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
Embraer on a Roll with Phenom 300 Program
Embraer rolled out the first Phenom 300 light jet at its Gavião Peixoto plant in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, less than three years after the manufactur
Avionics
Garmin Launches ‘G1000 Light’ Avionics
Garmin unveiled the G950 avionics suite at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., on Tuesday.
Regulations and Government
AOPA Asks FAA To Scrap Congestion Pricing
“Congestion pricing should be the FAA’s last resort, not its first,” noted AOPA president Phil Boyer.
Aircraft
Comp Air Now Plans Trio of Turboprop Singles
Merritt Island, Fla.-based Comp Air took the wraps off two new aircraft–the CA-9 and CA-11–yesterday at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., bringing
Light Airplanes on NBAA’s Radar
At the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., yesterday NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen announced a new three-day industry event dedicated to operators who
Charter & Fractional
Wyvern Debuts Online Charter Safety Compliance Program
Wyvern is taking charter aircraft safety compliance to the next level with the introduction of the Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey (Pass) program, which
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Teams with Starlink on Canadian Venture
Fractional provider Flight Options of Cleveland and charter firm Starlink Aviation of Montreal yesterday announced an international partnership to form Fli
Hawker Beechcraft Running Strong at Age One
Hawker Beechcraft last week celebrated its first anniversary as a private entity, and the company reports it’s doing very well all on its own.
ATC
FAA, Natca Forge Safety Action Pact
The FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca) earlier this week signed an agreement to create an Air Traffic Safety Action Program (
Aircraft
‘Plan B’ Announced for Adam Aircraft Sale
If an “acceptable bid” for the bulk assets of bankrupt Adam Aircraft isn’t received by the end of today, then the aircraft manufacturer’s individual assets
Aircraft
Nextant Bringing New Life, More Zip to Beechjets
Richmond Heights, Ohio-based Nextant Aerospace yesterday announced its 400NXT Beechjet retrofit and mo
Engines
Eclipse 500 Gets a Pair of Garmins
Eclipse Aviation this afternoon revealed another major change to the Avio NG avionics suite for the Eclipse 500, announcing the addition of two panel-mount
Aircraft
Embraer Goes Full Throttle on Two More Bizjets
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Friday announced that its board of directors approved the launch of the mid-light and derivative midsize busines
Accidents
New wings installed, damaged Mustang returns to service
The first customer-owned very light jet to sustain major damage, Cessna Citation Mustang S/N 049, returned to service on February 29 some two months after
Safety
Runway Safety a Top Focus for FAA
FAA Acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell on Tuesday said he is pleased with the aviation community’s response to the agency’s August “call to action” to mak
ATC
Natca Chief Calls for More Scrutiny of FAA’s NextGen
“We believe that Congress should call for an immediate, comprehensive evaluation of NextGen, before additional funds to implement it are expended,” Natca p
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Pilots Seek Independent Union
The “Strong Union” leaders that helped form IBT Local 1108 to organize fractional pilots in 2004 resigned from the local last week in the wake of “a resurg
Aircraft
How Soon Is ‘Soon’ for Hawker 4000 Deliveries?
There are now 23 Hawker 4000s in the completion pipeline as Hawker Beechcraft continues function and reliability testing, the last phase before the FAA wil
Adam Aircraft Auction Next Week
The next chapter for bankrupt Adam Aircraft will start Friday, April 4, when the start-up aircraft manufacturer’s bulk assets are set to be auctioned.
Avionics
Avidyne Offers Sneak Peek at Homegrown FMS
In presenting its 2007 technical achievement award to senior engineer Steve Lindsey for his involvement in developing a flight management system for genera
Charter & Fractional
Travel Air, Flight Options on merger final approach
The combination of fractional providers Flight Options and Raytheon Travel Air (RTA) into Cleveland-based Flight Options LLC is expected by the end of this
Aircraft
Diamond Looks To a Higher Power for D-Jet
Late last week, Diamond Aircraft selected a more powerful version of the Williams FJ33 turbofan–the FJ33-4A-19–for its single-engine D-Jet.
Charter & Fractional
IPO Is a No Go for Pogo
The credit crisis on Wall Street scuttled start-up very light jet air-taxi Pogo Jet’s plans to start selling shares this week on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
Falling Dollar Worries Dassault Aviation Chief
Dassault Aviation CEO and Gifas chairman Charles Edelstenne had a sobering message for the European community despite presenting news that the French aeros
Regulations and Government
ATA Reasserts that Bizjets Don’t Pay ‘Fair Share’
The Air Transport Association (ATA) contends that the recently issued DOT Inspector General report on National Airspace System usage proves the airline tra
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe Ventures into India Frax Market
NetJets Europe yesterday announced it is partnering with Ashish Chordia–CEO of Mumbai-based Shreyans, an importer of luxury goods–to act as its strategic p
FAA Forecast: Bizav To Continue Climbing
In its aerospace forecast released on Tuesday, the FAA predi
Maintenance and Modifications
Sierra XR Mod Boosts Citation I/II Range
Cessna Citation modifier Sierra Industries is expanding its product line by offering extended-range upgrades for the Citation I, II and S-II.
Regulations and Government
FAA Mandates Better Voice and Flight Data Recorders
The FAA is mandating updated aircraft cockpit voice and flight data recorders for airplanes with 10 or more seats and operating under Parts 121, 125 or 135
