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
Learjet 70 and 75 Get Nod from Mexican Civil Aviation Agency
Jets were certified by the FAA and Transport Canada late last year and by EASA in September.
Bob Hoover Awarded with 2014 Wright Brothers Trophy
Trophy awarded annually to a living American for “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the U.S.”
NASA Testing Software That Allows Pilots To Fly More Efficient Approaches
ASTAR gives pilots specific speed information and guidance so that airplanes can be more precisely spaced.
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Canada Pledges $1B in Near-term R&D
Funds will be used to develop the “next generation of high-performance aircraft engines.”
Accidents
Embraer Phenom 100 Crashes into Gaithersburg Home
The accident occurred a half mile from the airport, according to an FAA preliminary report.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Pilots Sue Company, Alleging Interference
Lawsuit alleges that “NetJets Aviation used Twitter to impersonate union members and unlawfully obtained confidential communications."
Bizav Flying Ascends for 12th Consecutive Month
Segment activity climbed by 3.7 percent year-over-year. While this was a solid gain, it was slightly below Argus’s estimate of 3.9 percent.
Aircraft
Honeywell Forecast: 9,450 Bizjet Deliveries Worth $280B over Next Decade
In the near term, Honeywell is projecting deliveries of 650 to 675 new jets this year, a single-digit percent increase from 2013.
FBOs
Atlantic Aviation To Acquire Showalter FBO in Orlando
Showalter family will no longer be involved in the FBO after the deal closes in the first quarter of next year.
Charter & Fractional
PlaneSense To Fill PC-12 with Food for New Hampshire Food Bank
Most needed donations include canned tuna, chicken or salmon; canned or dried beans; rice; peanut butter; and canned nuts.
Rotorcraft
FAA OKs Optional Floats for Robinson R66 Turbine Helicopter
$875,000 float option adds 65 pounds to the helicopter’s empty weight.
Fuel
CAE, Lider Aviacao Now Offering Sikorsky S-76 Training in São Paulo
Program is an extension of the joint venture between CAE and Lider, and will support flight training for Lider’s S-76 pilots.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
EU Clarifies VAT Relief for Foreign Business Aircraft
Many business aircraft operators previously had been uncertain whether they were eligible for temporary admission into the EU.
Aircraft
Second Conforming Cirrus Jet Joins Flight-test Fleet
Dubbed C1, the jet will be used for an “array of certification efforts,” including flight into known icing testing.
Airbus Begins Selling Off Stake in Dassault Aviation
Shares were sold back to Dassault at €980 each, making the total transaction worth nearly €794 million.
Aircraft
Light Bizjets Gaining Momentum, Say JPM Analysts
Steady growth of about 4 percent in U.S. business jet flight operations underlies the recovery.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter Shuffles Executives
Matthew Hasik was named executive vice president of Bell’s commercial sales, marketing and programs.
FBOs
Menzies Aviation Barcelona Joins Signature Select Network
Services include aircraft ground handling, fueling, passenger handling, catering, aircraft cleaning and ground transportation.
Aircraft
Rheinland Air Service Named Exclusive European Dealer for Quest Kodiak
RAS will also be an authorized service center for the turboprop single.
Aircraft
Constant Aviation Installs Ovation in Global Express
Ovation Select provides onboard connectivity via smartphones, tablets or any of the installed passenger control units.
Charter & Fractional
Private Equity Firm Tsinghua To Acquire Hong Kong-based Sino Jet
Company manages a fleet of 15 business jets, including Gulfstreams and Challenger 605s.
Engines
United Technologies Chief Chenevert Suddenly Retires
Gregory Hayes, previously the company’s senior vice president and CFO, was subsequently elected president and CEO.
FBOs
Air BP Strengthens Scottish Network with Gama Aviation Glasgow
Air BP will supply fuel to Gama clients and Air BP Sterling cardholders at Gama Aviation’s executive aviation terminal.
Aircraft
2014 TBM Owners and Pilots Association Convention Breaks Attendance Record
Three-day event, held at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, included educational sessions customized for TBM operators.
Business Aviation in Middle East Set To Soar
An expected average annual GDP growth of 3.8 percent over the next 20 years sets the stage for solid business aviation growth in the region.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G650 No. 100 Delivered
G650 was certified by the FAA in September 2012 and the first one was delivered to a customer in December 2012.
Euro Bizav Flights Up, but Ukraine Crisis Still a Drag
63,308 business aircraft flights recorded in Europe last month, but the Ukraine crisis held down the increase to only 1.9 percent YOY.
Avionics
Avionics Sales Down Slightly in 3Q14 but Still Robust
Worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $614.4 million in the third quarter.
FBOs
At BBA Aviation, Signature Climbs but MRO Flat
Market recovery in business and general aviation in North America lifts flight support company.
Aircraft
Darden Restaurants Closes Corporate Flight Department
Company ceased flight operations “immediately” and expects to sell its Cessna Citation Sovereign “in due course.”
