Author
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.
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Latest from Chad Trautvetter
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
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.
Regulations and Government
NBAA: USA Today Story on GA Airports Biased
Responding to a story in this morning’s issue of USA Today
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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).
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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,
Charter & Fractional
Santulli resigns from NetJets; changes ahead at fractional
In a major management shake-up at fractional provider NetJets, company founder, chairman and CEO Richard Santulli on August 4 unexpectedly resigned, effect
Eclipse Rises Again in Albuquerque
After no other bids emerged for the assets of Albuquerque, N.M.-based Eclipse Aviation, a federal bankruptcy judge on August 20
Execujet, Bombardier end sales deal
Bombardier has confirmed that ExecuJet Aviation no longer holds exclusive sales representation for its new business aircraft.
Blue Sky Expands Epic Air Lawsuit
Blue Sky Avgroup, which filed a lawsuit
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
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
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
