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
Avionics
Max-Viz 1200 EVS Gets DO-160G Approval
The EVS display enables pilots to see when flying day or night in smoke, haze and light fog.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Cal. Ruling Frees Some For-sale Jets from Property Taxes
There are specific requirements for the exemption, including entering into a listing agreement that transfers care, custody and control of the aircraft.
Safety
Study: 12% of Pilots Could Be Suffering from Depression
Seventy-five participants, or 4.1 percent, reported having suicidal thoughts within the past two weeks before taking the survey.
Avionics
West Star Wins STC for Falcon 900B Datalink Install
CPDL-C improves communication capabilities in areas that usually require third-party HF communication relay, such as oceanic and en route airspace.
Aircraft
Bombardier Banking on Global 7000 To Boost Revenues
The new Global 7000 is expected to drive up Bombardier Business Aircraft’s revenues by $3 billion between its service entry in 2018 and the end of 2020.
Aircraft
Young Pre-owned Business Jet Inventory Stable, Says UBS
At 2,326, the number of pre-owned business jets available for sale at the end of last month was roughly unchanged from a year ago.
Avionics
AEA Survey: ADS-B Fueling Growth at Avionics Shops
89 percent of avionics shops expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months, up from 81 percent in last year’s survey.
Charter & Fractional
JetSmarter Raises $105M To Fund Further Expansion
With round of funding, JetSmarter will expand its current shared private jet flights in cities across the U.S., Europe and Middle East.
Aircraft
Embraer Delivers First Florida-assembled Legacy 450
The fly-by-wire midsize jet was delivered to an undisclosed U.S. customer, who currently owns an Embraer Phenom 300.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Cyber Security, Hypoxia Added To SM4 AvSafety Program
Global Aerospace has committed more than $3.5 million to support SM4 and help its aviation insurance clients pursue higher levels of safety since 2010.
Charter & Fractional
ExecuJet Africa Adds Helo Charter at Cape Town FBO
It will offer commercial helicopter charters for various scenic flights to surrounding vineyards and other tourist attractions.
Aircraft
Piper M600 Turboprop Single Gets Aussie Nod
This paves the way for the launch of flights by M600 owner-operators in the region.
UBS Bizjet Index Sees Post-election Surge
the index came in at 45, a 32-percent jump from UBS’s prior survey and “representing one of the largest sequential increases in its 13 year history.”
Charter & Fractional
ACI Jet Donates C172 To Youth Aviation Career Program
Santa Barbara-based non-profit organization seeks to “engage, inspire and transform youth using flight lessons as a launching pad.”
Argus: U.S. Bizav Activity Climbed Nearly 5% Last Month
North American business aircraft flying soared 4.9 percent year-over-year in November, surpassing the company’s projection of a 3.1-percent increase.
Jets Buoy European Bizav Flying in November
There were 58,111 business aviation departures in the region in November, up 0.8 percent from a year ago.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Continues Supersonic Business Jet Research
U.S. company recently issued two new patents for technologies that would enable development of a supersonic business jet.
Aircraft
HondaJet Makes MEBAA, and Middle East, Debut
Aircraft manufacturer has aircraft on display to evaluate the market for the $4.85 million HA-420 HondaJet in the region.
Charter & Fractional
Lawyer: Dismiss Operating While Intoxicated Charges
Lawyer claims that, by definition, the pilot did not “operate” the aircraft.
ATC
Spire To Provide Lower-cost ADS-B Aircraft Tracking
75-satellite network will be put into a diverse set of orbits to provide aircraft tracking over oceanic areas, polar regions and other remote places.
Charter & Fractional
JetSmarter Launches London-Dubai Shared Jet Service
The company will use Embraer Legacy 650s on these JetShuttle flights, which are offered on a per-seat basis to JetSmarter members.
ABCI To Promote Latin American Bizav Expo in Panama
Last year's event included six aircraft on display, 25 exhibitors, worldwide and local FBOs, fuel providers and an MRO.
Engines
Safran Opens Automated Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant
New line features several robots and automated cells capable of performing every process from raw material to finished, ready-to-assemble turbine airfoils.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Astronics To Supply Power System for Cessna Denali
Will feature Astronics’ Corepower induction starter generator and circuit breaker units, as well as the company’s 28-volt DC Empower in-seat power supply.
Rotorcraft
TRU Tapped for Bell 407, 412 Avionics Bench Trainers
The maintenance training devices will provide students with hands-on training for the helicopters’ complex avionics systems.
Aircraft
Poland Orders Pair of Gulfstream G550s for VIP Transport
The G550 is the most widely used in-production Gulfstream model for special missions and government applications.
Maintenance and Modifications
Stevens Aviation To Expand Nashville Bizav MRO
Plans for the new facility include a 40,000-sq-ft hangar with a door opening height of 28 feet.
Aircraft
Lufthansa Delivers Second Outfitted BBJ to Royal Jet
The cabin was conceived by New York-based designer Edése Doret and is characterized by a “clear, minimalist esthetic style."
Charter & Fractional
Event Raises Nearly $500K for Corporate Angel Network
As in previous years, the funds were largely generated through live and silent auctions at the event.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Continues Sonic-boom Mitigation Research
Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer awarded two new patents for sonic-boom mitigation technologies in the past two months alone.
