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
Regulations and Government
FAA’s New ERAM, WATRS Rules Take Effect This Month
According to NBAA, the implementation date for the FAA’s En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program has been postponed from this Thursday, June 5, un
Regulations and Government
Aviation Technology Group Throws in the Towel
Englewood, Colo.-based would-be very light jet manufacturer Aviation Technology Group recently filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy to liquidate its assets.
Charter & Fractional
NATA Takes FAA To Task over Emergency Revocations
On Friday, National Air Transportation Association (NATA) president James Coyne criticized the FAA for issuing another emergency suspension order for a Par
Aircraft
Learjet 85 Composite Work Goes South of the Border
Bombardier Aerospace late last week announced that it will manufacture the all-composite structure for the new Learjet 85 at its facility in Querétaro, Mex
Safety
SMS: more than just the latest buzzword for bizav
If you regard safety management systems as just the latest fad for corporate aviation flight departments, think again, Daedalus Aviation Services president
Aircraft
Epic forges ahead on certification process
Epic Aircraft continues development of its all-composite turboprop singles and very light jets, though without the $200 million in funding pledged by India
Aircraft
Eclipse Concept Jet No Longer Just a Concept
Eclipse Aviation this afternoon officially launched its single-engine jet program.
Aircraft
PiperJet To Shed Its Marionette Strings and Fly Soon
The PiperJet prototype appears poised to make an on-schedule first flight in the next two months as static testing winds down on the airplane.
Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Will Still Call Florida Home
Piper Aircraft yesterday afternoon made it official that the aircraft manufacturer is staying put in Vero Beach, Fla., following a two-year site-selection
AIN Special Report: Business Aviation on the Web
Thanks to a group of academic economists from Harvard and Stanford, we now know that the U.S.
Regulations and Government
FAA Bans Anti-smoking Drug for Pilots, Controllers
Last week the FAA banned pilots and air traffic controllers from taking the anti-smoking medicine Chantix soon after the agency learned the prescription dr
Avionics
L-3 SmartDeck Gets TSO and STC Approvals
L-3 Avionics late last week received TSO and STC approvals from the FAA for its SmartDeck integrated avionics system.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Downsizes, Terminates Pilots
Ohio-based Flight Options on Friday closed its maintenance facility at Cleveland Cuyahoga Airport and dismissed about 200 employees, 68 of whom were pilots
Aircraft
Despite Delayed Funding, Epic Aircraft Moving Forward
Epic Aircraft continues development of its all-composite turboprop singles and very light jets, though without the $200 million in funding Indian billionai
Aircraft
Partners and, perhaps, competitors]
Eyebrows were raised in January when Grob was named as the single source for the Learjet 85’s entire primary and secondary composite structures.
Business aviation industry is less dependent on U.S.
Ask former Bombardier Aerospace senior vice president for worldwide sales Jahid Fazal-Karim about the current state of the business aviation market and you
Training and Workforce
Communication is key to managing a flight department
Communication is key to any organization, and aviation departments are no exception.
FBOs
Jet Aviation Looks West
Zurich, Switzerland-based Jet Aviation today signed a letter of intent with Ogden, Utah-based Kemp Development to open a new Midcoast Aviation maintenance
Aircraft
Grob-Bombardier Strange Bedfellows on Learjet 85
Eyebrows elevated when Grob was named earlier this year as the single source for the Bombardier Learjet 85’s entire primary and secondary composite structu
Aircraft
Europe meets the HondaJet
At its first official presence here at EBACE yesterday, Honda Aircraft (Booth No.
Aircraft
Europe Meets the HondaJet
Honda Aircraft made a big splash in its first official presence at EBACE today, announcing the appointment of three European HondaJet dealers to provide sa
Rolls-Royce Forecasts Steady Bizjet Growth
In its latest business jet forecast, released today at EBACE, Rolls-Royce predicts demand for 39,000 new aircraft, ranging from very light jets to bizliner
Charter & Fractional
Avantair Narrows Losses, On Way to Profitability
Piaggio Avanti fractional provider Avantair is narrowing its losses and on course to reach profitability in the near future, company CEO Steven Santo said
Aircraft
Florida Plant To Increase Embraer Phenom Output
The 149,500-sq-ft Phenom 100/300 final assembly and completions facility that Embraer is building at Melbourne (Fla.) Airport will substantially increase t
Aircraft
An Apex for Spectrum’s Freedom
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Spectrum Aeronautical yesterday announced that it selected the Honeywell Primus Apex integrated avionics suite for the all-composite
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options now #2
Wichita-based Raytheon Travel Air and Cleveland-based Flight Options on March 20 completed their planned merger, first announced December 20, creating the
Aircraft
Sales Up, Deliveries Down at Hawker Beechcraft
Hawker Beechcraft reported continued strong sales for its airplane offerings in the first quarter, though snags with the Hawker 4000 resulted in the Wichit
Bombardier: 13,200 Bizjets Delivered in Next 10 Years
Bombardier Aerospace’s business aircraft market forecast, released last week, predicts that 1,320 business jets, ranging from light twinjets to corporate a
Teal Predicts More Good Times Ahead for Bizav
The 18th annual Teal Group Business Jet Overview, released on Friday, forecasts production of 14,289 business jets worth $218 billion (in 2008 dollars) ove
