Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;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&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;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.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Quest Aircraft announced today&nbsp;at Sun ’n’ Fun 2017 that it has received EASA certification for its Kodiak 100 and appointed Kodiak do Brasil the authorized sales representative for the turboprop single in Brazil. With the EASA approval, the number of countries where the Kodiak is certified now exceeds 50.


The Quest Kodiak will be sold and supported in Europe by dealer Rheinland Air Service (RAS) at Mönchengladbach Airport near Düsseldorf, Germany. RAS is an EASA and FAA Part 145 MRO facility and also offers aircraft sales, handling and fueling. The first European-registered Kodiak is expected to be delivered by late June.


“With its STOL capabilities, the Kodiak will allow European operators with large payloads to access more airstrips and locations,” said Quest Aircraft CEO Rob Wells. “We anticipate that Europe will play an important role in the continued growth of our company, even more so now with the recent and very welcome regulation changes in regards to single-engine turboprop commercial operations.”


In his first press interview as head of Quest, Wells told AIN at the Sun ’n’ Fun show that he is seeking to expand the appeal of the Kodiak in North America, while continuing to penetrate markets in the rest of the world. Quest is also refining its marketing efforts to stress the turboprop’s versatility to owner-pilots and corporate flight departments, he said.


According to Wells, Quest plans to deliver 40 to 50 Kodiaks this year, up from 36 in 2016.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Quest Kodiak Lands EASA Nod, Brazilian Dealer

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