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: Diamond D-Jet
Diamond’s Williams FJ33-powered D-Jet didn’t fly as planned in October, but the first flight appears to be right around the corner.
Aircraft
In The Works: Vulcanair VF600W Mission
According to Vulcanair director of sales Remo De Feo, the VF600W Mission is still an active program, though it has been “severely delayed due to a number o
Aircraft
In The Works: Epic LT
Epic Aircraft parent Aircraft Investor Resources in December said it had resolved a row with the FAA over the status of kit-built Epic LT turboprop singles
Aircraft
In The Works: Quest Kodiak
Quest Aircraft’s Kodiak prototype (S/N 001) has logged more than 330 flight hours and is currently on schedule to receive FAA certification in the second q
Another delay for the Hawker 4000
Full FAA certification of the super-midsize Hawker 4000 (née Horizon) has slipped again–from the end of last year to early this month, a Raytheon Aircraft
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options fights unionization
Early last month the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108 filed an application letter to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for represen
Aircraft
Spectrum 33 wings its way into test flight
Just two months after being unveiled at the NBAA Convention in November, the Spectrum 33 twinjet made a 10-minute first flight on January 7.
Aircraft
Bombardier Challenger 605
About a week after the January 22 first flight of the Challenger 605, Bombardier relocated the test airplane to Wichita to begin the approximately 200 flig
Aircraft
In The Works: Spirit Wing SpiritLear
Spirit Wing Aviation of Guthrie, Okla., has begun the final phase of flight-testing the Spirit-Lear, a re-engined and modified Learjet 24/25.
Aircraft
In The Works: Socata TBM 850
The Socata TBM 850, a faster, more powerful derivative of the TBM 700 turboprop single, received FAA approval on January 23, six weeks after the EASA certi
Aircraft
AIN Special Report: VLJs fly in the face of critics
The dawn of the very light jet (VLJ) is nearly upon us, with the first, the Eclipse 500, set to receive FAA certification in June.
Aircraft
In The Works: Raytheon Hawker 850XP
Last month Raytheon Aircraft received FAA certification for the Hawker 850XP, essentially a Hawker 800XP with homegrown winglets.
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna Citation Encore+
According to Cessna Citation Encore+ program manager Lynn Young, the program is on track to reach FAA certification in the third quarter.
Aircraft
In The Works: Grob SPn Utility Jet
The Grob SPn Utility Jet’s flight-test program has been progressing well since the twinjet made its first flight last July 20, according to a company spoke
Aircraft
Farnborough F1 gets its wings
The saga between Farnborough Aircraft and Epic Aircraft parent Aircraft Investor Resources (AIR) continues.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options pilots vote for union backing
Last month the Flight Options pilots overwhelmingly voted for union representation under International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108.
Will Santulli Succeed Buffett?
In his annual letter to shareholders, 75-year-old Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett addressed the issue of management succession at his company: “
Charter & Fractional
Despite increased revenue, NetJets’ profits disappear
When Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett speaks, everyone listens.
FBOs
Sky Services wins battle at Milan airport
Italian FBO group Sky Services has broken a 40-year-old fuel monopoly at Milan Linate Airport.
Aircraft
Avocet ProJet is latest VLJ casualty
Avocet Aircraft last month joined the ranks of Safire Aircraft, Century Aerospace and plenty of other failed start-up aircraft manufacturers.
Aircraft
In The Works: Eclipse 500
Eclipse Aviation, of Albuquer-que, New Mexico, said it has overcome the supplier problem, revealed in December, that was blamed for delaying FAA certificat
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna Citation Mustang
As of early last month, the Citation Mustang prototype and two production examples (S/Ns 0001 and 0002) had logged more than 850 flight hours.
Aircraft
In The Works: Adam A700
Adam Aircraft president Joe Walker is optimistic that his company will receive FAA certification late this year for its very light jet.
NASA Turns Regional Airline Turboprops into Flying Weather Stations
Notwithstanding this spring’s violent (and numerous) tornadoes, forecasters in the Midwest are able to make more accurate local weather predictions thanks
Aircraft
Embraer plans more business jets
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer left no doubt that it plans to become a major player in the business aviation market over the next decade.
Aircraft
DayJet plans for Southeast service launch
Air-limo startup DayJet of Delray Beach, Fla., late last month revealed its launch region–the Southeast–and said it would start on-demand, per-seat operati
Aircraft
Will Cirrus unveil jet at EBACE?
With Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Design set to be a first-time exhibitor at this month’s EBACE, the speculation is that the company will finally unveil its
D-Jet No Longer Just a Diamond in the Rough
The Diamond D-Jet (S/N 001) single-engine very light jet flew for the first time on April 18 from London International Airport in Ontario, Canada, home of
Aircraft
In The Works: Gulfstream QSJ
Gulfstream Aerospace president Bryan Moss dismissed the company’s long-discussed “Quiet Supersonic Jet” (QSJ) during last month’s EBACE, prompting the airc
Aircraft
In The Works: Excel-Jet Sport-Jet
Excel-Jet’s four-seat, single-engine very light jet, the Sport-Jet, flew for the first time on May 14 from Colorado Springs Airport.
