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
Charter & Fractional
Is less more at Flight Options?
Taking a quasi-Southwest Airlines approach, Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options last month announced a “go-forward” plan to rationalize its
Charter & Fractional
NetJets pilots reject new work contract
On October 29, more than four out of every five of the unionized pilots at fractional provider NetJets voted to reject a tentative agreement (TA) reached i
Aircraft
SJ30-2 program on target for certification in third quarter
Sino Swearingen insists that the 2,500-nm-range SJ30-2 will be certified in the third quarter of this year, despite numerous program delays and the crash o
NIAR quietly develops technology for aviation
Mention Wichita, and most people in the business aviation industry immediately think of Cessna, Raytheon/ Beech, Learjet or Boeing.
Training and Workforce
Flyers’ online FIRC does not soar above the rest
A majority of professional pilots have earned a flight instructor rating as the first stepping stone on their aviation career path.
Aircraft
VLJ race reaches epic porportions
Bend, Ore.-based Air Investor Resources (AIR)–the parent company of Epic Aircraft, which is currently flight-testing its Epic LT turboprop single–is now te
Charter & Fractional
NetJets and FlightSafety report profits for 2004
In his annual letter to shareholders published early last month, investment mogul Warren Buffett said earnings improved last year at Berkshire Hathaway’s f
Charter & Fractional
Netjets pilots choose 'strong' voice
On December 23 NetJets pilots overwhelmingly elected the five-member master executive council (MEC) slate known as Strong Union.
Aircraft
In The Works: Citation CJ1+ and CJ2+
Last month Cessna said it had begun production line flow of its new Citation CJ2+ and would soon start production of the Citation CJ1+.
Aircraft
In The Works: Sino Swearingen SJ30-2
On March 10 Sino Swearingen received from the FAA type inspection authorizations (TIA) for systems and high-speed upsets.
Aircraft
In The Works: ATG Javelin
Aviation Technology Group of Englewood, Colo., said last month that the Javelin demonstrator prototype is undergoing final assembly at ATG’s research and d
Engines
Honeywell studies more-electric engines
One of the technologies that Honeywell says promises to revolutionize aircraft design is something known as “more electric architecture” (MEA).
Aircraft
2006: The year of the very light jet
Call them what you want–very light jets (VLJs), compact jets, minijets, microjets, personal jets or even Barbie jets–they’re no longer “paper” airplanes.
Charter & Fractional
Scheduling draws pilot ire at NetJets
While the fractional providers said publicly that switching to the more stringent rules of Part 91 Subpart K on February 17 was a nonevent, a look behind t
Aircraft
Eclipse 500 makes first flight with P&W engines
Keeping its promise, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Eclipse Aviation flew the first Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-powered Eclipse 500 certification flight-test ai
Aircraft
Hawker Horizon earns provisional FAA approval
While the Raytheon Hawker Horizon was one of the first to blaze the super-midsize business jet trail when it was launched at the 1996 NBAA Convention in Or
Maintenance and Modifications
Cessna christens largest GA Service Center
On December 9 Cessna Aircraft claimed another record, though this one does not involve any aircraft speed or distance.
Aircraft
In The Works: Aviation Technology Group Javelin
According to Aviation Technology Group, the assembly of its Javelin demonstrator prototype is progressing rapidly at Soloy’s facilities in Olympia, Wash.
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.
