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

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.
Aircraft

More Delays Logged in HondaJet Program

The HondaJet program has once again been delayed.
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

Analyzing the GAMA 1Q10 aircraft delivery numbers

A couple observations from the GAMA 1Q general aviation aircraft delivery stats releas

2010 EBACE Could Be Second-largest Ever

Attendance at EBACE 2010 reached 11,106 registered visitors by the time the halls closed yesterday.
Aircraft

FAA Proposes More Testing for Smaller VLJs

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would revise the requirement for function and reliability (F&R) flight testing to include tu
Aircraft

Mtow Increase OK’d for Kodiak

Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft received FAA approval to increase the mtow for its Kodiak turboprop single to 7,225 pounds, up from the existing 6,75

Washington Decides Against Aircraft Tax

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

Airbus Sees Asia as Important Bizjet Market

Airbus forecasts a market for about five large business jets a year in the Asia-Pacific region, the majority of them in mainland China.