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
Safety
LOC-I, Runway Excursions Top NBAA's 2017 Safety List
Topics were identified via a data-driven review by the NBAA Safety Committee as primary risk-mitigation targets for all business aircraft operators.
Aircraft
Bizjet Optimism Not Yet Resulting in Actual Improvement
Despite the UBS business jet index being at a post-recession high, market fundamentals remain “relatively weak.”
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Fields Third Flight-test Longitude
The twinjet—registered as N702GL—reached an altitude of 13,600 feet and speeds up to 256 knots during the maiden flight.
Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Up, but Part 91 Lags
Business aircraft flight activity in North America rose 1.3 percent year-over-year last month, despite this February being one day shorter than last year.
Charter & Fractional
Elit’Avia Celebrates 10 Years, Expands Fleet
Elit’Avia holds air operator certificates (AOCs) in EU member states Slovenia and Malta, and has an office in Atlanta.
Charter & Fractional
PlaneSense Adds Cuba, Bermuda to Service Area
PlaneSense has been authorized to fly into seven Cuban airports, including those in the country’s two largest cities—Santiago and Havana.
Aircraft
ATR Readies for U.S. Resurgence with Miami Training Center
The facility, located at the Airbus training premises, houses a CAE-built FAA and EASA level-D ATR 42/62-600 simulator and classrooms.
Flight 1549 Crewmember To Keynote at TXT Customer Event
Welsh will recount the “awe-inspiring story of her first-hand account” of that fateful flight for Citation, King Air and Hawker customers.
Maintenance and Modifications
West Star Aviation Opens Satellite Mx Shop in Houston
Its new satellite location there can now provide minor inspections and repairs for Gulfstream, Falcon, Bombardier, Hawker and Citation aircraft.
Regulations and Government
GAMA Hails Commercial SET-IMC Ops Rules in Europe
Effort marks the end of a 20-year effort by industry and regulators and aligns Europe with the ICAO standards for commercial air transport operations.
Aircraft
Citation Sovereign+, Latitude Gain Steep-approach Nods
Certification allows for approach angles of up to 6.65 degrees to operate into destinations such as London City and Lugano Airports.
Regulations and Government
Harris Aims To Leverage ADS-B for UAS Ops in U.S. NAS
Availability of low-cost, small and lightweight ADS-B units might be more suitable and economical to safely separate unmanned aircraft from other traffic.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet’s UK Arm Adds 400XTi, Launching Dedicated Fleet
Its dedicated fleet will be available to U.S.-based Flexjet owners for point-to-point private jet travel within Europe or to the Middle East or Africa.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NBAA Conference To Highlight State of Bizjet Financing
Other sessions at the conference will delve into aircraft taxes, ownership and operating structures, UAVs and the international registry.
Maintenance and Modifications
First Citation M2 Fitted with Tamarack Active Winglets
Benefits include a 10 percent to 12 percent reduction in fuel burn and a 400-pound max zero fuel weight increase.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G600 Flight Testing To Ramp Up with 2nd Ship
N720GD took to the air for the first time on february 24, logging 4 hours 26 minutes aloft.
Training and Workforce
NBAA OKs Unmanned Aircraft Course for PDP, CAM Programs
According to USI, this is the only NBAA PDP-approved offering on unmanned aviation.
Maintenance and Modifications
QTA Develops Corrosion Fix for GIV Engine Inlet
Its engineering and DER staff also has “full capability” for composite repairs on all GII, GIII, GIV and GV parts.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet's New Business Soars 20 Percent in 2016
Half of its new business last year came from customers who previously patronized another fractional provider.
Aircraft
GAMA: Embraer Phenom 300 Once Again the Best-selling Bizjet
This is the fourth consecutive year that Embraer light jet's has achieved this mark, accumulating 266 deliveries since 2013.
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Intros LED Exterior Light Kit for Beechjets
Kits are available for $15,943, not including the estimated 40 man-hours for installation
Safety
NATA Offers Safety/Security Product for Crew, Pax
LifeLine Response uses global imagery, communication tools and proprietary algorithms to provide safety and security alerts.
UBS: Bizjet Market Benefitting from 'Trump Bump'
49 percent of survey respondents indicated that they have already seen higher pre-owned business jet transaction volumes post-election.
Safety
NWS Rolls Out More Accurate Convective Wx Forecasts
The Traffic Flow Management Convective Forecast will have a look and feel that is similar to the CDM Convective Forecast Product that it is replacing.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Global Aero Launches Online Insurance Portal for UAVs
Online portal allows drone owners and operators to purchase an annual insurance policy online and pay securely via credit card.
Bizjet Finance Veteran To Head Embraer Executive Jets
Michael Amalfitano has been named as the president and CEO of its Melbourne, Florida-based Executive Jets business unit, effective March 1.
ATC
Flight Service Bureau: Many Changes to NAT Ops in 2017
Changes range from mandated avionics upgrades to operational issues.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Partners with Talon Air on NY-Florida Shuttle
Service costs $2,100 per seat one-way, including taxes, according to company founding partner Justin Firestone.
Aircraft
Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries Down 18% in 2016
The Canadian aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 135 business jets this year, which is even lower than that in 2016.
Aircraft
First Global 7000 Logs 100 Hours; FTV2 To Fly Soon
The Global 7000 remains on track for entry into service in the second half of 2018.
