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
G20 Cites U.S. over Proposed Foreign Repair Rules
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association notes the U.S.
Australian PMA Parts Could Soon Be Shipping to U.S.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) recently reached an agreement with the FAA that extends an existing aviation treaty-level document to co
Environment
Jet Republic Commits To CO2-offset Program
Portugal-based private air services start-up Jet Republic joined Bombardier Aerospace’s carbon offset program for its initial fleet of 25 Learjet 60XRs, se
NBAA Convention Deemed Fifth Largest Show
Tradeshow Week announced that the NBAA Convention rose to the fifth position in its rankings of largest trade shows in the U.S.
Safety
DOT IG: ASAP Needs Work
A DOT Inspector General audit of the FAA aviation safety action program (ASAP) said that while ASAP is a “potentially valuable safety tool, we found that t
FBOs
Cessna Service Centers Accept Avfuel Cards
Cessna Citation factory-owned service centers in the U.S.
Aircraft
Higher-mtow Airbus ACJ Gets EASA OK
The Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) received EASA approval for a new mtow of 76.5 metric tons (168,700 pounds), one metric ton more than was previously ava
Cessna, Bell Get Export Financing Help
The board of the U.S.
Airports
Anti-aviation Protesters Target LCY
Five people aligned with Plane Stupid, an activist group opposed to airport expansion in Europe, cut through the chain-link perimeter fence at London City
Bailout Pilot Pleads Guilty
Marcus Schrenker, who attempted to fake his own death on January 11 by parachuting from a Piper Meridian, pleaded guilty last month to charges stemming fro
Safety
ERAU To Launch Aviation Wildlife Risk Center
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is opening an International Center for Aviation and Wildlife Risk Mitigation at its Prescott, Ariz.
ATC
Wx Offices at ATC Centers Could Close
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is criticizing the Commerce Department’s proposal to close the National Weather Service center weather ser
Charter & Fractional
Coastal Announces Fixed-price N.Y.-L.A. Flights
New York-based Coastal Jet Service is launching per-seat, daily nonstop service on a Citation X between New York and Los Angeles.
Accidents
PC-12, CRJ200 in Near Ground Collision
According to the NTSB, a runway incursion that occurred on May 29 at Charlotte (N.C.) Douglas International Airport involving a PC-12 turboprop single and
Safety
Industry Still Confused about SMS
To clear up continuing confusion about safety management systems, FAA Flight Standards SMS office manager Don Arendt told attendees at last month’s NATA Ai
Regulations and Government
Montana Senators Appeal to DHS Secretary
Montana senators Max Baucus (D) and Jon Tester (D) have written to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressing the concerns of pi
Charter & Fractional
Rutan Is First Customer on JetSuite Phenom
JetSuite brokered its first Phenom 100 charter flight in late May for customer Burt Rutan, who flew to his home base in Mojave, Calif.
Request for BARR Data Ends Up in Court
Investigative journalism organization ProPublica filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in December, asking the FAA to release the list of reque
FBOs
New Orleans FBO Starts Work on New Facility
Odyssey Aviation broke ground in May for its new FBO at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
Aircraft
Aerion Formal Launch in Late 2010?
Aerion last month at the Paris Air Show said it is nearing a decision on an aerospace manufacturing partner to lead the development and production of its s
Aircraft
Spectrum Completes First S.40 Fuselage
Spectrum Aeronautical sister company Rocky Mountain Composites completed a test article version of the all-composite S.40 Freedom midsize jet fuselage at i
Environment
Honeywell Biofuel Tests Under Way
Honeywell last month said it completed initial testing of renewable jet fuel on its 131-9 APU and TFE731-5 turbofan engine.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Pre-owned Bizjet Inventories Hold Steady
“Available business jet inventories look finally to be stabilizing,” UBS Investment Research noted in its latest business jet update, although pre-owned in
Aircraft
First Gulfstream G250 Is Taking Shape
The first Gulfstream G250 super-midsize business jet had its Honeywell HTF7250G engines mounted on June 1 at Israel Aerospace Industries’ factory in Tel Av
ARG/US: Bizav Flying Activity Stabilizing
The gap between U.S.
Latin American Event Opens Next month
The annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (Labace) is scheduled to open August 13 and run for three days at Congonhas Airport
Aircraft
Cirrus Jet vision Resumes Flying
As Cirrus Aircraft’s prototype Vision jet single resumes flight testing with a new Garmin G1000 avionics suite, some buyers seeking refunds of deposits for
Platinum Jet Cofounder Pleads
Andre Budhan, cofounder of defunct charter operator Platinum Jet, pleaded guilty to defrauding charter customers and brokers, as well as impeding and obstr
