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
Aircraft
Cirrus Rolls Out ‘SJX’ Personal Jet
Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Design rolled out its single-engine jet prototype on Thursday, almost a year to the day after it unveiled a cabin mock-up to cus
Maintenance and Modifications
Cessna ratchets up its global service capability
According to Cessna’s v-p of service facilities Jim Morgan, “We are dedicated to expanding our worldwide Citation product network and doubling the capacity
Aircraft
Sovereign makes its debut at NBAA '02
“To date, all major milestones have been completed on or ahead of schedule,” noted Cessna Citation Sovereign senior product director Brad Thress.
Aircraft
Cessna betting on a ‘sure thing’ with CJ3
Cessna Aircraft is living up to its marketing tag line “Sure Thing” with the introduction yesterday afternoon of the Citation CJ3.
Aircraft
Epic Elite Jet To Be Certified in Russia First
Epic Aircraft parent company Aircraft Investor Resources (AIR) and Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (TAM) last week further cemented their joint venture to d
NBAA, GAMA Slam Report on Private Jets
NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have denounced a report on private jet travel and the general aviation industry issued by th
Aircraft
Flight into Known Icing OK for Eclipse 500
Eclipse Aviation yesterday received flight into known icing (FIKI) approval for the Eclipse 500, though in-service and undelivered aircraft up to S/N 265 w
Environment
GAMA Going Green
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) on Friday announced that it established an environment committee “to represent the general aviation m
Aircraft
PiperJet Ground Testing To Start Soon
Piper Aircraft reports that its PiperJet prototype is making progress, with the first engine start and run to “occur shortly.” Earlier this month, the Vero
Bizjet Manufacturers Continue To Rack Up Sales
Defying the sluggish U.S.
Aircraft
Sovereign on track to fly early next year
Wichita-based Cessna Aircraft is continuing to make progress on the development and certification activities of its super-midsize Citation Sovereign.
Safety
NTSB Addresses Landing Distances, Crew Fatigue
The NTSB issued a number of recommendations yesterday stemming from an April 12, 2007, landing overrun of a Pinnacle Airlines Bombardier CRJ at Cherry Capi
Aircraft
First Customer Hawker 4000 Finally Delivered
Hawker Beechcraft delivered the first super-midsize Hawker 4000 to launch customers Gary and Donna Hall during a ceremony yesterday at the company’s headqu
FBOs
SimuFlite expanding, adding new models
SimuFlite, which was recently rebranded as GE Capital SimuFlite to emphasize that it is a subsidiary of General Electric, has begun its third major expansi
Regulations and Government
FAA Amends ETOPS Rule
Effective yesterday, the FAA officially amended the regulations governing extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) of turbine-powered airplanes operated by
FBOs
GreenFlight Continues Jet Biofuel Testing
Apopka, Fla.-based GreenFlight International continues to refine its “first generation” biofuel for jets and plans to conduct the first biofuel transcontin
Bizjet Planning Coming Along Smoothly for Embraer
Embraer’s plan to increase its business jet portfolio from the 16-seat Legacy 600, currently its only executive jet in service, to six business jets by 201
Aircraft
Stuck Power Control Leads To Eclipse 500 Tire Blowout
Eclipse Aviation on Monday issued a “customer pilot communication” regarding an incident last Thursday in which an Eclipse 500’s main gear tires blew out d
Regulations and Government
Congressional Hearing Takes On ATC Staffing, Training
During a House aviation subcommittee hearing on air traffic controller facility staffing yesterday, Natca president Patrick Forrey charged that “rampant un
FBOs
‘Fundamentals Don’t Support’ Current Oil Prices
“The fundamentals don’t support the price of oil,” Hiller Group national sales manager Wesley Earl told attendees of the Florida Aviation Trade Association
Aircraft
At Long Last, Hawker 4000 Gets FAA Approval
Hawker Beechcraft this week received full FAA type approval, in addition to production certification, for its Hawker 4000 super-midsize business jet–a mile
ATC
Natca Endorses Obama for President
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca) late last week endorsed Sen.
Regulations and Government
Political Flap over Carriage of Political Candidates
NBAA reports that the FAA has responded to a query about the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which changed the law with respect to what
Safety
Charter Flight Compliance Program Unveiled by NATA
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) rolled out a new flight-release system today at its Air Charter Summit, which is being held in Chantilly
Safety
Online Safety Briefing Developed for TEB
Teterboro (N.J.) Airport has become the first in the nation to implement a Web-based airport-specific flight crew briefing.
Charter & Fractional
DayJet, FAA To Jointly Prove NextGen Technologies
Very light jet air-taxi operator DayJet today signed an agreement with the FAA to start a five-year, phased implementation of proven NextGen technologies t
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Awaiting new funding DayJet postpones expansion plans
On May 6, very light jet air-taxi operator DayJet put its growth plans on hold after failing to obtain another $50 million in funding to progress to the ne
Gulfstream Celebrates 200th G200
Amid much fanfare, the 200th Gulfstream G200 rolled out yesterday at Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) manufacturing plant at Ben Gurion International Air
Charter & Fractional
Alpha Flying, Atlas Aircraft Move into New Digs
Alpha Flying and sister company Atlas Aircraft Center are holding a grand opening celebration this afternoon for their new aviation complex at Pease Intern
Dubai Investors Buy Majority Stake in Sino Swearingen
Dubai-based Emirates Investment & Development (Emivest) yesterday obtained U.S.
