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
Avionics
Satcom Direct Launches Plane Simple Ka/Ku-band Antennas
Satcom Direct's Plane Simple antenna system provides a modular connectivity system compatible that can adapt to future technological developments.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G700 Begins Flight Testing
The new Gulfstream G700 achieved first flight on February 14, starting the flight-testing phase for the company's new five-living-area flagship.
Charter & Fractional
North American Bizav Activity Anemic in January
Business aircraft flights in North America and Caribbean last month dipped 0.5 percent YOY, as gains in jets were more than offset by turboprops.
Aircraft
Global 7500 To Drive Delivery Increase at Bombardier
Bombardier is projected to deliver about 154 business jets this year, up from 142 aircraft last year, as it continues to ramp up Global 7500 production.
Aircraft
Preowned Bizcraft Inventory Climbs 2% in 2019
Preowned business aircraft inventory climbed 2 percent across all market segments to 6,324 aircraft, up from 6,201 at year-end 2018.
Charter & Fractional
Clay Lacy Taps World Kinect for Sustainability Program
Clay Lacy Aviation has tapped World Kinect Energy Services to help develop a sustainability program that would significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Ascent Vision Showcases Counter-UAS Imaging System
Ascent Vision Technologies has launched a new multi-mission imaging system for maritime counter-UAS and ISR missions.
Maintenance and Modifications
ST Engineering Wins $7B of Business in 2019
Singapore Technologies Engineering inked $1.5 billion in contracts in the fourth quarter, bringing its full-year 2019 contract value to $7 billion.
Aircraft
Pilatus PC-24 Clinches Rough Field Certification
Pilatus has obtained rough field certification for its PC-24, allowing the twinjet to take off and land on grass, wet earth, dry sand, gravel, and snow.
Avionics
Eagle Creek Aviation Begins NXi Upgrades on Phenom 100s
Indianapolis-based Eagle Creek Aviation has completed its first three Garmin G1000 NXi avionics upgrades on Embraer Phenom 100s.
Avionics
Gulf Coast Upgrades King Air with Garmin G600 TXi Panel
Gulf Coast Avionics has completed its first dual Garmin G600 TXi touchscreen avionics upgrade on a Beechcraft King Air B200.
FBOs
PE Firm Takes Majority Interest in Elliott Aviation
Private investment firm Summit Park on Friday acquired a majority interest in Moline, Illinois-based business aviation FBO/MRO provider Elliott Aviation.
Aircraft
Embraer's Best-selling Jet Gets Even More Phenomenal
Embraer Executive Jets announced an upgraded Phenom 300 that can fly faster and further, offers a quieter cabin, and has more capable avionics.
Rotorcraft
Bell Ends 2019 on Solid Footing
Bell delivered more civil helicopters in both the fourth quarter and all of 2019 than it did in the corresponding periods of the previous year.
Aircraft
Sales, Deliveries, Revenues Soar at Gulfstream
Fourth-quarter sales soared 54 percent year-over-year at Gulfstream Aerospace, resulting in the second-best quarter ever.
Aircraft
Analysts: Bombardier's Bizjet Unit Could Be Sold
Business aviation analysts Brian Foley and Rolland Vincent believe financial woes at Bombardier could lead to the sale of its business jet division.
Airports
Universal Aviation Lands in Turkey
Universal Aviation is now providing ground support for business aircraft at Ataturk Airport (LTBA) in Istanbul, Turkey.
Environment
World Fuel Offers SAF Offset for WEF-bound Bizjets
World Fuel Services and World Energy are offering a sustainable aviation fuel program for bizjets flying from three U.S. airports to the WEF in Davos.
U.S. Bizav Flying Ends 2019 on a High Note
Business aircraft flights in North America and the Caribbean soared 6.9 percent year-over-year in December as weekend activity surged.
TECT Aero Completes Acquisition of Triumph Nashville
Wichita-based TECT Aerospace has completed the acquisition of structural assembly operations and all associated assets in Nashville from Triumph Group.
Euro Bizav Flying Up in December, but Down in 2019
Business aircraft flight activity in Europe climbed 2.9 percent year-over-year last month, but full-year activity was down 1.6 percent versus 2018.
ATC
FAA Bans Flight over Iran, Iraq, and Some Gulf Waters
Following Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in Baghdad, the FAA has prohibited U.S. civil operators from overflying the airspace in and around Iraq and Iran.
Aircraft
Falcon Deliveries Flat at Dassault; 6X Remains on Track
Dassault Aviation delivered 40 Falcon business jets last year, one fewer than in 2018, while it continues apace on the Falcon 6X program.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
SmartSky Ups Funding, Delays Network Launch to 2Q20
In-flight connectivity service provider SmartSky Networks has received $25 million more in funding and delayed commercial network launch to mid-2020.
Latécoère To Buy Bombardier's Mexico Wiring Systems Biz
Latécoère has inked a definitive agreement to acquire Bombardier’s electrical wiring interconnection system business in Querétaro, Mexico, for $50 million.
Aircraft
Top-tier Bizjet OEMs To Stay the Course in 2021
After a rocky 2020, the leading business jet manufacturers are expected to continue work on already-in-development new models.
Aircraft
Bizav OEM Outlook Anything but 20/20 in New Year
Business aircraft deliveries are expected to rise in 2020, but economic and political headwinds could cause an industry slowdown.
Aircraft
Learjet 75 Liberty Mockup Lands in Scottsdale
A full-scale cabin mockup of the Bombardier Learjet 75 Liberty will make a three-day appearance next week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Aircraft
Embraer E175-E2 Begins Flight-test Campaign
Embraer's E175-E2 made its first flight today from the company’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, kicking off a 24-month flight-test campaign.
Avionics
Thales, StandardAero Team on Light Helo Autopilot
StandardAero and Thales signed an agreement to jointly develop and certify an advanced autopilot system for several light helicopters, including the AS350.
