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
FAA Recommends Committed-to-stop Point for Landings
The InFO was prompted by a Hawker 800A that crashed while attempting a go-around more than 17 seconds after touchdown on a 5,500-foot runway.
ATC
Remote Tower To Be Tested at Colorado Airport
Northern Colorado Regional Airport chosen as the test facility because of its traffic volume and the wide mix of aircraft types operating at the airport.
Training and Workforce
Bombardier Adds Challenger 300 Sim at Dallas Center
The facility can train up to 3,000 pilots and 280 maintenance technicians per year.
Aircraft
2Q17 Deliveries Down, but Sales Steady, at Gulfstream
During the quarter, Gulfstream delivered 30 jets (23 large and seven midsize) versus 36 in the same period last year (29 large and seven midsize).
Aircraft
Garmin 1000NXi Now Standard on Cessna Caravans
Features of the G1000NXi include faster processing times, improved graphics rendering and enhanced readability with LED bED back-lighting.
Aircraft
Dassault Reaches New Heights with 2,500th Falcon
2,500th business jet is a Falcon 900LX that was handed over at Dassault's Little Rock Completion Center to a long-time Falcon customer based in the U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Gama Aviation Logs 100,000th Flight for Wheels Up
Wheels Up/Gama Aviation's flight operations have the same scale as a regional airline and is fast approaching 6,000 flight sectors per month.
Maintenance and Modifications
Textron Delivers First Fully Configured Hawker 400XPR
Customer’s baseline Beechjet 400A was upgraded with new Hawker winglets, Williams FJ44 engines, refurbished interior and new paint scheme.
Aircraft
Textron Delivers More Bizjets, Fewer King Airs in 2Q17
The division recorded a $54 million profit in the second quarter versus $81 million a year ago, primarily due to lower volume and mix.
Avionics
Collins Celebrates 40th Anniversary of GPS Milestone
Forty years ago today, Rockwell Collins engineer David Van Dusseldorp successfully received and decoded a GPS signal for the first time ever.
Regulations and Government
GAMA Praises U.S. House Appropriators for Supporting GA
Committee provided $1.3 billion for aviation safety overall, which is $11.2 million above the FY2017 level and $51.7 million above the budget request.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Ships 550th G550
The ultra-long-range twinjet aircraft has amassed more than 50 city-pair speed records during its more than 10 years in service.
Regulations and Government
CBAA 2017 Promises Information-packed Gathering
Workshops to be held on CBAA’s safety and risk management systems, operational and regulatory hot topics and issues such as unconventional risk.
Aircraft
Global 7000 Program Surpasses 500 Flight-test Hours
Testing conducted over the 500 flight hours has demonstrated the capability of the aircraft's propulsion, avionics, electrical and mechanical systems.
Aircraft
First Embraer Legacy 500 Assembled in Florida Flies
“This flight also marks a key milestone for our Melbourne operations, where we expanded our production facility and doubled our footprint.”
Sutton Launches Online Aircraft Reporting System
Provides a microsite for each aircraft that allows owners and operators to view, in real time, operational expenses, flight activity and charter revenue.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ruag, Happy Design Team on 'Carboneum' Paint Scheme for Global
Designed with race and power spirit and is enhanced with honeycomb patterns.
Aircraft
First Production Pilatus PC-24 Jet Gets Its Wings
Production“accelerated" to ensure that prompt deliveries of first customer aircraft can go ahead immediately after certification in the fourth quarter.
North American Bizjet Activity Continues Climb
Southeast dominated in departures, accounting for more than one-fifth of the 233,131 business aircraft flights recorded last month in the U.S.
Regulations and Government
FAA To Study EFVS for Helos Using Max-Viz Units
Regulations for enhanced flight vision systems do not currently exist for helicopters flying to onshore or offshore helipads at heliports.
ATC
Study: Remote ATC Towers Reduce Costs, Expand Service
Capital costs for a remote tower facility are between $1.5 and $2.5 million versus $3 million to $7 million” for federal contract towers.
Charter & Fractional
Horizon Air Group Acquires Starbase Jet
The acquisition makes Horizon one of the largest air charter companies in the South Central U.S.
Maintenance and Modifications
Advent's eABS Wins FAA Nod for King Air B200 Series
eABS reduces the risk of flat-spotting or blowing tires and allows aggressive braking as an alternative to the use of reverse thrust.
Bizjet Market Stabilizes in Asia-Pacific, Says ASG
Positive signs are further supported by the results from ASG’s mood and intentions survey results in the report.
Accidents
Former Avantair DOM Sentenced for Obstructing NTSB, FAA
Received eight months of house arrest, three years of probation and a $2,000 fine for obstructing the NTSB and FAA during an accident investigation.
Aircraft
Dassault Falcon 5X Flies with 'Preliminary' Engines
Preliminary flight-test campaign will last only a few weeks to help streamline the development process; full-fledges testing will start next year.
‘Trump Bump’ for Bizjet Market Falls Flat
UBS Business Jet Market Index is “still stuck” around breakeven level (50) following a post-U.S. election bounce late last year.
Charter & Fractional
CB Aviation Launches Fractional Share Program
The service area is currently defined as the U.S. West Coast, but company has plans for CB SkyShares to be a national plan in a few years.
Security
Embry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Program
The program, available in-person on campus or online, has three courses that cover basic cybersecurity concepts, existing standards and best practices.
Regulations and Government
Elwell Returns To FAA as Deputy Administrator
Most recently, he has been serving as the senior advisor on aviation to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
