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
FBOs
AviationManuals Adds FBO Manual to Lineup
AviationManuals has introduced a new manual to help managers and staff improve the professionalism, standards, and safety of their FBO operations.
Avionics
FSI Intros Differences Training for Nextant 604XT
FlightSafety International is now offering Collins Pro Line 4 to Pro Line Fusion differences training to operators of Nextant 604XT.
Avionics
Duncan: 5,400 Business Aircraft To Bust ADS-B Deadline
With the deadline 15 weeks away, 23 and 49 percent of the U.S.-registered business jet and turboprop fleet, respectively, are not yet ADS-B compliant.
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Opens MRO Expansion at Savannah HQ
Gulfstream Aerospace cut the ribbon today on a 202,000-sq-ft/18,766-sq-m MRO facility expansion at its Savannah, Georgia headquarters.
ATC
EBAA Renews Commitment to Single European Sky
EBAA was among dozens of organizations that signed the “Future of European Sky” joint declaration yesterday.
U.S. Bizav Flying Takes a Breather in August
Business aircraft activity fell 0.6 percent year-over-year in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, marking the first August since 2014 not to see an uptick.
Aircraft
Comlux Adds Another ACJ320neo to Airbus Orders
Comlux announced today that it has placed a new order for an Airbus ACJ320neo, taking its total orders for the type to four.
Maintenance and Modifications
Standard Aero Buys B&E's Component Repair Businesses
StandardAero has acquired Safe Aviation Solutions, including its Safe Fuel, Accel, and B&E Aircraft Component Repair businesses, from B&E Group.
Post-Dorian Bahamas Ops 'Complex,' Likely 'Dangerous'
FlightOps is warning aircraft operators intending to do humanitarian relief flights in the Bahamas that the ops situation is potentially dangerous.
Charter & Fractional
L.J. Aviation Opens New Base at Pittsburgh Intl. Airport
L.J. Aviation's new base at Pittsburgh International Airport includes a customer reception area, meeting rooms, and 36,000-sq-ft of hangar space.
Aircraft
Singapore's Clermont Group Acquires Eviation Aircraft
Clermont has completed its majority acquisition of Eviation Aircraft, which plans to become the first-to-market manufacturer of an all-electric aircraft.
FBOs
Banyan Air To Host Customer Bash for 40th Anniversary
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport-based FBO and MRO Banyan Air Service will host a customer-appreciation open house on September 14 to celebrate its 40th.
Environment
Avfuel To Offer SAF at Jackson Hole Aviation Next Week
Avfuel will make 7,300 gallons of sustainable aviation fuel available to turbine business aircraft operators at Jackson Hole Aviation early next week.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Greenpoint Technologies Moves Into New Headquarters
VIP business jet completions company Greenpoint Technologies has moved its corporate headquarters to a new, 36,000-sq-ft facility in Bothell, Washington.
Fuel
World Fuel Services To Acquire UVair in $170M Deal
World Fuel Services is acquiring Universal Weather and Aviation’s UVair fuel business in a $170 million deal expected to close by year-end.
Avionics
Garmin Announces Flight Control System for Bell 505
Garmin expects to certify the GFC 600H flight control system for the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X in the first half of next year.
Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Sees 2.4% Climb in July
Business aircraft activity rose 2.4 percent year-over-year in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean last month, as stronger holiday traffic boosted results.
Maintenance and Modifications
MRO Insider Adds Maintenance Oversight Feature
Aviation maintenance quoting website MRO Insider has added a new feature called Virtual DOM that offers maintenance oversight to flight department clients.
Aircraft
Pilatus Tests PC-12s with Autothrottle, EEC
Pilatus Aircraft appears to be working on an upgrade to its PC-12 turboprop single that entails a higher-power engine and electronically controlled prop.
Rotorcraft
Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Reaches 200th Delivery Milestone
Bell today announced delivery of the 200th Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, with the milestone helicopter going to Austria-based operator Hubi-fly Helikopter.
Preowned Bizjet Inventory Rises, Turboprops Flat
Preowned business jet inventory inched up and that for turboprops remained flat as business aircraft sales transactions fell by double-digit percentages.
FBOs
FBO Profile: Naples Aviation
Naples Aviation strives to “provide an exceptional experience exceeding every flight crewmember and visitor expectations.”
Maintenance and Modifications
Líder, Aero Rio Approved for Gulfstream Warranty Work
Gulfstream Aerospace has named two Brazilian aircraft services companies—Líder Aviação and Aero Rio Táxi Aéreo—as company-authorized warranty facilities.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Raises $128M To Fuel Further Growth
Wheels Up raised $128 million in new equity late last week to help the private flight solutions firm accelerate growth and digital efforts.
Avionics
Avionics Sales Soar 14% in First-half 2019, Says AEA
Business and general aviation aircraft electronic sales climbed 14 percent year-over-year, to just more than $1.5 billion, in the first six months.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Aerospace Delivers First Large-cabin G600
Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the first G600—to an unidentified U.S. customer—from its Savannah, Georgia headquarters.
Security
Savcom Intros Secure Communications Platform for Bizav
Savcom's new communications platform allows encrypted phone calls encrypted text, audio-videoconferencing, and file sharing onboard bizjets.
Bizav Flights in Europe Continue To Slip
Business aviation flight activity in Europe continued to slow last month, falling 2.5 percent year-over-year, to 90,550 departures, WingX said.
Aircraft
First Dassault Falcon 6X Taking Shape
After freezing the Falcon 6X design in May, Dassault said its super-midsize jet program is now well into the manufacturing phase.
Aircraft
HondaJet Elite Gets China CAAC Nod
HondaJet Elite deliveries will begin as scheduled in China later this year via in-country HondaJet dealer Honsan General Aviation Co., Ltd.
