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

ATC

ADS-B Now Active in Philadelphia Area

ADS-B, one of the cornerstones of the FAA’s air traffic control modernization plan known as NextGen, was declared operational in the Philadelphia area yest
Charter & Fractional

Per-seat Aircraft Charter Concept Flying at Greenjets

West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Greenjets said its shared-ride charter jet membership service has been growing quickly since it was launched a year ago.
Safety

European Safety Standdown Set for May 2 and 3

Bombardier Aerospace, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and NBAA yesterday announced that the fourth annual European Safety Standdown will
Charter & Fractional

Avantair Still Growing, Plans To Double Fleet by 2014

Fractional Piaggio Avanti operator Avantair late last week announced more fleet expansion, further growth and new personnel hires.
Aircraft

Kestrel Program Could Fly with Liberty Aero’s Help

Farnborough Aircraft business development director Adrian Norris told AIN yesterday at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that his UK-based c
Aircraft

PiperJet Enters Detailed Design Phase

Piper Aircraft president and CEO Kevin Gould said this week at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that the PiperJet program is on track for certific
Regulations and Government

Washington State Aircraft Tax Killed

NBAA applauded the Washington State legislature’s decision to scuttle a provision for an “onerous” tax proposal for aircraft in its annual spending bill.

Embraer Bullish on Bizjets This Decade

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer released a 10-year business jet forecast at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., yesterday that calls for 10,0
Safety

NTSB: Aircraft Charter Accidents Fall Sharply in 2009

Preliminary 2009 aviation accident statistics released by the NTSB late last week show an overall decrease in aviation accidents for general aviation and o
Aircraft

Evektor Rolls Out EV-55 Turboprop Twin

Kunovice, Czech Republic-based Evektor last week rolled out its EV-55 Outback, a nine- to 14-seat, high-wing twin turboprop.
Charter & Fractional

Flight Options Pilots Ratify Initial Contract

Just shy of four years since voting in a union–the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108–the pilots at fractional provider Flight Options overw
Safety

Pilots on Antidepressants Cleared To Fly, FAA Says

In a new policy statement released on Friday, the FAA said that individuals being trea
Safety

Poor Tire Mx, Late Reject Caused 2008 Learjet 60 Crash

During a public hearing today, the NTSB issued the probable cause and 14 new

Groom Lands at Piper as New Exec VP

Vero Beach, Fla.-based Piper Aircraft today appointed 36-year aviation industry veteran Randy Groom as its new executive vice president of sales, marketing
Safety

NTSB Investigating Near-midair over SFO

The NTSB is investigating a near-midair between a United Airlines Boeing 777 and a Cessna
Aircraft

Phenom Fly-in Draws Owners and Operators to Naples

About 30 people attended an Embraer Phenom owners and operators fly-in this past weekend in Naples, Fla., with nine owners flying their Phenom 100s into Na

NBAA Outlines Strategies To Lower Fuel Costs

NBAA yesterday released a new white paper, “Ten Critical Strategies for Long-Term Fuel Sav

UBS: Bizjet Market Recovery in Holding Pattern

While UBS Investment Research’s March business jet index reflects a stable market, other indictors showed that the business aviation market recovery has st
Avionics

Next-gen FMS Tested Aboard G650

Honeywell’s next-generation flight management system (NGFMS) is currently undergoing flight testing on the Gulfstream G650 and the Boeing 747-8.
Safety

Audit Outlines Flight Department Deficiencies

Argus’s latest annual SMS audit report shows that safety management systems (SMS) and emergency response planning have the highest number of deficiencies a

NATA Celebrates 70 Years

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

Groups Fighting Washington Aircraft Taxes

At press time, NBAA and other aviation alphabet groups continued to fight a proposed bill in the Washington state legislature that would impose a 0.5-perce
Charter & Fractional

Cessna Takes Full Reins at CitationAir

Cessna Takes Full Reins at CitationAirCessna Aircraft in late February completed its acquisition of business aviation flight services provider
Aircraft

Used Jets Selling 15% Below Market Value

Pre-owned business jet prices are down 40 percent from the heights of 2008 and are now on average 15 percent below “market value,” Aircraft Post president
Charter & Fractional

Aircraft Charter Demand Still Climbing

The U.S.

Eclipse Aerospace Becomes GAMA Member

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) approved Eclipse Aerospace as its newest member, bringing the international trade association’s membe

India a Growing but Low-volume Bizav Market

Business aviation market advisor Brian Foley said business jet deliveries in India are healthier than in most Western countries, but the volume isn’t on pa
Safety

NATA Launches Flight-risk Assessment Tool

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) launched RA Check, an FAA-endorsed flight-risk assessment tool (Frat) designed to consider the pro
Maintenance and Modifications

Aviation Partners: Winglets Saved 2B Gal

Aviation Partners and Aviation Partners Boeing said their blended winglet technology has saved airlines and private jet operators from burning two billion