Author

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

Conforming HondaJet Hits Max Speed, Altitude

Honda Aircraft recently achieved new milestones during flight testing of the first conforming HondaJet (F1), which reached a maximum speed of 425 ktas, rat

Lufthansa, Panasonic Team on Cabin Systems

Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics formed a 50-50 joint venture in executive/VIP cabin electronics, and the new company–IDair–made its trade-show deb
ATC

Mideast Bizav Group Seeks Organized ATC in Gulf

Middle East Business Aviation Association chairman Ali Al Naqbi is proposing to set up an informal working group, dubbed “Middle East Control,” to achieve

Part 135 Drags Down Bizav Flying Activity

Business aircraft flight activity in April dipped by 0.4 percent from a year ago, due primarily to a 7.7-percent drop in Part 135 turboprop flying, accordi
Aircraft

Airbus Rebrands its Bizliners

At Ebace last month, Airbus rebranded its bizliner offerings with more consistent names–each model in the company’s stable of corporate jet offerings will
Aircraft

Global Express XRS To Be Named Global 6000

Bombardier renamed its Global Express XRS with the new Global Vision flight deck as the Global 6000.
Aircraft

BBJ Celebrates 15th Anniversary

The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) celebrated its 15th anniversary last month at Ebace.
FBOs

Execujet Adds Spanish Facilities

ExecuJet Aviation added three Spanish FBOs at Gerona, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca to its ground handling portfolio.
Aircraft

Gulfstream G250 Edges Closer to Certification

Three super-midsize G250 flight-test airplanes have flown more than 1,150 hours and 400 flights, and the jet remains on schedule for certification later th
Aircraft

Bombardier Learjet 85 On Track for 2013 Entry

Bombardier Aerospace’s all-composite Learjet 85 is on track to enter service in 2013, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer announced at Ebace.
Engines

Nextant 400XT Nears FAA Approval

With Williams FJ44-3AP certification finalized on May 12, the Nextant Aerospace 400XT is on course for full approval of its remanufactured Beechjet 400A/40

Algae-based Jet Biofuel Passes USAF Tests

Independence Bio-Products of Dublin, Ohio, has produced algae oil, which has been converted to jet fuel and then successfully tested by the Air Force Resea

Airbus Wins $14.2M in Dispute with Hawker

Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) will have to pay $14.2 million to close a two-year-old dispute with Airbus, which manufactures Hawker business jet airframe compone
Aircraft

Embraer Delivers 200th Phenom 100

Embraer delivered its 200th Phenom 100 on May 11, a milestone that it achieved in just one-and-a-half years.
Avionics

Satcom1 Offers Airborne Broadband in Europe

Satcom1 is now providing Aviator 200 services in Europe and claims to be the first to do so.

Hawker Beechcraft Realigning Production Work

Hawker Beechcraft is proceeding with relocation of some of the company’s facilities, chairman and CEO Bill Boisture noted during the company’s first-quarte

NBAA Helps Defeat Connecticut Aviation Tax

Advocacy efforts by NBAA members, the Connecticut Legislative Aviation Caucus and the Connecticut Business Aviation Group to fight a personal property tax

Best Time to Buy Bizjets is Now, Says Jetcraft

Business aircraft sales firm Jetcraft is “seeing clear evidence” of a return to a more stable pricing environment for large-cabin, long-range business jets
Aircraft

Gulfstream G650 Resumes Flight-test Campaign

Gulfstream Aerospace resumed flying the G650 on Saturday, nearly two months after suspending the flight-test program following an
ATC

NBAA Furious over FAA’s Changes to Barr

NBAA strongly denounced a decision, announced by FAA officials late Friday
Aircraft

Textron Taps Former GE Aviation Exec To Lead Cessna

Textron announced today that it has named Scott Ernest president and CEO of its Cessna Aircraft subsidiary.

JetNet: Many Bizav Operators in Mood To Buy Aircraft

JetNet today released results from its most-recent quarterly iQ Global Business Aviation Survey, which garnered responses from 506 business aircraft owners
FBOs

Million Air Gulfport Nearing Completion

Million Air expects its newest, and 29th, FBO to be open at the Gulfport-Biloxi (Miss.) International Airport by the end of next month, company officials s
Aircraft

EASA Grounds Falcon 7X, FAA Action To Follow

The EASA today grounded the Dassault Falcon 7X, via an emergency Airworthines

Bizjet Recovery Still ‘Uneven,’ Notes JPMorgan

There is “uneven progress” toward recovery, JPMorgan said in its latest business jet market update.
Safety

Grimsvötn Eruption Could Disrupt Air Traffic in Europe

The European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC), which was set up one year ago after the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, was activated on Saturday fol
Avionics

FAA InFO Addresses iPads as EFBs

In a recently issued Information for Operators (InFO), the FAA provides guidance and information for pilots using iPads and other tablet devices as
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Aviation Insurance: What you don’t know could cost you big money

AIN_2011_Aircraft_Insurance_Report.pdf“If you think the p
Aircraft

CitationAire Recalls All of Its Furloughed Pilots

CitationAir last month asked all of its remaining 32 pilots on furlough to return to work.