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 To Close Columbus, Ga. Facilities
Cessna Aircraft will close its three component-production plants in Columbus, Ga., over the next 24 months and will move the work to its facilities in Inde
Charter & Fractional
CitationAir Recalls 16 Furloughed Pilots
Business jet solutions provider CitationAir by Cessna early last month recalled 16 pilots from furlough, representing approximately 20 percent of those fur
Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries Drop
Bombardier reported $4.6 billion in revenues for its fiscal third quarter (ending October 31), which is on par with the previous year.
Huerta Nominated as Deputy FAA Admin
The Obama Administration last month nominated Michael Huerta as FAA deputy administrator.
Layoffs at Jet Aviation Basel
Jet Aviation laid off 94 full-time employees at its completions and maintenance facility in Basel, Switzerland.
Regulations and Government
FAA Proposes $4M Fine Against Spitfire Aviation
The FAA has proposed levying a $4 million penalty on Spitfire Aviation Services of Fayetteville, Ark., for allegedly conducting at least 798 illegal charte
GD Chief Optimistic about 2010/11
At a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Global Industrial Conference last month, General Dynamics chief Jay Johnson said that his company’s aerospace division–n
Aircraft
Gulfstream, IAI Mark First Flight of Super-Midsize G250
Gulfstream Aerospace and Israel Aerospace Industries flew the super-midsize jet on Dec. 11, 2009
Charter & Fractional
ARG/US Endorses IS-BAO as Charter Audit Standard
Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) is endorsing the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) as the “one standard that all operato
Training and Workforce
NATA Developing Crew Briefing for EWR
Building on the success of its Teterboro (N.J.) flight-crew briefing module, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is developing a similar mod
Madoff Charter Firm Declares Bankruptcy
Swindler Bernard Madoff’s charter company, BLM Air Charter, filed for voluntary bankruptcy (Chapter 11) in the U.S.
Aircraft
NextGen Research Park Under Way
The FAA has broken ground for a NextGen research park that will sit adjacent to the agency’s William J.
Jet Professionals Extends Crew Advantage
Jet Professionals, a division of Jet Aviation, is making its Crew Advantage program available to business aviation crews globally.
Aircraft
Falcon 7X Obtains Indian Approval
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India recently granted type approval for the Dassault Falcon 7X.
Accidents
All Survive Westwind Ditching in Pacific
After three missed approaches at Norfolk Island in the South Pacific due to bad weather, Capt.
Market For business jets Still Growing in Middle East
Research firm Frost & Sullivan said recently that the Middle East is one of the few world regions where the business jet market has registered growth, addi
Avionics
GE Acquires RNP Procedure Maker Naverus
GE Aviation acquired Naverus, the Kent, Wash.-based supplier of performance-based navigation (PBN) services.
Regulations and Government
FAA Sets ADS-B Standards
The FAA finalized the industry-wide technical standard orders (TSOs) for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), the backbone of NextGen.
Aircraft
Cessna Delivers 300th Citation X
Cessna Aircraft early last month delivered the 300th Citation X to roll off the line.
Regulations and Government
EBAA Establishes New Airports Committee
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has established a new airports, handling and ground operations committee (AHGOC).
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Buying AR Group
Rockwell Collins last month announced plans to acquire AR Group and its affiliated companies, which includes business aviation trip support services provid
Regulations and Government
FAA Prohibits Takeoffs with Polished Frost
The FAA has issued a final rule that prohibits Part 91K, 135 and 121 operators from taking off with “polished frost”–meaning frost buffed to make it smooth
Hawker’s Boisture ‘Surprised’ by NetJets Cancellations
Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO Bill Boisture said yesterday during a fourth-quarter update conference call that he was “surprised” at the “timing and m
Bizav Activity Strengthening, ARG/US Data Shows
November business aircraft flight activity indicates a “continued trend toward recovery,” according to TraqPak data from aviation specialized services firm
Charter & Fractional
Comprehensive Charter Safety Review Issued by ACSF
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) late last week released its first accident and incident review of the Part 135 on-demand air charter industry.
NetJets Cancels $2.6B in Hawker Beechcraft Orders
In a financial update released yesterday, Hawker Beechcraft revealed that fractional provider NetJets has cancelled orders for a “significant number” of ai
Charter & Fractional
More Operators Pass ACSF Charter Audit Muster
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), an affiliate of the National Air Transportation Association, yesterday announced that three more aircraft charter
Cessna Aircraft To Shutter Columbus, Ga. Facilities
Cessna Aircraft yesterday said it is closing its three component-production plants in Columbus, Ga., over the next six to 24 months and will move the work
Engines
GE Ready To Begin H80 Turboprop Trials
GE Aviation yesterday said that subsidiary GE Aviation Czech will begin certification testing of its new 800-shp H80 turboprop engine by the end of this mo
