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
GIV, GV Fleets Log 4.6 Million Flight Hours
The Gulfstream GIV and GV fleets achieved a staggering 4.6 million flight hours, Gulfstream said.
Rotorcraft
UBS: Helicopter Inventory in High Hover
Inventories of used turbine helicopters have been building since the middle of last year “but now appear to be stabilizing, albeit at record-high levels,”
Regulations and Government
ACI-NA questions new firefighting standards
Proposed new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) standards from the National Fire Protection Association would not have changed the outcome of previous
Avionics
EVS II OK’d for Gulfstream G150
Gulfstream Aerospace received FAA certification to use the second-generation Gulfstream enhanced-vision system (EVS II) on the midsize G150.
Regulations and Government
EPA extends compliance date for fuel rules
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the compliance date for certain rules relating to fuel spill prevention, control and countermeasures (SP
Charter & Fractional
Arabasco, Royal Jet team on Saudi charter
Royal Jet and Arabasco launched a joint venture to expand private charter services in Saudi Arabia.
Used bizjet inventory stabilizing, JP Morgan
According to JP Morgan Global Equity Research, pre-owned business jet inventories in June remained stable at 14.4 percent of the active fleet, “a further s
Aircraft
EASA suspends Eclipse 500 type certificate
The European Aviation Safety Agency suspended the European type certificate (TC) held by bankrupt Eclipse Aviation.
Charter & Fractional
XOJet Expands Fixed-price Charter Service
XOJet launched a national network of “fare on-demand” rates for aircraft charter service starting at $12,000 on more than 15,000 dedicated routes.
ATC
DOT IG: FAA data clouds ATC training failures
A report from the Department of Transportation inspector general found that the FAA’s reported rate of training failures among newly hired air traffic cont
Airports
TAG seeks higher Farnborough traffic limits
TAG Aviation has applied to raise the annual limit on aircraft movements at London-area Farnborough Airport from 28,000 to 50,000.
BUR Curfew To Be Decided by November 1
The application by the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) to establish a nighttime noise curfew for Stage 3 aircraft at Bob Hope Airport (
Aircraft
First G650 Quickly Coming Together
The first wide-cabin Gulfstream G650 is quickly taking shape at the business jet manufacturer’s Savannah, Ga.
Aircraft
Epic Buyer Suing Over Engine Delay
Rich Lucibella, the buyer and builder of an Epic Aircraft LT single-engine turboprop under the corporate name Blue Sky Avgroup, filed a lawsuit against Epi
Charter & Fractional
Mercury Jet Charter Reduces Rates
Charter broker Mercury Jet Charter is offering one-way charter rates under its new Mercury Express program.
GAMA Opens European Office
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) last month opened a European branch office in Brussels and hired Brian Davey as director of European
Paris Area To Get More Public Helipads
The French government launched a study to add several helipads in the Paris area before the summer of 2011.
Aircraft
Dassault Delivers 2000th Falcon
Dassault Falcon on July 10 delivered the 2000th Falcon at its Bordeaux-Mérignac facility.
Aircraft
Stratos Begins Taking Deposits for Its VLJ Single
Bend, Ore.-based Stratos Aircraft on Tuesday began taking refundable escrowed $50,000 deposits for its single-engine Stratos 714 very light jet.
Aircraft
Falcon Cancellations Drag Down Dassault’s 1H Results
Dassault Aviation this morning reported a negative order intake for the first half of this year due to Falcon business jet order cancellations.
Regulations and Government
Suit Seeks $60M over Falcon 900 Overrun
Temporary staffing firm Select Staffing filed a $60 million lawsuit against Dassault Falcon in a Los Angeles federal court, alleging that “misleading and i
Safety
NTSB Wants Changes to Learjet 60 Thrust Levers
The NTSB on Friday issued six recommendations stemming from the Sept.
ATC
FAA Changes Controller Error Reporting
The FAA yesterday announced that air traffic controller operational error reporting is moving away from a punitive system to “one in which understanding wh
Aircraft
Learjet 85 Program Moving Along Smoothly
Bombardier Aerospace yesterday said its Learjet 85 program is quickly progressing, having reached several product development milestones, including fabrica
NBAA Still Expects ‘Strong’ Annual Convention
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said the association’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention–to be held October 20 to 22 in Orlando, Fla.–will be a strong show,
Business Aircraft Flight Activity Levels Off
Business aircraft flight activity continued a near straight line trend last month, according to TRAQPak data from specialized aviation services company Avi
Safety
NTSB: Fossett Crash Caused by Downdrafts
The NTSB on Thursday released its final report on the Sept.
Aircraft
Textron ‘Formally Cancels’ Cessna Citation Columbus
The large-cabin Cessna Citation Columbus program has been “formally cancelled,” according to a Form 8-K report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commi
