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
In The Works: Utilicraft FF-1080-300
American Utilicraft last month said it will spin off Utilicraft Aerospace Industries, a newly formed Nevada corporation, as part of an agreement with The N
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna Citation Mustang
As the Eclipse 500 was being rolled out last month, the Citation Mustang very light jet was fast taking form at Cessna’s Pawnee facility in Wichita.
Demand for SSBJ is real, one market survey finds
According to Aerion market research, there is sufficient demand to proceed with development of the company’s proposed supersonic business jet (SSBJ).
Aircraft
Smiths, Eaton picked for F-35 PBL testing
Last month Lockheed Martin chose Smiths Aerospace and Eaton Aerospace to participate in testing the F-35 JSF program’s approach to performance-based logist
DayJet primed to start operations in November
Just a week before EBACE opened, air-limo start-up DayJet of Delray Beach, Florida, announced it would start its “per-seat, on-demand” jet service in the s
Aircraft
Airbus eyes A318 steep landings
Airbus’ A318, and the A318 Elite executive version, are undergoing approval to make 5.5-degree steep approaches, such as that used into London City Airport
Airbus opens U.S. center for exec jets
Last Monday, Airbus showed to the press its recently opened corporate jetliner center in the U.S.
Aircraft
Movers & Shakers: Rick Adam hopes his A700 becomes third certified VLJ
How is the A500 program progressing?
As of late last month, the A500 is certified to its full 5.5-psi pressurization, which provides
Aircraft
Cessna testing the waters with a follow-on to Sovereign, Citation X
Cessna is offering NBAA attendees a sneak peek of what its next Citation might look like.
Aircraft
Cessna XLS+ will upgrade XL/XLS
Cessna yesterday unveiled plans to upgrade one of its most popular Citation models–the XL/XLS.
Aircraft
New Bizjets: Strong economy fuels new-aircraft development
Aerion
Aerion SSBJ–Aerion continues on track with development efforts for its supersonic business jet.
Aircraft
New Turboprops: The VLJ invasion isn't hampering turboprop development
Bell Agusta
BA609–The Bell Agusta BA609 tiltrotor program is progressing on schedule.
Aircraft
Ready or not, VLJs are here
There are 12 very light jets currently in development, in flight-test or recently certified.
Safety
Safety Standdown celebrates 10 years
Bombardier Aerospace earlier this month kicked off its 10th annual Safety Standdown in Wichita.
Aircraft
Cessna says the CJ4 is family’s fastest yet
Cessna’s Citation CJ4 isn’t just another derivative of the CitationJet family–it is a clean-sheet design that incorporates some of the best features found
Industry Perspective: With Mustang type certificate in hand, Cessna shifts focus to swept-wing CJ4
It was always going to be a close race, but in the end Cessna became the first manufacturer to obtain full FAA certification of a very light jet (VLJ), the
Aircraft
Cessna’s Citation line just keeps on growing
Cessna formally launched two new business twinjets at last month’s NBAA Convention, making the Citation CJ4 and XLS+ the latest in a steady sequence of air
Engines
Measuring Aircraft Emissions
NASA has been studying various types of emissions from commercial aircraft to develop ways to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
Engines
New Engine Technology
With fuel prices at noticeably higher levels and Stage 4 noise requirements proposed to take effect next January 1, industry and government are working fur
Charter & Fractional
MEC Election for NetJets Pilots
After the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) voided the late October MEC elections due to balloting concerns, the NetJets pilots finally were sch
Aircraft
Eclipse Rolls Out Certification Model 500
On December 11 the first Eclipse 500 certification flight-test aircraft, N503EA, rolled out from the start-up manufacturer’s Albuquerque, N.M.
Aircraft
In The Works: Quest Kodiak
Quest Aircraft’s Kodiak turboprop single, which last month neared 100 flight hours, started FAA flight testing in late March.
Aircraft
In The Works: Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 program continued to gain steam last month with the successful first flights of the second (N502EA) and third (N504EA) certification flight
Airports
Van Nuys documentary to land at theaters soon
In his producing and directing debut, Brian Terwilliger wanted to make an epic movie about the romance of flying, of all things.
DayJet reveals first plans for air-limo operations
It’s all too easy for industry analysts to say that if the air-limo concept–point-to-point service for the masses–is possible, someone would already have d
Aircraft
Eviation Jets developing a twin-engine Vantage
Details emerged about two more very light jets (VLJs) during last month’s Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in Brazil, a fitting v
Aircraft
Mustang gallops free on 2.5-hour maiden flight
The Cessna Citation Mustang prototype made its first flight from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita on April 23 at 10:26 a.m.
DayJet plans regional air-limo service
Ed Iacobucci, founder and former chairman of software maker Citrix Systems, on April 25 announced his latest project–regional, per-seat, on-demand air-limo
Aircraft
In The Works: Adam A700
Adam Aircraft’s A700 VLJ is “moving along swiftly,” company president Joe Walker said last month at the NBAA Convention.
Aircraft
In The Works: Diamond D-Jet
First flight of Diamond Aircraft’s D-Jet has apparently slipped from this past October to sometime next year, according to the company’s Web site.
