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
Maintenance and Modifications
QTA Develops Corrosion Fix for GIV Engine Inlet
Its engineering and DER staff also has “full capability” for composite repairs on all GII, GIII, GIV and GV parts.
Charter & Fractional
Flexjet's New Business Soars 20 Percent in 2016
Half of its new business last year came from customers who previously patronized another fractional provider.
Aircraft
GAMA: Embraer Phenom 300 Once Again the Best-selling Bizjet
This is the fourth consecutive year that Embraer light jet's has achieved this mark, accumulating 266 deliveries since 2013.
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Intros LED Exterior Light Kit for Beechjets
Kits are available for $15,943, not including the estimated 40 man-hours for installation
Safety
NATA Offers Safety/Security Product for Crew, Pax
LifeLine Response uses global imagery, communication tools and proprietary algorithms to provide safety and security alerts.
UBS: Bizjet Market Benefitting from 'Trump Bump'
49 percent of survey respondents indicated that they have already seen higher pre-owned business jet transaction volumes post-election.
Safety
NWS Rolls Out More Accurate Convective Wx Forecasts
The Traffic Flow Management Convective Forecast will have a look and feel that is similar to the CDM Convective Forecast Product that it is replacing.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Global Aero Launches Online Insurance Portal for UAVs
Online portal allows drone owners and operators to purchase an annual insurance policy online and pay securely via credit card.
Bizjet Finance Veteran To Head Embraer Executive Jets
Michael Amalfitano has been named as the president and CEO of its Melbourne, Florida-based Executive Jets business unit, effective March 1.
ATC
Flight Service Bureau: Many Changes to NAT Ops in 2017
Changes range from mandated avionics upgrades to operational issues.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Partners with Talon Air on NY-Florida Shuttle
Service costs $2,100 per seat one-way, including taxes, according to company founding partner Justin Firestone.
Aircraft
Bombardier Bizjet Deliveries Down 18% in 2016
The Canadian aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 135 business jets this year, which is even lower than that in 2016.
Aircraft
First Global 7000 Logs 100 Hours; FTV2 To Fly Soon
The Global 7000 remains on track for entry into service in the second half of 2018.
Avionics
Duncan Working on STCs for Gogo Biz 4G System
Existing Gogo Biz air-to-ground service offers peak speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps, while the 4G service reportedly runs at up to peak speeds of 9.8 Mbps.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo AW169 Medium Twin Helo Gets FAA Nod
This approval follows EASA certification of the new medium twin helicopter by seven months.
NBAA Celebrates 70th Anniversary Today
Anniversary offers “an opportunity to consider what each of us can do to carry the torch forward, so that business aviation is even stronger."
NBAA Asking Members To Take Bizav Compensation Survey
The 2017 survey is now open, and NBAA is collecting salary and benefit data for 16 business aviation job descriptions.
Hawkeye Aircraft Launches Bizjet Productivity Tool
App calculates common productivity factors from NBAA and No Plane No Gain reports to determine a value for time saved when using a business aircraft.
Airports
London Oxford Offers Deal for First-time Bizjet Users
“Try and Fly” promotion waives the landing fee, halves parking fees for up to a week and offers a fuel dicsount for first-time users of the airport.
Bizav Flying in Europe Off To a ‘Strong Start’
While the 12-month trend is slightly positive, flying is still trailing the pre-crisis 2008 benchmark by more than 15 percent.
Bizav Flying Off To a Good Start in 2017, Says Argus
Results by operational category were positive across the board, with Part 135 and fractional activity each climbing by 4 percent from a year ago.
Charter & Fractional
Lawmakers Seek to End Aircraft Managed Fee Tax Issue
FET being imposed on management fees would amount to double-taxation on aircraft owners, according to NATA.
Charter & Fractional
Bliss Jet To Start Per-seat NYC-London Bizjet Service
Company will offer up to 10 seats aboard a Gulfstream G450 or G550 flown between the two cities by “established” U.S. charter operators.
Training and Workforce
NATA Launches Training Center for Part 91/135 Operators
Includes online library of more than 50 courses to assist air charter, corporate and fractional operators in meeting regulatory training requirements.
Aircraft
Embraer Cracks Open Bizjet Market in Argentina
The country is also a ripe replacement business aircraft market, as about 80 percent of the 170 Argentina-registered business jets are 10 years or older.
Aircraft
Quest Delivered a Record 36 Aircraft in 2016
Other significant milestones at Quest last year included the completion of a 5,000-sq-ft research-and-development facility.
Charter & Fractional
Luxaviation Launches Helicopter Management Company
It will have a presence in “key locations” in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
Maintenance and Modifications
Textron Aviation Ready for Game-day Support in Houston
Company covering customers with service center at Houston Hobby Airport and three mobile service units statoned in the Houston area.
Avionics
Dassault's FalconEye Nominated for Collier Trophy
Combined vision system in competition with the Blue Origin New Shepard, Boeing 737 Max and the USAF 212th Rescue/249th Airlift Squadrons.
Aircraft
ZenithJet Launches Global Jet Acquisition Program
Covers market assessment; aircraft identification; purchase agreement negotiation; oversight of pre-purchase inspection and closing, among others.
