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
Regulations and Government
Coalition Opposes Aviation Tax Increases
An aviation industry coalition of nearly 30 organizations is opposing the proposed aviation tax increases, “which would lead to significant job loss across
GD Chooses Asia-Pacific Senior V-P
General Dynamics yesterday appointed Leda M. L. Chong as Asia-Pacific region senior vice president of the company’s aerospace group.
Accidents
Nascar Owner Involved in Runway Overrun
Rick Hendrick, owner of Nascar team Hendrick Motorsports, his wife, and the two crewmembers suffered minor injures when their Gulfstream G150 overran
FBOs
Euro Aviation Rebranded as Universal Aviation Greece
Universal Aviation today rebranded Euro Aviation, its Athens-based ground-support location, as Universal Aviation Greece.
Pre-owned Bizcraft Market Recovering, but Only Slowly
“While the pre-owned business aircraft market continues to show improvements, all indicators have been slow to recover in the first nine months of 2011,”
Aircraft
Made in Mexico: Global 7000/8000 Aft Fuselages
Bombardier Aerospace announced on October 24 that Global 7000 and 8000 aft fuselages will be built at its site in Queretaro, Mexico.
Avionics
Jeppesen’s Obstacle Data Gets FAA Thumbs Up
Jeppesen said it received the aviation industry’s first Type 1 Letter of Acceptance endorsement
Maintenance and Modifications
Bell 429 Gets Chinese Papers
Bell Helicopter received type certification this week for the Bell 429 from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Maintenance and Modifications
Flightdocs Releases Mx Tracking App for iPad
Flightdocs released an aircraft maintenance tracking iPad application that allows flight crews to access and report aircraft maintenance information
Security
FAA Launches Laser Incident Reporting Website
The FAA launched a new website today where pilots and others can report incidents of lasers being shined at aircraft
Charter & Fractional
MJets Still Open Despite Flooding in Thailand
Despite the closure of Bangkok Don Mueang Airport due to flooding, Thai charter firm MJets is still open for business.
Maintenance and Modifications
Flightdocs Releases Mx Tracking App for iPad
Estero, Fla.-based Flightdocs, a provider of aircraft maintenance tracking software and services,
Charter & Fractional
Tibbitts Joins Flight Options
Fractional provider Flight Options expanded its sales force by naming Adam Tibbitts as regional sales director for the Rocky Mountain division,
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky S-76D’s PW210S Engine Gets Canadian Approval
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S, which will power the Sikorsky S-76D helicopter, received Canadian certification on October 14, P&WC announced yesterday.
Avionics
EASA STCs Garmin ESP, Datalink for King Air 200w with G1000
Garmin received STC approval from EASA yesterday to install the company’s Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and GSR 56 Iridium datalink
Aircraft
600th TBM T-Prop Rolled Out
Daher-Socata rolled out its 600th series-production TBM turboprop single–a TBM 850–from its Tarbes, France production facility on Thursday.
Made in Mexico: Global 7000/8000 Aft Fuselages
Bombardier Aerospace announced yesterday that Global 7000 and 8000 aft fuselages will be built at its site in Queretaro, Mexico.
Regulations and Government
Revised Bizav Security Plan Coming This Year
According to NBAA, the Transportation Security Administration is pushing to issue a new proposed business aircraft security program by year-end.
Piperjet Altaire Program Suspended ‘Indefinitely’
Piper Aircraft has cancelled its single-engine jet program.
Huntzinger Joins Argus Prism
Dave Huntzinger has joined Argus Prism, an aviation safety management system (SMS) solutions provider, as senior vice president
Piaggio Adds Elite to Sales Team
Van Nuys, Calif.-based Elite Aviation has partnered with Piaggio Aero to expand Piaggio Avanti II sales on the U.S. West Coast.
Aircraft
Dassault Takes FACC Winglets
FACC AG delivered the first set of winglets for a Falcon 2000LX to Dassault Aviation yesterday.
Safety
Sierra STC’s G1000 in Citation 501
Sierra Industries of Uvalde, Texas, received STC’d approval for installation of Garmin G1000 avionics in Cessna Citation 501s
Safety
Shatner To Appear at Safety Standdown
Actor William Shatner will be a guest speaker at the 15th,annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, which takes place next Monday through Wednesday in Wichita.
FBOs
Bizav Traffic Soaring at Shanghai Hawker Pacific
Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre, located at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, is reporting a 145-percent increase
Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter Lift Textron in Third Quarter
Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter parent company Textron reported third-quarter revenues of $2.8 billion yesterday, up 13.5 percent from last year
Rotorcraft
Beware of Moving Presidential TFRs
NBAA’s GA Desk is warning aircraft operators flying on the U.S. East Coast this week to review TFR notams carefully.
ATC
FAA Building New ATC Tower at Cleveland Hopkins
The FAA broke ground yesterday on a new $69 million air traffic control tower and Tracon facility at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Maintenance and Modifications
JetTech Gets STC for Garmin G600 in Piper Cheyennes
Denver-based JetTech received STC approval to install Garmin G600 avionics with dual flat-panel displays in the Piper Cheyenne III, IIIA and 400LS.
Airports
Landmark Opens FBO at Tampa Airport
Earlier this month Landmark Aviation began operations at the former Signature Flight Support FBO at Tampa (Fla.) International Airport.
