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

Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft.

Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP,G300, G350,  and G450

Chad Trautvetter

Aery Aviation, a Newport News-based Part 135 air charter operator and Part 145 maintenance provider, has launched a special-mission "aircraft as a service" product using highly modified, low-time preowned Gulfstream IV-SPs. Dubbed Raven, the multi-mission platform can be used for a variety of civil and defense missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; maritime patrol; electronic warfare; airborne testbed; UAV tracking and jamming; lidar mapping; rocket launch monitoring; and sea search radar.
The company has already modified one GIV-SP with 16 hardpoints—each having milspec connections and additional RF and fiber-optic attachments for future growth—that can accommodate some 40 swappable sensor pods, with configurations based on the mission. In addition, the aircraft has a mechanically-steerable array, positioned just below the nose, capable of scanning the 3 MHz to 18 GHz spectrum. Aery is modifying two other GIV-SPs into Raven platforms.
According to Aery CEO Steve Walton, all engineering, certification, and modification work for this project is being done in-house. While the company could modify and sell special-mission aircraft, Walton told AIN that he prefers to “own, build, and fly” the Ravens and offer them under a more cost-effective, per-flight-hour-priced plan. A contract with the U.S. Navy is pending.
Each Raven has four workstations and can collect up to one terabyte of data per hour, Walton said. The modified twinjets also have a 12-hour loiter time.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Aery Aviation Launches Special-mission Gulfstream IV-SP Jet as a Service

Multi-mission aircraft is available for civil and defense clients on a per-flight-hour cost basis

Aery Aviation has launched a special-mission "aircraft as a service" product using highly modified, low-time preowned Gulfstream IV-SPs.

Aery Launches Special-mission GIV-SP Jet as a Service

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Adds to company’s Part 21J independent design organization privileges

SPAES Approved for EASA CS-25 Avionics Modifications

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Mission systems integration underway on first two Bombardier Globals

L3Harris To Begin Mods on Korean AEW&C Global 6500s

Curt Epstein

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

FBO operator is looking to attract a major maintenance provider

Sheltair Unveils MRO Hangar at Tampa International 

Oklahoma maintenance facility to strengthen U.S. support for P.180 Avanti

Baykar Taps Intercontinental Jet Service as Piaggio MRO

Charles Alcock

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

AOG responses, inspections, and repairs keep bases in Turkey and Switzerland busy

AMAC Supports Multiple Dassault and Bombardier Operators

Amy Wilder

Acquisition boosts U.S. service coverage

Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions

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

Installations available at Ohio and Florida facilities

Toledo Jet Authorized as Starlink Dealer, Installer

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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Gulfstream GIV/GIV-SP/G300/G350/G450

Gulfstream

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