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
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.
Aircraft
Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries, Revenues, Sales Climb
Second-quarter revenues at Bombardier Business Aircraft increased 6 percent year-over-year to $1.38 billion as the company delivered 35 business jets.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Bizjet Shipments Soar 25% in 1H19
Business jet deliveries at Gulfstream Aerospace climbed 25 percent in the first half, with large-cabin shipments solely driving this increase.
Training and Workforce
Simcom's TBM 910 Simulator Now Online in Scottsdale
Simcom has fielded the first FAA-certified Daher TBM 910 simulator at its Scottsdale, Arizona training facility.
Avionics
FlightSafety Adds EFVS Training for Gulfstreams
FlightSafety International has added enhanced flight vision system touchdown and rollout training for the Gulfstream G280, G450, G500, G550, G600, and G650
Avionics
Flexjet Taps GE To Take FOQA to the Next Level
Flexjet is elevating its flight operations quality assurance program by marrying GE’s flight safety analysis services with wireless quick access recorders.
Charter & Fractional
Signature To Provide Skyport Infrastructure for Uber
Signature Flight Support was named the first nationwide operations and on-airport infrastructure partner for Uber Elevate.
Aircraft
Vref: T-props, Phenom 300E Set To Hold Highest Values
Turboprop singles such as the Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna Caravan “have remained at an industry-low depreciation rate,” according to Vref.
Regulations and Government
AviationManuals Releases Free Bizav LOA Guide
AviationManuals' newly released free guide aims to help operators understand requirements for FAA Letter of Authorization (LOA) applications.
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Completes 15th Challenger 300 Mid-life Check
Aviation has completed its fifteenth 7,500-cycle inspection event on a Bombardier Challenger 300; only 18 such inspections have been completed to date.
Foley: GAMA 1Q Data Shows Pockets of Strength, Weakness
A more detailed view of the first-quarter GAMA general aviation deliveries reveals "pockets of strength and weakness.”
