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

Mach 4 Supersonic Bizjet To Be Revealed at Paris Show

On Monday at the Paris Air Show, HyperMach Aerospace Industries plans to unveil a “next generation” supersonic busin
Charter & Fractional

Bizav Flying Activity Returns to Positive Territory

After posting a slight 0.4-percent drop in April, business aircraft flight activity in the U.S.
Regulations and Government

LightSquared Causes ‘Substantial Interference’ to GPS

LightSquared Causes ‘Substantial Interference’ to GPS “The test data discussed today makes clear that there is substantial interference to
Regulations and Government

NBAA, AOPA, EAA Fight Barr Changes in Courts

Following publication Friday in the Federal Register of a final rule th
Regulations and Government

General Aviation Groups Ask for Presidential TFR Relief

Six aviation associations–NBAA, AOPA, NATA, GAMA, EAA and HAI–in a joint letter
Airports

Santa Monica Drops Efforts To Ban Large Aircraft at SMO

NBAA welcomed an announcement last week by Santa Monica, Calif.

Decisive Bizjet Recovery ‘Elusive,’ Says JPMorgan

As mixed signals continue in the business jet market, JPMorgan North American Equity Research says in its latest industry update that a “decisive recovery

Bizjet Sales Boost Bombardier Profits

Last week Bombardier reported $4.7 billion in revenue for its first fiscal quarter (which ended April 30), a 9-percent year-over-year increase, thanks in p
Charter & Fractional

CitationAir Pilots Gear Up for Union Vote

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the Local 1108 Executive Board received a letter yesterday from the National Mediation Board (NMB) aut

Flight Departments Lack SMS Training

In its latest annual safety management system (SMS) audit results report, Argus says its Prism subsidiary has generally found a lack of SMS training
Rotorcraft

Eurocopter X3 Compound Helo Reaches 232 Knots

Eurocopter’s compound helicopter demonstrator, the X3, reached 232 ktas, above the stated goal of 220 knots, last month.
ATC

Mideast Bizav Group Seeks Organized ATC in Gulf

Middle East Business Aviation Association chairman Ali Al Naqbi is proposing to set up an informal working group, dubbed “Middle East Control,” to achieve

Jepp, ETS Team on Emissions Monitoring Solution

Jepp, ETS Team on Emissions Monitoring Solution Jeppesen and ETS Aviation have teamed to provide the aviation industry with a solution to monitor, r

Forecast International President Passes Away

Forecast International president Douglas Nebinger, 58, died at his home on May 15.

FltPlan.com Expands Coverage to Central America

FltPlan.com, which claims to be the online flight planning and filing service of choice for three out of four turbine business aircraft operators in the U.
Accidents

Brazil judge finds ATCO innocent, slams ATC in Legacy midair

In an astonishing verdict, Brazilian federal judge Murilo Mendes on on May 19 found the air traffic controller most involved in the September 200

Lufthansa, Panasonic Team on Cabin Systems

Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics formed a 50-50 joint venture in executive/VIP cabin electronics, and the new company–IDair–made its trade-show deb
Aircraft

India Certifies Embraer Lineage 100

Embraer received type certification for its Lineage 1000 bizliner from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Aircraft

Citation CJ4 Snags European Approval

Cessna Aircraft’s Citation CJ4 obtained EASA type certification on May 18, some 14 months after receiving identical approval from the FAA.

Cirrus Counter-offer Put on Hold

Cirrus Counter-offer Put on Hold An eleventh-hour attempt by aviation consultant Brian Foley to assemble investors to submit a counter-offer to the

Last Time for LABACE Hangar Venue

The historic VASP airline hangars that have provided a base for the Labace show in São Paulo, Brazil, could soon be demolished to provide additional
Aircraft

Conforming HondaJet Hits Max Speed, Altitude

Honda Aircraft recently achieved new milestones during flight testing of the first conforming HondaJet (F1), which reached a maximum speed of 425 ktas, rat

Algae-based Jet Biofuel Passes USAF Tests

Independence Bio-Products of Dublin, Ohio, has produced algae oil, which has been converted to jet fuel and then successfully tested by the Air Force Resea
Aircraft

Airbus Rebrands its Bizliners

At Ebace last month, Airbus rebranded its bizliner offerings with more consistent names–each model in the company’s stable of corporate jet offerings will
FBOs

Execujet Adds Spanish Facilities

ExecuJet Aviation added three Spanish FBOs at Gerona, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca to its ground handling portfolio.
Aircraft

Textron Taps Former GE Aviation Exec To Lead Cessna

Textron announced today that it has named Scott Ernest president and CEO of its Cessna Aircraft subsidiary.
Avionics

Satcom1 Offers Airborne Broadband in Europe

Satcom1 is now providing Aviator 200 services in Europe and claims to be the first to do so.
Engines

Nextant 400XT Nears FAA Approval

With Williams FJ44-3AP certification finalized on May 12, the Nextant Aerospace 400XT is on course for full approval of its remanufactured Beechjet 400A/40

Airbus Wins $14.2M in Dispute with Hawker

Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) will have to pay $14.2 million to close a two-year-old dispute with Airbus, which manufactures Hawker business jet airframe compone