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
Aircraft
Nextant Bringing New Life, More Zip to Beechjets
Richmond Heights, Ohio-based Nextant Aerospace yesterday announced its 400NXT Beechjet retrofit and mo
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
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 (
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
FAA Forecast: Bizav To Continue Climbing
In its aerospace forecast released on Tuesday, the FAA predi
Accidents
First Major-damage VLJ Returns to Service
The first very light jet to suffer major damage, Cessna Citation Mustang S/N 049, returned to service on February 29 after enduring the collapse of its lef
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
Accidents
Birdstrike/Ingestion Eyed in Citation Crash
A 1975 Cessna Citation I (N113SH) that crashed Tuesday afternoon while taking off from Oklahoma City Wiley Post Airport is reported to have encountere
Regulations and Government
Senate Urged To Pass FAA Reauthorization Bill Now
A coalition of 36 aviation organizations–including NBAA, GAMA and NATA, though not AOPA or ATA–sent a letter to the full U.S.
Aircraft
There’s Still a Glimmer of Hope for ATG Javelin
Since suspending the development of the Javelin very light jet program in late December, the board of directors at Aviation Technology Group has continued
Charter & Fractional
FlightSafety, NetJets Continue To Fly High
In his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders released Friday, investment mogul Warren Buffett said the company’s flight-services division–which
Avionics
‘Low-cost’ Airborne Satellite TV System STC’d
Flight Display Systems and The Maintenance Group last week won an FAA STC for Ellipse TV, their new low-cost ($99,650 uninstalled) airborne satellite TV sy
Charter & Fractional
Virgin Charter Launches Online Charter Marketplace
Virgin Charter today officially opened its online marketplace, which it bills as “the first-ever end-to-end solution for private air travel.” According to
Accidents
CitationJet crashed in wintry conditions
The Cessna 525 CitationJet (N102PT) that crashed in a wooded area in West Gardiner, Maine, on February 1 was owned and flown by Silicon Valley entrepreneur
