid-19.
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet Reflects on Banner Year, Optimistic for 2020
VistaJet recorded a 16 percent increase in flights during the first 10 weeks of this year on the back of a strong 2019 performance.
Regulations and Government
Bizav Braces for Fallout from U.S. Ban on Euro Flights
The Trump Administration's 30-day ban on flights from most of Europe in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus will have a marked effect on bizav.
Maintenance and Modifications
C&L Aviation Gets Transport Canada Mx Approval
C&L Aviation Service received Transport Canada Civil Aviation approval to perform maintenance services on Canadian-registered commercial aircraft.
AFV Partners Buys RocketRoute
Private-equity firm AFV Partners today acquired UK-based business aviation flight-planning, fuel, concierge, and marketplace services provider RocketRoute.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Broker Flapper Prepares To Land in Mexico
Belo Horizonte, Brazil-based business aircraft online charter broker Flapper is expanding into the Mexican market in the second quarter
Avionics
Bombardier Adds Gogo Avance L5 Retrofit for Learjets
Bombardier Aviation is making its Gogo Avance L5 connectivity solution for new Learjet 70/75s available for retrofit on in-service Learjet 40/45/70/75s.
FBOs
World Fuel Completes $170M UVair Acquisition
Miami-based World Fuel Services has completed its $170 million acquisition of the UVair fuel business from Universal Weather and Aviation.
Argus: Bizav Flying Had Another Good Year
Business aviation flight activity last year in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean increased 0.9 percent year-over-year, matching the growth rate from 2018.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Acquires Gama Aviation Signature
Wheels Up has acquired Gama Aviation Signature, creating the second-largest private aviation company in North America.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Aviation Insurance Premiums Continue Ascent
As the pendulum continues to swing further toward a hard aviation insurance market, business aircraft operators should plan on more premium increases.
Aircraft
Piaggio Aerospace Goes on the Block
Piaggio Aero Industries and subsidiary Piaggio Aviation is officially on the block and hopes to find a buyer and close the deal by year-end.
Aircraft
Daher Adds More Safety, Interior Features in 2020 TBMs
Daher is rolling out new features for its 2020 TBM 910 and 940, with the focus once again on safety enhancements and cabin improvements.
Training and Workforce
APS Breaks Ground on New Mesa HQ Complex
Aviation Performance Solutions broke ground on a new 25,000-sq-ft headquarters and 40,000-sq-ft support facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport .
Aircraft
Elliott Aviation Installs 10th Excel/XLS G5000 Retrofit
Elliott Aviation has completed its 10th Garmin G5000 retrofit installation in a Cessna Citation Excel/XLS.
