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
Cessna VP: Bizav Evangelism Must Continue
Last month at the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) annual conference in London, Cessna vice president of corporate communication Ro
Avionics
JFK Controller Suspended
An air traffic tower controller and his supervisor at New York JFK Airport were placed on administrative leave last month following an incident in February
Harlow Aero in Bid To Buy Epic Air Assets
Phillip Friedman, CEO of Harlow Aerostructures of Wichita, at press time was vying to buy the assets of bankrupt aircraft developer Epic Air.
Airports
New airport to open in Florida next month
Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (KECP; see photo on page 1) near Panama City, Fla., is set to open on May 23, marking the first new greenfield airport to
Maintenance and Modifications
King Air 90 Winglets STC’d
BLR Aerospace winglets were STC’d last month for the King Air C90A, C90GT and C90GTi; approval will eventually be expanded to include the C90 and C90E.
Safety
FSF Calls for Multinational Safety Probes
Citing ongoing criminal prosecution of Continental Airlines for the 2000 Concorde crash in Paris, the U.S.-based Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) is asking g
Aircraft
FAA Grants Type Approval for Cessna CJ4
The Cessna Citation CJ4 gained FAA type certification last month, with deliveries of the light jet set to begin later this year.
Regulations and Government
FAA Nudges on Aircraft Charter Oversight
During a House aviation subcommittee hearing on oversight of on-demand (Part 135) aircraft operators last month, DOT Inspector General Calvin Scovel III sa
Airports
Stage 2 Aircraft To Be Phased Out at Van Nuys
The Los Angeles City Council voted on February 26 to ban Stage 2 aircraft from operating at Van Nuys (Calif.), phasing out these noisier jets over the next
Regulations and Government
Transport Canada claws back bizav authority from CBAA
Transport Canada plans to take back the business aviation operating certification and oversight functions it had transferred to the Canadian Business Aviat
Airports
New Northwest Florida Airport To Open in May
Northwest Florida Beaches Airport (KECP) near Panama City, Fla., is scheduled to open on May 23, marking the first new greenfield airport to be built in th
Bizjet Division Shines at Embraer
Brazil-based aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Friday said its profits dropped 36 percent last year, to $248.5 million, versus $388.7 million in 2008, while
Charter & Fractional
House Hearing Probes On-demand Charter Oversight
During a House aviation subcommittee hearing yesterday on oversight of on-demand (Part 135) aircraft operators, DOT Inspector General Calvin Scovel III tes
Airports
Norwood Airport Closed Due To Flooding
Norwood (Mass.) Memorial Airport is closed to all fixed-wing traffic until further notice due to runway and taxiway flooding.
Charter & Fractional
FAA Loses Air Trek Appeal
The NTSB denied an FAA appeal of a judicial decision requiring
Regulations and Government
Transport Canada Reclaims Bizav Authority from CBAA
Canadian Transport Minister John Baird today announced that Transport Canada is taking back the certification and oversight functions for business aviation
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 probabili
Cessna V-p: We Must Continue Bizav Evangelism
Cessna vice president of corporate communication Robert Stangarone, on Tuesday, at the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) annual conf
Security
Odyssey FBO Rises from Ashes at New Orleans Lakefront
The former Million Air FBO facility at New Orleans Lakefront Airport that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 will officially rise from the a
Avionics
Next-Gen FMS Being Flight Tested on Gulfstream G650
Honeywell’s next-generation flight management system (NGFMS) is currently undergoing flight testing on the Gulfstream G650 and was tested during the Boeing
Airports
AAAE, NATA Pan EPA De-icing Fluid Proposal
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and National Air Transportation Association (NATA) both recently submitted comments to the Environmen
Report Puts Pre-owned Bizjet Market Under Microscope
Pre-owned business jet prices are down 40 percent from the heights of 2008 and are now on average 15 percent below “market value,” AircraftPost president D
Safety
SMS Audit Report IDs Flight Departments’ Deficiencies
Argus released its annual SMS audit results report this week, with sa
Aircraft
Second Gulfstream G650 Enters Flight-test Program
The second Gulfstream G650–known as test article two,
Foley: India a Growing but Low-volume Bizav Market
On the eve of the India Aviation Conference on Civil Aviation, business aviation market advisor Brian Foley said business jet deliveries in India are healt
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Suffers Loss in 2009, Sees Profitable 2010
NetJets lost $711 million last year and is so debt-laden that without parent-company Berkshire Hathaway’s guarantee of this debt, “NetJets would have been
Regulations and Government
NBAA Fighting Washington State Aircraft Taxes
NBAA issued a call to action to oppose a proposed bill in the Washington state legislature that would impose a 0.5-percent excise tax on aircraft in the st
Rotorcraft
Civil Helo Deliveries To Remain Flat, Honeywell Says
Honeywell’s 12th annual turbine-powered civil helicopter purchase outlook, which was released today, projects flat overall deliveries of new civil-use heli
FBOs
Dulles Jet Center Vows To Rebuild
Dulles Jet Center–which is now closed after three of its four 40,000-sq-ft hangars collapsed on February 6, succumbing to the weight of more than 32 inches
Charter & Fractional
Cessna Takes Full Ownership of CitationAir
Cessna Aircraft yesterday completed its acquisition of business aviation flight services provider CitationAir.
