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
Security
FAA SAFO Tackles Pilot Fatigue for Short-haul Ops
The FAA yesterday issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) that addresses pilot fatigue countermeasures in Part 121 and 135 short-haul operations, though
Regulations and Government
NBAA: USA Today Story on GA Airports Biased
Responding to a story in this morning’s issue of USA Today
Regulations and Government
White House Announces TSA Chief Nominee
President Obama on Thursday announced that he intends to nominate Erroll Southers as the fifth administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
Regulations and Government
China Relaxes Flight Plan Rules for Domestic Operators
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) last week confirmed that it is relaxing the lead time for flight plan filing from six days to
Aircraft
First Flight 40 Years Ago Gave Lift to Citation Series
Cessna Aircraft today is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Citation 500, the first model in its now broad series of business jet
Charter & Fractional
Business Aviation Flight Activity Turning Around
Business aircraft flight activity for Part 91 operators appears to have bottomed, according to data released yesterday by aviation services company Aviatio
Business Jet Sentiment Improving, JPMorgan Says
“We’ve felt a more positive vibe on business jets recently, with used inventory ticking down slightly and flight operations edging upward,” JPMorgan Equity
Rotorcraft
Cessna Parent Textron Sees Bizjet Recovery in 2011
During a Textron business update yesterday, company chairman and CEO Lewis Campbell said he is seeing trends of economic stabilization, though he admitted
ATC
Gulfstream’s (Enhanced) Vision Really Taking Off
Gulfstream Aerospace last week marked the service entry of the 500th Gulfstream outfitted with the manufacturer’s enhanced vision system (EVS).
Business Aviation Highlighted at Asian Aerospace
The three-day Asian Aerospace show kicked off today at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, with the major business aircraft manufacturers attending in the hopes o
Rotorcraft
Used Helo Market Better than Bizjets, but Still Weak
Market conditions for pre-owned rotorcraft are “below normal levels and falling,” according to a monthly rotorcraft survey published last week by UBS Inves
Safety
NTSB Seeks To Reduce EMS Helicopter Flight Risks
On Tuesday, the NTSB issued 19 recommendations for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), addressing pilot training; safety management systems; coll
Safety
FAA Moves Quickly To Modify Hudson River Airspace
The FAA yesterday announced plans to modify the airspace over the Hudson River, in response to the August 8 midair of a Piper PA-32R and Liberty Helicopter
UBS: Pre-owned Bizjet Inventory Trending Downward
Available business jet inventories dropped 2 percent last month, the second sequential decline in three months following 18 months of consecutive increases
Aircraft
Outlook Good for Large-cabin Bizjets; Midsize Less So
Bombardier Aerospace and Gulfstream Aerospace are well known fierce rivals, but that doesn’t mean they can’t agree from time to time, especially when it co
Charter & Fractional
Bizav Fractionals Facing a Matured Industry
The fractional jet industry is undergoing a “major transformation,” according to business aviation consultant Brian Foley Associates.
Aircraft
Premier II Service Entry Delayed to 2012/2013
Hawker Beechcraft yesterday announced that while it is making progress with the Premier II program, market conditions have prompted the company to delay en
Aircraft
First Winglet-equipped Citation X Delivered
Cessna Aircraft yesterday delivered the first Citation X retrofitted with elliptical winglets made by Wichita-based Winglet Technology.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Begins Whirl Testing Active Rotor System
Sikorsky Aircraft yesterday said it has begun whirl testing a demonstration rotor system with active flaps as part of the company’s “commitment to design,
Conklin: Value of Older Used Bizjets in ‘Dire Straits’
Business jet valuations for pre-mid-1990 models are in “dire straits” and likely will never recover, Conklin & de Decker vice president and co-owner Da
Charter & Fractional
Air Royale Offers Best-price Guarantee
Los Angeles-based private aircraft charter services company Air Royale International is offering a best-price guarantee on its air charter flights.
Charter & Fractional
Greenjets Starts Shared Flight Service
Greenjets shared business jet service between New York and Florida began last month, and service to Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington and Atlanta wi
Airports
Oxford Airport Boasts More Traffic
The expansion of opening hours and its improved fire and rescue capability seem to have paid off at the UK’s Oxford Airport, which saw significant increase
Engines
GE To Test New Turboprop Derivative
GE Aviation will soon start certification testing of its new 800-shp H80 turboprop engine, derived from the Walter M601.
FBOs
Signature Outperforms FBO Peers
The Signature Flight Support FBO chain has outperformed a flagging market in the first six months of this year, according to parent company BBA Aviation.
Maintenance and Modifications
Nextant Flight Testing Beechjet Avionics Upgrade
Richmond Heights, Ohio-based Nextant Aerospace announced today that it has completed the initial certification flight for the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP Ro
Accidents
Crew Heard Clicks Just Before Learjet Crash
The NTSB last month released a cockpit voice recorder transcript as part of its investigation into the Sept.
FAA Boss Keynote To Be Speaker at NBAA
NBAA announced that newly installed FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will be the featured speaker at the NBAA Convention opening general session on October
Safety
Safety Standdown Registration Opens
Registration for the 13th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown opened last month.
Avionics
AEA’s Pilot Avionics Guide Released
The Aircraft Electronics Association’s 2009/2010 Pilot’s Guide to Avionics is now available at no charge at www.aea.net.
