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
In The Works: Dassault Falcon 7X
Since the maiden flight of the Falcon 7X on May 5, the 5,700-nm-range trijet has been flying almost daily from Dassault’s flight- test center in Istres, Fr
Aircraft
In The Works: IBIS Aerospace
Ibis Aerospace said FAA and EASA certification of its Ae270 turboprop single was pending at press time.
Safety
Software scheduling tool fights crewmember fatigue
Flight operations are fertile grounds for fatigue, sleep deficit and circadian disruption, and these physiological factors can result in decreased flight-d
Energy Consumption Surged in 2004
According to BP, rapid growth in demand for all forms of energy dominated world energy markets last year, leading to rising prices.
The sky-high price of oil and its effect on jet fuel
What goes up must come down, unless of course you’re talking about the price of crude oil.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets, pilots resume negotiations
It appears that the informational picketing by NetJets pilots, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108, is having the
Engines
GE Honda refines HF118 engine
GE Honda Aero Engines recently completed component and engine core tests to validate several performance enhancements for its in-development 1,700-pound-th
Aircraft
Competitor SAI also moving forward with its SSBJ
Supersonic Aerospace International (SAI) of Las Vegas said it continues to work with Lockheed Martin on the Quiet Small Supersonic Transport (QSST), the ci
Aircraft
Aerion: viable market for SSBJ
Last month at the Paris Air Show, Reno, Nev.-based Aerion said its market research, conducted over the past nine months by aerospace market research and st
FBOs
Mercury shakeup might rebrand some FBOs
“We’re still Mercury…for now,” is the way a customer service representative at one of the chain’s 16 FBOs responded to a question about the ongoing melding
Aircraft
In The Works: Evektor EV-55
Czech aircraft designer and manufacturer Evektor-Aerotechnik, best known for a line of light piston singles, used last month’s EAA AirVenture show to begin
Aircraft
In The Works: Eclipse 500
Eclipse Aviation’s fourth conforming Eclipse 500–and the first of its two beta-test jets–joined the flight-test fleet last month.
Aircraft
In The Works: Grob G160 Ranger
Certification of the seven-seat Grob G160 Ranger turboprop single has been delayed from this quarter to the middle of next year to incorporate a new interi
Charter & Fractional
Smaller Providers Climbing Most Strongly
While the major fractionals–with the exception of CitationShares–experienced flat or negative growth, smaller providers have really climbed strongly.
Charter & Fractional
The Jet-card Effect
All of the major providers have jet-card programs: NetJets has Marquis, Flight Options has JetPass, CitationShares has Vector and Flexjet has Premier Fleet
Charter & Fractional
Industry searches for its footing
Although it is approaching its 20th birthday, the fractional aircraft industry is still very much mired in adolescence.
Maintenance and Modifications
Private Jet Mech Makes House Calls
Tampa, Fla.-based Private Jet Mech’s 24-hour, on-call maintenance service for business jet operators is nowcapable of dispatching to more than 100 U.S.
Keystone Breaks Ground on Heliplex
On July 8 Keystone Helicopter broke ground on a 173,000-sq-ft “Heliplex” at its Coatesville Airport, Pa.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Pilots Show Solidarity
According to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108, the union representing NetJets pilots, 93 percent of voting members have authorized a s
FBOs
Feras To Open New Bases in Germany
Business aircraft handling group Feras plans to open seven new bases in Germany over the next 12 months.
Airports
Lydd Airport Welcomes Bizav Traffic
The UK’s Lydd Airport is trying to attract business aircraft with a new executive facility operated by FAL Aviation.
…but Embraer’s Delivery Numbers Are Down
Embraer delivered 30 airplanes during this year’s second quarter, matching its output for the first three months but lagging well behind last year’s second
Aircraft
Embraer 170 and 175 Get Canadian Nod…
The Canadian civil aviation authority on July 19 issued type certification for the Embraer 170 and 175, paving the way for first deliveries to Air Canada.
ATC
Radar Staffing Change Won’t Affect Safety
The FAA plans to halt around-the-clock technical staffing of the Pico del Este long-range radar in Puerto Rico.
Regulations and Government
Stage 4 To Take Effect Next Year
All jet and transport-category airplanes for which application of a new type design is submitted on or after January 1 next year will have to meet Stage 4
GE Buys CIT’s Aircraft Portfolio
CIT Group has sold most of its corporate aircraft financial business to GE Commercial Finance.
Regulations and Government
EC Raps Cyprus over Air Safety Rules
The European Commission (EC) last month warned Cyprus that it is one step away from being taken to the Court of Justice over its failure to implement Europ
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Farnborough Up and Running
The new FlightSafety International Learning Center at Farnborough Airport, UK, received its first group of pilots on July 18.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe To Move into New Digs
NetJets Europe expects to move into its new Lisbon, Portugal headquarters in December.
