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
Charter & Fractional
VLJs ‘Not Revolutionary,’ but Do Enable Air Taxis
Despite one aircraft manufacturer’s claims, “very light jets are only evolutionary, not revolutionary,” noted Arie-Willem Van Doome, COO of Netherlands-bas
Safety
UK Safety Board Concerned about Avionics Corrosion
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) recently issued a sweeping recommendation that the EASA, FAA, Transport Canada and other aviation agencies
Funding Is Front and Center at Adam
Adam Aircraft’s financial predicament is apparently more dire than the company let on
Aircraft
Upgraded TBM 850 Makes Debut
An upgraded EADS Socata TBM 850 turboprop single was unveiled late last week during a “discovery show” held at the company’s factory in Tarbes, France.
Safety
London City Has a Magnetic Personality
A UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch report issued this month indicates that magnetic interference at London City Airport (LCY) was responsible for “sig
Safety
DOT IG: Runway Status Lights Reduce Incursions
In a report released this week, the DOT Inspector General has f
Accidents
Marlin Air Sues UM over Contract Dispute
Charter operator Marlin Air of Belleville, Mich., filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million from the University of Michigan (UM) after the college terminated its
FBOs
Banyan Completes VIP 747 Cabin Electronics Upgrade
Banyan Air Service’s Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based avionics department recently completed a major avionics modification on a VIP Boeing 747SP.
ATC
DayJet Marks First 100 Days of VLJ Air-taxi Service
On Saturday, Boca Raton, Fla.-based DayJet reached its 100th day since starting per-seat on-demand service in the Southeast with its fleet of 28 Eclipse 50
ATC
Honeywell OK’d for RNP SAAAR Consulting
Honeywell late last week received FAA designation as a consultant for Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required (
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe Climbing Strongly
Due to increasing customer demand, fractional aircraft provider NetJets Europe yesterday said it has worked with aircraft manufacturers to accelerate deliv
Aircraft
Adam A700 Passes Initial Cold Weather Tests
Adam Aircraft successfully completed initial environmental testing of its A700 very light jet at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin AFB in Florida.
Charter & Fractional
DayJet Adds DayPorts, Expands Reach to South Carolina
Per-seat, on-demand very light jet air-taxi firm DayJet yesterday added Naples, Fla., and Savannah, Ga., as DayPorts, augmenting the five initial DayPorts
Aircraft
Eclipse 500 Retrofit Plan Unveiled
Now that the Avio NG avionics have been certified, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Eclipse Aviation is ready to tackle the promised upgrades for in-service Eclipse
Regulations and Government
Navajo Crash Probe Focusing on Baggage Door
The crash of a Piper Navajo Chieftain in Kodiak, Alaska, on Saturday might have been precipitated by the unexpected opening of a nose baggage door just aft
Aircraft
Closing on one deal, Sentient Eyes new one
Sentient Jet, which is buying TAG Aviation USA and all of its assets from TAG Holding, was expecting to close the acquisition around the end of last month.
Accidents
Eclipse Avio NG certified
On December 20, Eclipse Aviation announced that it had received FAA certification of the Avio NG avionics and systems control suite for the Eclipse 500 VLJ
Accidents
Global 5000 Lands Short of Runway
N50DS, a Bombardier Global 5000, landed short of a runway in the Caribbean islands on December 12 and sustained damage after hitting an airport perimeter f
Charter & Fractional
Pogo Jet Outlines Deployment Plans
In a December 13 SEC amendment for its initial public stock offering, Pogo Jet provided more information about its planned very light jet (VLJ) charter ser
Aircraft
Lack of funding halts Javelin program
Aviation Technology Group (ATG) of Englewood, Colo., laid off 40 of its 50 employees on December 17 and announced a day later that it has halted developmen
FBOs
USAF C-17 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Blend
On December 17 a C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlift airplane touched down at McGuire AFB in New Jersey, completing the type’s first transcontinental flight
Big Sky To Close, MAIR To Liquidate
MAIR Holdings announced late last month that its Big Sky Airlines subsidiary will end all its Delta Connection service on the East Coast as of midnight, Ja
Aircraft
Piper plans new construction technique for personal jet
Piper Aircraft is patenting a new metal-bonding technique that will be key to the manufacture of the all-aluminum, $2.2 million PiperJet.
Charter & Fractional
DayJet Widens Network
Some 60 days after it began its per-seat, on-demand air service, Boca Raton, Fla.-based DayJet last month added to its very light jet air-taxi network 28 n
Charter & Fractional
NetJets pilots set another high salary standard
Early last month the NetJets pilots overwhelmingly supported a major amendment and five-year extension to their collective-bargaining agreement between Net
Aircraft
Speed Sells, But Who’s Buying?
In an exclusive interview with AIN, Aerion vice chairman Brian Barents discussed why he believes it’s time to bring a supersonic business
New vision-correction alternatives for pilots
Pilots considering vision-correction surgery take note: a recent study by the U.S.
Jack Pelton guides Cessna through industry recovery
Jack Pelton was appointed Cessna’s president and CEO last December.
