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

Safety

FAA Reminds Pilots To Avoid Distractions

In light of several incidents, the FAA has called for operators to create and enforce policies that will limit distractions in the cockpit and keep pilots
Maintenance and Modifications

Citation X Winglets Get European OK

Winglet Technology received EASA STC approval for its elliptical winglets on the Cessna Citation X.
Regulations and Government

NATA Declares 2010 ‘Day on the Hill’ a Success

The National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) annual “Day on the Hill” attracted nearly 100 association members to the Capitol building in Washingto
ATC

ADS-B Activated in Philly

ADS-B, one of the cornerstones of the FAA’s ATC modernization plan known as NextGen, is operational in the Philadelphia area.

First Cepa Bizav Show Planned for 2011

The Central Europe Private Aviation (Cepa) industry association launched plans for a new business aviation trade show focused on central and eastern Europe
Charter & Fractional

Per-seat Charter Working at Greenjets

West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Greenjets said its shared-ride charter jet membership service has been growing quickly since it was launched in April last year
Charter & Fractional

Rizon Adds Eastern Europe Charter Capacity

Rizon Jet has agreed to provide additional charter capacity for Kazakhstan-based operator Prime Aviation.
Sustainability and Environment

EPA Wants To Get the Lead Out of Avgas

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication version of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANRPM) on lead in avgas.
Charter & Fractional

Air Partner Launches Empty-leg Web Site

Charter broker Air Partner launched a new Web site, www.emptysectors.com, intended to help charter clients to see real-time empty-leg availability of aircr
Training and Workforce

SimCom To Build PC-12 NG Trainer for Pilatus

SimCom signed an agreement with Pilatus Aircraft to manufacture a type-specific PC-12 NG flight training device, to be used by owners and operators through

Opera Aircraft OK’d for Gulfstream Sales

Opera Aircraft Sales has become a sales agent for Gulfstream business aircraft in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
Airports

Arizona Airport of the Year: Mesa-Falcon Field

The Arizona DOT named Phoenix Mesa-Falcon Field Airport “Arizona Airport of the Year” at the 2010 Arizona Airports Association Spring Conference.
Charter & Fractional

VistaJet Expands to West African Coast

In response to the growing demand for business aircraft in Africa, charter operator VistaJet has launched a regional operation on the West African coast, b

GAMA Honors Congressmen for GA Support

The GAMA board recognized Sen.
Charter & Fractional

Flexjet, Korean Air Form Alliance

Bombardier Flexjet and Korean Air formed a marketing alliance dubbed Flexjet Connect.
Charter & Fractional

Presidential Flight Gets Second ABJ

Inflite Engineering of London Stansted Airport is keeping pace with growing demand for executive Avro Business Jet (ABJ) reconfigurations of BAE Systems re
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Amac Thinks Big on Aircraft Completions

Switzerland’s Amac Aerospace has extended its aircraft completions portfolio by securing approval from Airbus as an official completions center for its lin

JetNet: Used Bizcraft Inventory Continues To Deflate

A recently released report from JetNet indicates that the pre-owned inventory of business jets and turboprops declined further last month, though the aviat
Engines

Rolls-Royce Advancing Engine Tech with E3E Core

Rolls-Royce today announced that it has successfully run the latest E3E (efficiency, environment, economy) core engine as part of its two-shaft research pr
Aircraft

More Delays Logged in HondaJet Program

The HondaJet program has once again been delayed.
Charter & Fractional

Flight Ops Receives First Phenom 300

Flight Options took delivery of its first Embraer Phenom 300.
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.
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

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

FAA Denies Sanctions Against Midair Pilots

The FAA rejected a request from Brazilian politicians to revoke the pilot certificates of the two U.S.

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
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

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
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
Accidents

NTSB Expands Accident Reporting Rules

The FAA is notifying operators that the NTSB amended Part 830 to include five new conditions that require immediate notification upon occurrence.