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
Safety
Gulfstream Forms Service Is Enhancing Safety
Gulfstream says its flight-data monitoring/flight operational quality assurance program “is already making a difference in safety to operators.” Introduced
Congress Recognizes Bizav for Haiti Relief
Both houses of Congress last month passed a bill recognizing the entire general aviation community, including business aviation, for Haiti relief efforts f
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Predicting Profitable 2010
Berkshire Hathaway’s first-quarter financial report notes that revenues at its NetJets subsidiary grew by 18 percent year-over-year, generating positive pr
Bizav Flight Activity Still Climbing
Business aircraft flight activity increased 4.8 percent in April compared with year-ago levels, according to TraqPak data released by aviation specialized
Accidents
FAA Denies Sanctions Against Midair Pilots
The FAA rejected a request from Brazilian politicians to revoke the pilot certificates of the two U.S.
Obama Nominates Pistole for TSA Chief
President Barack Obama nominated John Pistole as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, a position where he would also lead the Trans
Accidents
Stabilizer Failure Caused Grob Crash
The November 2006 fatal crash of the Grob G180A SPn prototype was caused by failure of the twinjet’s horizontal stabilizer, which “suffered an in-flight br
FBOs
Northwest Florida Airport Opens
Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (KECP) near Panama City, Fla., the first new greenfield airport since Denver International in 1995, opened last month.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Ops Receives First Phenom 300
Flight Options took delivery of its first Embraer Phenom 300.
Charter & Fractional
NATA Concerned by Climate and Energy Legislation
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is concerned with the “broad framework” of the American Power Act, a bill introduced earlier this month
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky X2 Races Toward Helo Speed Record
Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 technology demonstrator achieved a forward speed of 181 knots on a test flight today at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in We
NTSB Issues Bevy of Recommendations As Result of US Airways Flight 1549 Ditching Findings
As a result of findings from US Airways Flight 1549–which lost power in both engines after hitting a flock of Canada Geese and successfully ditched in t
Security
ASA Group Inundated During Thailand Protests
The ASA Group, an executive-aviation security services provider with a base in Bangkok, said it has been inundated with requests for assistance from travel
Charter & Fractional
Avantair Finds Smooth Air in Turbulent Frax Market
Piaggio Avanti fractional provider Avantair’s revenue increased 4 percent, to $36 million, in its fiscal third quarter (which ended March 31) compared with
FBOs
New Northwest Florida Airport Set To Open on Sunday
Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (KECP) near Panama City, Fla., the first new greenfield airport since Denver International in 1995, is on schedule to ope
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Gets Its First Phenom 300
Cleveland-based fractional aircraft provider Flight Options took delivery of its first Embraer Phenom 300 on Tuesday.
Aircraft
Dornier Seaplane Picks Montreal for Seastar Production
Dornier Seaplane yesterday selected the Montreal suburb of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu as the final assembly site for the company’s all-composite, Pratt & Whi
Regulations and Government
FAA Now Processing Trust Registrations Again
The FAA has backed away from placing restrictions on non-citizen owner trust registrations of aircraft, according to NBAA and NATA.
UBS Bizjet Survey Says Market Holding Steady
UBS Investment Research’s May business jet index came in at 50, indicative of a stable market and in line with its previous two surveys in January and Marc
Regulations and Government
Obama Nominates Pistole for TSA Chief
President Barack Obama yesterday nominated John Pistole as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, a position where he would also lead
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet, Korean Airlines Form Alliance
Bombardier Flexjet and Korean Airlines formed a marketing alliance that allows fractional owners from the former company who use the international airline
GAMA Honors Retiring Congressmen for Their General Aviation Support
The board of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recognized Sen.
Aircraft
Alternative F-35 JSF Engine Program Lives To See Another Day
The U.S. House armed services seapower and air-land forces subcommittees this week included $485 million in continued funding for the GE/Rolls-Royce F136.
Aircraft
‘Last Time’ DC-3 Mass Flight Planned for AirVenture’10
The world’s largest reunion organization of Douglas DC-3s since World War II, dubbed “The Last Time,” is one step closer with the appointment of eight indu
Charter & Fractional
ProJet Plans Grand Opening for Jet Center on June 2
Aircraft management and charter company ProJet Aviation is planning a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Jet Center at Leesburg (Va.) Ex
Regulations and Government
Pelton Representing GA on DOT Aviation Advisory Panel
Cessna Aircraft chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton was tapped yesterday by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to sit on the agency’s fu
Charter & Fractional
Argus: Bizav Flight Activity Continues Steady Climb
Business aircraft flight activity increased 4.8 percent last month compared with year-ago levels, according to TraqPak data released yesterday by aviation
New Bizjet Demand ‘Still in Doldrums,’ JPMorgan Says
In its latest monthly business jet market report, JPMorgan North American Equity Research said demand for new business jets is “still in the doldrums.” As
