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
Analysts Warn of Rising Pre-owned Bizjet Inventories
Separate reports released in the past week by JPMorgan and UBS Investment Research indicate that pre-owned business jet inventories continued to increase l
Regulations and Government
Settlement Reached in 1996 Gulfstream IV Accident
Years of litigation over a Gulfstream IV fatal crash at Palwaukee (Ill.) Municipal Airport (since renamed Chicago Executive Airport) in October 1996 finall
Safety
Fuel Icing Likely Culprit of 777 Crash at Heathrow
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) today issued an interim report for the January 17 accident involving a British Airways Boeing 777 that l
Safety
NATA Miffed at FAA over Landing Performance ARC
In a letter sent on Wednesday to FAA Flight Standards Service director James Ballough, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) conveyed its conc
Charter & Fractional
Sentient Flight Group Split-up Now a Done Deal
The break up of Sentient’s jet-card and charter divisions announced on August 13 was finalized over the weekend, according to the two companies involved in
Aircraft
Piperjet prototype FeelS the wind in its sails
Piper Aircraft’s single-engine PiperJet prototype has logged 12 flights since its maiden jaunt from Vero Beach (Fla.) Airport on July 30.
UBS: Bizjet Market Strong Despite Lower Flight Activity
In UBS Investment Research’s business jet update released on Tuesday, industry analyst David Strauss noted that U.S.
Regulations and Government
NATA: Varied FAR Interpretations Pose Real Cost
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) said a survey it recently completed quantifies aircraft operators’ costs of inconsistent FAA regulatory
Regulations and Government
NBAA, NATA Lament Reduction in LGA Slots
In response to the FAA’s decision last week to reduce the number of hourly slots availa
Engines
FAA Issues Proposed AD To Prevent JT15D Flameouts
The FAA and Pratt & Whitney Canada believe they have found the cause of three high-altitude double engine flameouts on Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5-power
Aircraft
Stevens Aviation Delivers First Lear4Ever Aircraft
Business aircraft maintenance, modification and completions firm Stevens Aviation today delivered the first Lear4Ever–an upgraded Learjet 35–to Dr.
Aircraft
Cessna Reaches Milestones for Mustang, CJ4
Cessna Aircraft yesterday delivered the 100th Citation Mustang at the Independence, Kan.
Eclipse Production Slowdown Trickling to Suppliers
With a strong vested interest in a revitalized Eclipse Aviation, Eclipse 500 suppliers are walking on eggshells when discussing planned production curbs of
Aircraft
Signs Point To Gulfstream G250 Launch Soon
Two weeks before Gulfstream Aerospace unveiled the G650 on March 13, a JP Morgan analyst report said the Savannah, Ga.-based aircraft manufacturer would la
Eclipse Aviation Goes Quiet; Raburn Severs All Ties
Very light jet manufacturer Eclipse Aviation late last week announced to employees and customers that the executive management team is working on “a plan t
Spectrum Aeronautical Nets Fleet Order from Starfish
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Spectrum Aeronautical earlier this week announced another fleet order for its in-development S.33 Independence very light jet and S.
Aircraft
Cessna’s Columbus Sails through Wind-tunnel Tests
Cessna yesterday said it completed a series of wind-tunnel tests for its large-cabin Citation Columbus.
Charter & Fractional
Ricci Extends Olive Branch to Flight Options Pilots
The previously chilly relations between Flight Options management and pilots appear to have thawed considerably just three weeks after the Cleveland-based
Aircraft
Epic Elite Jet Is Hostage to Georgia Conflict
The conflict between Russia and Georgia is reverberating at Bend, Ore.-based Epic Aircraft, which in late June temporarily moved its sole Epic Elite Jet pr
Pilot Gear: September 2003
Calculate your bizjet budget. The Interactive Aircraft Budget Analyzer from Airpower Software is a computer program designed to calculate
Aircraft
Why the ProJet? Why now?
The idea for what is now known as the ProJet started four years ago during a conversation between Carey Robinson Wolchok, then a principal at private equit
Phenom 300 Humming as S/N 002 Joins Test Fleet
Embraer’s second Phenom 300 light jet joined the flight-test fleet on Tuesday, making its first flight from the runway at the Brazilian aircraft manufactur
Charter & Fractional
SATSair Plans To Add SJ50s to Fleet
On-demand air-taxi firm SATSair on Tuesday signed a letter of intent with Cirrus Design to add five Cirrus Vision SJ50 jet singles to its fleet.
Charter & Fractional
Sentient Flight Group Completes Reorganization
Sentient Flight Group on Tuesday announced organizational changes as part of a refocusing of its long-term business plan.
Eclipse Aviation In Cash Conservation Mode
When VLJ manufacturer Eclipse Aviation announced early last week that it had received “first funds in a new round of financing” that hinged on the resignat
GAMA: Jets, Turboprops Continue To Propel Genav
Shipments and billings for business aviation jets and turboprops reached all-time highs in the second quarter, according to
Embraer Profits Up, Bizjet Programs on Track
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Friday announced second-quarter sales of $1.63 billion, up 43.7 percent from a year ago, and a profit of $134.4
FBOs
Jet Aviation Beijing FBO Ready for Olympics
Jet Aviation and joint-venture partners Deer Air and Reach Investment’s new FBO facilities at Beijing Capital International Airport opened earlier this wee
Solid Quarter at Hawker Beech Overshadowed by Strike
Hawker Beechcraft today reported increased orders, improved sales and higher earnings during the second quarter versus the same period last year.
Accidents
NTSB: Hawker Crashed on Go-around
The East Coast Jets-operated Hawker 800A that crashed Thursday morning at Owatonna (Minn.) Degner Regional Airport, killing all eight on board, briefly tou
