Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;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&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;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.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Tornadoes that tore through Wichita on Saturday night left a path of destruction at several aircraft manufacturers but thankfully no fatalities. Damage at Hawker Beechcraft was “limited and isolated damage to the roof” of Plant IV, where final assembly of business jets and turboprops is performed, a company spokeswoman told AIN. “There is no effect on operations,” she added. Repair is under way on the building and employees have been reporting for work as scheduled this week.


Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing Wichita bore the brunt of the storm, with at least “three or four” of Spirit’s 45 buildings and “several” at Boeing hit. Production work at both facilities has been halted at least through the end of today.


Spirit president and CEO Jeff Turner said that most tooling and in-process products in the affected buildings are in good shape and that production could be brought back online “right now” if not for lack of electrical power. <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2012-04-16/spirit-aerosystems-scrambles-address-tornado-damage">A Spirit spokesman told AIN</a> that the company could not estimate when full power will return.


Spirit’s Wichita plant manufactures the nacelle systems for the Gulfstream G650’s Rolls-Royce BR725 engines. At press time, it is unknown how the problems at supplier Spirit will affect G650 production. While Spirit also makes the wings for the Gulfstream G280 and G650, they are manufactured at a plant in Tulsa, not Wichita. Turner estimates that Spirit Wichita “will be shipping product by the end of the week,” but he was unable to say when full production will restart.


Updated April 18, 2012 at 9:41 am to correct location of Spirit plant where Gulfstream G280 and G650 wings are manufactured.

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