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
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Begins Whirl Testing Active Rotor System
Sikorsky Aircraft yesterday said it has begun whirl testing a demonstration rotor system with active flaps as part of the company’s “commitment to design,
Conklin: Value of Older Used Bizjets in ‘Dire Straits’
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 Da
Charter & Fractional
Air Royale Offers Best-price Guarantee
Los Angeles-based private aircraft charter services company Air Royale International is offering a best-price guarantee on its air charter flights.
Charter & Fractional
Greenjets Starts Shared Flight Service
Greenjets shared business jet service between New York and Florida began last month, and service to Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington and Atlanta wi
Airports
Oxford Airport Boasts More Traffic
The expansion of opening hours and its improved fire and rescue capability seem to have paid off at the UK’s Oxford Airport, which saw significant increase
Engines
GE To Test New Turboprop Derivative
GE Aviation will soon start certification testing of its new 800-shp H80 turboprop engine, derived from the Walter M601.
FBOs
Signature Outperforms FBO Peers
The Signature Flight Support FBO chain has outperformed a flagging market in the first six months of this year, according to parent company BBA Aviation.
Maintenance and Modifications
Nextant Flight Testing Beechjet Avionics Upgrade
Richmond Heights, Ohio-based Nextant Aerospace announced today that it has completed the initial certification flight for the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP Ro
Accidents
Crew Heard Clicks Just Before Learjet Crash
The NTSB last month released a cockpit voice recorder transcript as part of its investigation into the Sept.
FAA Boss Keynote To Be Speaker at NBAA
NBAA announced that newly installed FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will be the featured speaker at the NBAA Convention opening general session on October
Safety
Safety Standdown Registration Opens
Registration for the 13th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown opened last month.
Avionics
AEA’s Pilot Avionics Guide Released
The Aircraft Electronics Association’s 2009/2010 Pilot’s Guide to Avionics is now available at no charge at www.aea.net.
Aircraft
FAA OKs Falcon 7X for Steep Approaches
Dassault Falcon received FAA approval that allows the Falcon 7X to perform steep approaches using slopes of up to six degrees.
Brazil Citation Fleet Surpasses 200 Aircraft
Cessna said Brazil is its leading market for jets outside the U.S., with an in-country fleet of more than 200 Citations.
Arkansas Politicians Support Bizavs
While some members of Congress have taken an antagonistic stance toward business aviation in recent times, two senators from Arkansas expressed their suppo
Maintenance and Modifications
Embraer Opens Exec Jet Support Center
Embraer last month officially opened its new customer support contact center dedicated to executive jets.
Bizav Flight Activity Recovering, ARG/US Says
Business aircraft activity showed “tentative signs of recovery” in July, according to data from aviation services company Aviation Research Group/U.S.
Engines
GE Honda Powers Up HF120 Program
Assembly has begun at GE’s manufacturing facility in Lynn, Mass., on the first production GE Honda HF120 engine that will be used for FAA certification tes
NBAA Award Winners Named
NBAA’s board of directors last month announced the 2009 recipients of the association’s annual Meritorious Service to Aviation and John P.
Charter & Fractional
Sunset Aviation Rebrands and Relaunches
Charter/management company Sunset Aviation LLC officially changed its name to Solairus Aviation early last month.
Embraer Breaks Ground on Portugal Factory
Embraer started construction of a factory in Portugal and is due to open it before the end of 2011.
Bizjet Orders Could Be Net Negative This Year
This year will be one of the most challenging on record for new business jet orders, according to business aviation industry consulting firm Brian Foley As
To Trim Costs Pilatus Shortens Workweek
Pilatus Aircraft is shortening working hours for 350 of its employees from September 1 in response to order cancellations for its PC-12 NG single-engine tu
SEC Charges BCM with Fraud
Robert Pinkas, Tab Keplinger and Brantley Capital Management (BCM) have been charged “with securities fraud for overvaluing assets in an investment portfol
Regulations and Government
Natca, FAA Reach Labor Agreement
The long-simmering feud between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca) over wages and working conditions was apparently resol
Lawsuit Targets Textron Backlog
The City of Roseville Employees’ Retirement System has filed a class-action complaint alleging that investors in Textron shares were misled by statements a
Regulations and Government
FAA Proposes Rules for VLJ Certification
To streamline its approvals for very light jets (VLJs), the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 17 to amend the applicable certific
Blue Sky Expands Epic Air Lawsuit
Blue Sky Avgroup, which filed a lawsuit
Execujet, Bombardier end sales deal
Bombardier has confirmed that ExecuJet Aviation no longer holds exclusive sales representation for its new business aircraft.
