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
Charter & Fractional
Frax pilots vote on strike authorization
Teamsters Local 1108, the union representing some 500 pilots at fractional provider Flight Options, on September 21 mailed strike-authorization vote ballot
Aircraft
Emivest delivers its First SJ30
Emivest Aerospace, formerly Sino Swearingen Aircraft, on September 23 delivered its first SJ30 light jet and continues to ramp up production at its San Ant
STUDY: Bizcraft boost firms’ performance
NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) welcomed a new study from Nexa Advisors that indicates companies using business aviation out
Charter & Fractional
NetJets trims workforce by 5 percent
Fractional provider NetJets on September 11 announced the first major workforce reduction since David Sokol took over in early August as chairman and actin
Aircraft
First Flight 40 Years Ago Gave Lift to Citation Series
Cessna Aircraft last month celebrated the 40th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Citation 500, the first model in its now broad series of business je
Maintenance and Modifications
Winglets available for Citation X
Cessna Aircraft in late August delivered the first Citation X retrofitted with elliptical winglets made by Wichita-based Winglet Technology.
Companies with Bizcraft Outperform Those Without
NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today welcomed the release of a new
Regulations and Government
Ground-based Augmentation Landing System OK’d
Honeywell’s SmartPath precision-landing system yesterday became the only ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) to receive FAA approval.
Charter & Fractional
Air Charter Best Practices Guide Released by NBAA
NBAA last week released best-practices guidelines for charter brokers that outline the regulatory environment in which air-charter brokers work, along with
UBS: Bizjet Market ‘Less Worse, Not Better’
UBS Investment Research’s September business jet market index came in at 43, 16-percent higher than its previous survey in July and moved upward for the si
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Pilots Vote on Strike Authorization
Teamsters Local 1108, the union representing some 500 pilots at fractional provider Flight Options, yesterday announced a strike-authorization vote as fina
Charter & Fractional
Air Royale President Leaves UK Charter Broker Group
Wayne Rizzi, president of Los Angeles-based aircraft charter broker Air Royale International, yesterday resigned as the U.S.
Security
FAA SAFO Tackles Pilot Fatigue for Short-haul Ops
The FAA yesterday issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) that addresses pilot fatigue countermeasures in Part 121 and 135 short-haul operations, though
Regulations and Government
NBAA: USA Today Story on GA Airports Biased
Responding to a story in this morning’s issue of USA Today
Regulations and Government
White House Announces TSA Chief Nominee
President Obama on Thursday announced that he intends to nominate Erroll Southers as the fifth administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
Regulations and Government
China Relaxes Flight Plan Rules for Domestic Operators
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) last week confirmed that it is relaxing the lead time for flight plan filing from six days to
Aircraft
First Flight 40 Years Ago Gave Lift to Citation Series
Cessna Aircraft today is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Citation 500, the first model in its now broad series of business jet
Charter & Fractional
Business Aviation Flight Activity Turning Around
Business aircraft flight activity for Part 91 operators appears to have bottomed, according to data released yesterday by aviation services company Aviatio
Business Jet Sentiment Improving, JPMorgan Says
“We’ve felt a more positive vibe on business jets recently, with used inventory ticking down slightly and flight operations edging upward,” JPMorgan Equity
Rotorcraft
Cessna Parent Textron Sees Bizjet Recovery in 2011
During a Textron business update yesterday, company chairman and CEO Lewis Campbell said he is seeing trends of economic stabilization, though he admitted
ATC
Gulfstream’s (Enhanced) Vision Really Taking Off
Gulfstream Aerospace last week marked the service entry of the 500th Gulfstream outfitted with the manufacturer’s enhanced vision system (EVS).
Business Aviation Highlighted at Asian Aerospace
The three-day Asian Aerospace show kicked off today at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, with the major business aircraft manufacturers attending in the hopes o
Rotorcraft
Used Helo Market Better than Bizjets, but Still Weak
Market conditions for pre-owned rotorcraft are “below normal levels and falling,” according to a monthly rotorcraft survey published last week by UBS Inves
Safety
NTSB Seeks To Reduce EMS Helicopter Flight Risks
On Tuesday, the NTSB issued 19 recommendations for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), addressing pilot training; safety management systems; coll
Safety
FAA Moves Quickly To Modify Hudson River Airspace
The FAA yesterday announced plans to modify the airspace over the Hudson River, in response to the August 8 midair of a Piper PA-32R and Liberty Helicopter
UBS: Pre-owned Bizjet Inventory Trending Downward
Available business jet inventories dropped 2 percent last month, the second sequential decline in three months following 18 months of consecutive increases
Aircraft
Outlook Good for Large-cabin Bizjets; Midsize Less So
Bombardier Aerospace and Gulfstream Aerospace are well known fierce rivals, but that doesn’t mean they can’t agree from time to time, especially when it co
Charter & Fractional
Bizav Fractionals Facing a Matured Industry
The fractional jet industry is undergoing a “major transformation,” according to business aviation consultant Brian Foley Associates.
Aircraft
Premier II Service Entry Delayed to 2012/2013
Hawker Beechcraft yesterday announced that while it is making progress with the Premier II program, market conditions have prompted the company to delay en
Aircraft
First Winglet-equipped Citation X Delivered
Cessna Aircraft yesterday delivered the first Citation X retrofitted with elliptical winglets made by Wichita-based Winglet Technology.
