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
Aircraft
Gulfstream G250 Makes Debut, One Week after G650
The first super-midsize Gulfstream G250 rolled out today at Israel Aerospace Industries’ facility at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Charter & Fractional
XOJet Dispels Citation X Disposal Talk
Responding to scuttlebutt about selling off its Cessna Citation X fleet, charter aircraft provider XOJet told AIN, “This is incorrect as t
Pelton: Bizav Issues Don’t End at Geographic Lines
Business aviation faces similar issues around the world that will require operators to cooperate across regional lines if the industry is to thrive, Cessna
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet Aviation São Paulo To Support Gulfstreams
Gulfstream Aerospace is designating the Jet Aviation facility in São Paulo, Brazil, as an authorized warranty repair facility.
Epic Air Filing for Bankruptcy
In a hearing of the lawsuit filed by Blue Sky Avgroup against kit-airp
FBOs
Shanghai FBO To Open Next Year
A private jet terminal at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is scheduled to open ahead of the World Expo in May.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Whirl Tests Active Rotor System
Sikorsky Aircraft wrapped up whirl testing of a demonstration rotor system with active flaps as part of the company’s “commitment to design, develop, test
Cabin Interior and Electronics
BAE, Quest Team on Cabin Air FilterI
BAE Systems and Quest International of the UK have combined to launch a cabin-air system that can destroy airborne viruses and bacteria, including swine fl
Aircraft
Cirrus Hiking Price of Vision Jet
Cirrus Aircraft last month raised the price of the single-engine Vision Jet, a personal VLJ, to $1.39 million for existing position holders and to $1.55 mi
Aircraft
King Air 350i Gets Electric Shades
PPG Industries’ aerospace transparencies business and Gentex will be providing electrochromic window systems to Hawker Beechcraft as standard equipment for
Aero Resources Offers Contract Scheduling
Air-charter broker and consulting service Aero Resources added a new program for outsourced scheduling and dispatching.
Piper Aircraft Obtains ODA Approval
The FAA recently awarded Piper Aircraft type-certificate organization designation authorization (ODA), which gives the Vero Beach, Fla.-based aircraft manu
UBS: Pre-owned Inventory Trending Downward
Available business jet inventories dropped 2 percent in August, the second sequential decline in three months, following 18 months of consecutive increases
Market for older bizjets likely to remain stagnant
Business jet valuations for pre-mid-1990 models are in “dire straits” and likely will never recover, Conklin & de Decker vice president and co-owner David
Regulations and Government
NPS To Settle Grand Canyon Noise Issue
After debating Grand Canyon air-tour noise for eight years, the Grand Canyon Working Group (GCWG) has left the issue to the National Park Service (NPS), wh
Bizcraft Buyers ‘Out There,’ Piedmont Notes
Piedmont Aircraft has sold 24 pre-owned business airplanes since its official launch earlier this year, proving that “even in this market, which is one of
Avionics
UVdatalink Fleet Status Upgraded
Universal Weather and Aviation enhanced its online flight-tracking application, UVdatalink Fleet Status, to help flight departments more easily track and m
FAA Ordered To Pay Air Trek’s Legal Expenses
The FAA on August 20 reinstated the air-carrier operating ce
Aircraft
China Orders Three Citation Sovereigns
Cessna Aircraft last month during Asian Aerospace 2009 in Hong Kong received an order for three Citation Sovereigns from the China Flight Inspection Center
JPMorgan: Business Jet Sentiment Improving
“We’ve felt a more positive vibe on business jets recently, with used inventory ticking down slightly and flight operations edging upward,” JPMorgan Equity
Former FBI Agent Pegged for Top TSA Post
President Obama last month announced his intent to nominate Erroll Southers as Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Securit
Regulations and Government
NBAA Offering eApis Tool for Members
NBAA has partnered with Arinc Direct to offer a new online tool to help members comply with U.S.
Aviation Groups Fuming over USA Today Story
A story on general aviation airports in the September 17 issue of USA Today, and a companion video news segment broadcast that same day on NBC’s T
Aircraft
Citation Excel/XLSs OK’d for BoomBeams
LoPresti Aviation received FAA STC approval for BoomBeam high-intensity discharge (HID) lights on the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS.
Bizav Flight Activity Showing Sign of Life
Business aircraft flight activity for Part 91 operators appears to have bottomed, according to data from Aviation Research Group/U.S.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G650 Rolled Out, Under Its Own Power
Gulfstream Aerospace this morning rolled out the first wide-cabin G650 to much fanfare, and a crowd that completely filled the G650 production hangar, at i
Avionics
ACSS Intros TCAS Change 7.1 Update
Aviation Communications & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) is readying a software update for the Phoenix company’s TCAS II and TCAS 2000 traffic alert and c
Maintenance and Modifications
NATA: Updates Are maintenance Tasks
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA), responding to recent member requests, issued a statement that clarifies FAA regulations that apply to u
Airports
Fewer Delays For Colorado Airports
Corporate operators can expect fewer delays at Colorado’s Craig, Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Rifle Airports this winter since the Colorado DOT has purcha
Charter & Fractional
NBAA issues Guide for Charter Brokers
NBAA published best-practices guidelines for charter brokers that outline the regulatory environment in which air-charter brokers work, along with business
