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
Charter & Fractional
Gama, Hop-A-Jet Latest To Attain ACSF Charter Registry Approval
Gama Charters of Stratford, Conn., and Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday became the latest air charter operators to gain
CH-53K Marks Key APU Light-off Milestone
The Sikorsky CH-5
Regulations and Government
FAA Adopts ICAO’s ‘Line Up and Wait’ Terminology
Current FAA terminology for an air traffic controller’s instruction for a pilot to taxi onto the runway and await takeoff clearance is “position and hold.”
Nigerian jet buy lifts veil on discounts
The Nigerian government’s announcement last month that it is buying two Falcon 7Xs and one Gulfstream G550 has yielded a rare public viewing of business ai
FBOs
Executive Flight Services Opens
Executive Flight Services, a subsidiary of Kansas City, Mo.-based Executive AirShare, established a maintenance base at Midwest National Air Center in Ke
Regulations and Government
FAA’s Circuit Breaker policy could change
The FAA issued a draft policy memorandum that would change circuit-breaker layouts in aircraft electrical systems, as well as how pilots deal with trippe
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA levies Fine on Hillsboro Aviation
The FAA is seeking a civil penalty of $580,000 from Hillsboro Aviation of Hillsboro, Ore., “for allegedly performing improper repairs, deliberately falsi
Bizav flight activity recovery slows
After months of posting positive trends, the recovery in business aircraft flight activity sputtered in July, falling 0.9 percent from a year ago, accordin
Accidents
Details of Roush Crash Released
The NTSB has released the preliminary report on the crash of a Hawker Beechcraft Premier IA during the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wis.
Cessna, IAM Start Negotiations
Cessna Aircraft and the union that represents 2,300 of the company’s factory workers–the International Association of Machinists Lodge 774–began contract
Engines
FJ44s Ground Tested on Nextant 400XT
Nextant Aerospace has begun full-power ground runs of its Beechjet-based 400XT with the Williams International FJ44-3AP engines.
Crystal ball: $208B in sales by 2019
Business jet charter, sales and acquisition firm Zenith Jet released a “bottom-up segment dynamics” forecast that predicts 10,940 business jets worth some
Regulations and Government
Congress delays decision on bonus depreciation renewal
Although support for accelerated depreciation for major equipment purchases is growing, Congress left for its summer recess without making it so.
Charter & Fractional
Desert Jet Launches Facebook-enabled Charter Quoting
Desert Jet, an aircraft charter company based near Palm Springs, Calif., yesterday launched what it claims is the first air charter quoting program accessi
Environment
World Fuel To Acquire Western Petroleum
World Fuel Services on Monday announced an agreement to acquire Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Western Petroleum, including its branded aviation fuel distributi
Rotorcraft
Civil Helicopter Outlook Good, Says Frost and Sullivan
In its just-released world commercial helicopter market report, res
Rotorcraft
Pre-Owned Turbine Aircraft Sales Up, Prices Down
Sales of pre-owned business jets, turboprops and turbine helicopters increased in the first seven months versus the same period last year, though at the sa
New Study for Bizav Use at Small and Midsize Companies
Nexa Advisors and NBAA are soliciting participation in a new study examining the value of business
Aircraft
Al Jaber Offers First ACJ in ME Charter Market
Following the recent delivery of its first A318 Elite, Al Jaber Aviation (AJA) yesterday became the first Middle East customer to offer an Airbus for VIP c
Bizjet Discounting Veil Lifted in Nigeria Order
The Nigerian government’s announcement last week that it is buying two Falcon 7Xs and one Gulfstream G550 for its presidential fleet has yielded a rare loo
Cessna, IAM Start Contract Negotiations
Cessna Aircraft and the union that represents 2,300 of the company’s factory workers–the International Association of Machinists Lodge 774–began contract n
Maintenance and Modifications
Williams FJ44s Ground Tested on Nextant 400XT
Nextant Aerospace recently began full-power ground runs of its 400XT with the Williams International FJ44-3AP engines, the company announced yesterday.
Bizav Flight Activity Recovery Hits Turbulence
After months of posting positive trends, the recovery in business aircraft flight activity sputtered last month, falling 0.9 percent from a year ago, accor
ATC
FAA Adopts ICAO’s ‘Line Up and Wait’ Terminology
Current FAA terminology for an air traffic controller’s instruction for a pilot to taxi onto the runway and await takeoff clearance is “position and hold.”
Charter & Fractional
Linear Air Says VLJ Air-taxi Model Can Work
Despite the littered road of failed very light jet air-taxi firms, Linear Air said it has been able to make the model work and has even eked out a profit d
Training and Workforce
Phenom 100 Synthetic Vision, Phenom 300 Sim OK’d
Embraer yesterday received Brazil ANAC, FAA and EASA approval for Garmin’s synthetic vision technology (SVT) system on the Phenom 100, which has a Garmin G
Maintenance and Modifications
Dassault Falcon Bullish on Brazil Bizav Market
Dassault Falcon predicts that Brazil will be one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for business aviation as the industry recovers, company presid
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy 650 To Debut This Week at Labace
The Embraer Legacy 650 will make its public debut at the seventh Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (Labace), which starts on Thursda
Charter & Fractional
On More Solid Footing, NetJets Posts $114M Profit
For the second quarter and first half of this year, fractional aircraft provider NetJets' revenues increased 16 percent and 17 percent, respectively, from
Accidents
J.P.Morgan: New Bizjet Demand Remains 'Elusive'
The pre-owned business jet market is improving, but demand for new jets is "elusive," according to a monthly business jet report released on Friday by J.P.
