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
Piper Unveils New Interior, Propeller Options for M600
An M600 with these enhancements will go on a European tour after making its debut at the Aero Friedrichshafen show later this week.
FBOs
Signature Enhances Loyalty Program for Avgas Customers
Under its upgraded plan, pilots are now rewarded with 10 Signature TailWins rewards points for every gallon of 100LL purchased.
Aircraft
Embraer Hands Over First Phenom 100EV
Announced at EAA AirVenture 2016, the 100EV is an upgraded Phenom 100 with Garmin G3000 avionics and more powerful engines.
Aircraft
EliteJets Accepts Milestone 400th Embraer Phenom 300
EliteJets also took delivery of another Phenom 300, S/N 403, on the same day, bringing its all-Embraer fleet to four of the light jets and one Legacy 500.
Sun 'n' Fun 2017 Opens Tomorrow
Numerous safety, education and informational seminars will also be held throughout the week.
Aircraft
Global 7000 Flirts With Mach 1 on Test Flight
The 7,400-nm twinjet is projected to have an Mmo of Mach 0.925.
Avionics
ADS-B Install Demand Could Outstrip Shop Capacity
Duncan said that nearly 11,000 U.S.-based turbine aircraft still need ADS-B, while the total number of all aircraft in the U.S. is around 74,000.
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Aviation Finalizes Starport Acquisition
StarPort expands Constant's network into the Southeast with a 75,000-sq-ft facility that supports bizjet maintenance, interior, paint and FBO ops.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Earnings Soar 19% Despite Weaker Revenues
Earnings boosted by lower subcontracting expense and a decline in losses from aircraft impairments and dispositions at the fractional provider.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety's G650 Sim Now Online at F'boro Center
The pilot training is provided using the fifth G650 simulator built by FlightSafety International.
Aircraft
HondaJet To Make Dual Airshow Debuts in April
Light jet will make first first appearances at both the Sun ’n’ Fun International Fly-In in Florida and at ABACE 2017 in China.
Airports
Slots To Be Required for Bizav at Toronto Pearson
Arrival and departure slots for business and general aviation operations being enacted at Toronto airport during runway rehabilitation project.
Security
Bizav Not Affected by TSA's Large-electronics Ban
According to Flight Service Bureau, private and charter flights on business aircraft are exempt from the TSA directive.
Safety
LOC-I, Runway Excursions Top NBAA's 2017 Safety List
Topics were identified via a data-driven review by the NBAA Safety Committee as primary risk-mitigation targets for all business aircraft operators.
Aircraft
Bizjet Optimism Not Yet Resulting in Actual Improvement
Despite the UBS business jet index being at a post-recession high, market fundamentals remain “relatively weak.”
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Fields Third Flight-test Longitude
The twinjet—registered as N702GL—reached an altitude of 13,600 feet and speeds up to 256 knots during the maiden flight.
Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Up, but Part 91 Lags
Business aircraft flight activity in North America rose 1.3 percent year-over-year last month, despite this February being one day shorter than last year.
Charter & Fractional
Elit’Avia Celebrates 10 Years, Expands Fleet
Elit’Avia holds air operator certificates (AOCs) in EU member states Slovenia and Malta, and has an office in Atlanta.
Charter & Fractional
PlaneSense Adds Cuba, Bermuda to Service Area
PlaneSense has been authorized to fly into seven Cuban airports, including those in the country’s two largest cities—Santiago and Havana.
Aircraft
ATR Readies for U.S. Resurgence with Miami Training Center
The facility, located at the Airbus training premises, houses a CAE-built FAA and EASA level-D ATR 42/62-600 simulator and classrooms.
Flight 1549 Crewmember To Keynote at TXT Customer Event
Welsh will recount the “awe-inspiring story of her first-hand account” of that fateful flight for Citation, King Air and Hawker customers.
Maintenance and Modifications
West Star Aviation Opens Satellite Mx Shop in Houston
Its new satellite location there can now provide minor inspections and repairs for Gulfstream, Falcon, Bombardier, Hawker and Citation aircraft.
Regulations and Government
GAMA Hails Commercial SET-IMC Ops Rules in Europe
Effort marks the end of a 20-year effort by industry and regulators and aligns Europe with the ICAO standards for commercial air transport operations.
Aircraft
Citation Sovereign+, Latitude Gain Steep-approach Nods
Certification allows for approach angles of up to 6.65 degrees to operate into destinations such as London City and Lugano Airports.
Regulations and Government
Harris Aims To Leverage ADS-B for UAS Ops in U.S. NAS
Availability of low-cost, small and lightweight ADS-B units might be more suitable and economical to safely separate unmanned aircraft from other traffic.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet’s UK Arm Adds 400XTi, Launching Dedicated Fleet
Its dedicated fleet will be available to U.S.-based Flexjet owners for point-to-point private jet travel within Europe or to the Middle East or Africa.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
NBAA Conference To Highlight State of Bizjet Financing
Other sessions at the conference will delve into aircraft taxes, ownership and operating structures, UAVs and the international registry.
Maintenance and Modifications
First Citation M2 Fitted with Tamarack Active Winglets
Benefits include a 10 percent to 12 percent reduction in fuel burn and a 400-pound max zero fuel weight increase.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G600 Flight Testing To Ramp Up with 2nd Ship
N720GD took to the air for the first time on february 24, logging 4 hours 26 minutes aloft.
Training and Workforce
NBAA OKs Unmanned Aircraft Course for PDP, CAM Programs
According to USI, this is the only NBAA PDP-approved offering on unmanned aviation.
