Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;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&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;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.

Online Editor

Bombardier manufactures a variety of business aircraft models, provides engineering, and aircraft maintenance services.

Chad Trautvetter

Ventura Air Services is working toward obtaining FAA STC approval for the installation of a SmartSky 4G LTE system on the Bombardier Learjet 55. According to the aircraft charter, management, and maintenance firm, there are more than 100 Learjet 55s currently in service in the U.S. The type is also the primary aircraft operated by Ventura Air, which is based at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York.
“As a safety-driven, customer-focused service, we’re eager to begin tapping into the benefits of SmartSky 4G LTE, so our role in the STC process is our way of accelerating that goal,” said Ventura Air CEO Nick Tarascio. “SmartSky delivers the high-performance in-flight connectivity demanded by both the cockpit and cabin.”
The SmartSky 4G LTE system received its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-01-30/smarkskys-4g-lte-hardware-wins-first-stc">first STC</a> in January (for the Cessna Citation Excel) and parts manufacturer approval in March. SmartSky expects additional STCs to begin to be available this summer, which will coincide with the formal service launch of its air-to-ground network coverage in the continental U.S. Currently, more than 60 percent of SmartSky’s planned network of 200 towers is either online or in the final stages of deployment.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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Learjet 55

Bombardier

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