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
PiperJet Enters Detailed Design Phase
Piper Aircraft president and CEO Kevin Gould said at last month’s Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that the PiperJet program is on track for certifica
Aircraft
Cessna certifies, delivers CJ4; Europe deliveries start in ’11
Cessna Aircraft delivered the first Citation CJ4 on April 15, just a month after obtaining type approval for the light twinjet from the U.S.
FAA to Pilots: Avoid Cockpit Distractions
While directed at the airlines, the FAA’s call yesterday for operators to create and enforce policies that will limit distractions in the cockpit and keep
Darby Aviation Fights FAA Suspension Order
In a five-page response to the FAA’s April 23 emergency order to suspend Darby Aviation’s Part 135 charter certificate, the company’s lawyers–Anderson and
ATA Declares 2010 ‘Day on the Hill’ a Success
The National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) annual “Day on the Hill” attracted nearly 100 association members to the Capitol building in Washingto
ATC
ADS-B Now Active in Philadelphia Area
ADS-B, one of the cornerstones of the FAA’s air traffic control modernization plan known as NextGen, was declared operational in the Philadelphia area yest
Charter & Fractional
Per-seat Aircraft Charter Concept Flying at Greenjets
West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Greenjets said its shared-ride charter jet membership service has been growing quickly since it was launched a year ago.
Safety
European Safety Standdown Set for May 2 and 3
Bombardier Aerospace, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and NBAA yesterday announced that the fourth annual European Safety Standdown will
Charter & Fractional
Avantair Still Growing, Plans To Double Fleet by 2014
Fractional Piaggio Avanti operator Avantair late last week announced more fleet expansion, further growth and new personnel hires.
Aircraft
Kestrel Program Could Fly with Liberty Aero’s Help
Farnborough Aircraft business development director Adrian Norris told AIN yesterday at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that his UK-based c
Aircraft
PiperJet Enters Detailed Design Phase
Piper Aircraft president and CEO Kevin Gould said this week at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that the PiperJet program is on track for certific
Regulations and Government
Washington State Aircraft Tax Killed
NBAA applauded the Washington State legislature’s decision to scuttle a provision for an “onerous” tax proposal for aircraft in its annual spending bill.
Embraer Bullish on Bizjets This Decade
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer released a 10-year business jet forecast at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., yesterday that calls for 10,0
Safety
NTSB: Aircraft Charter Accidents Fall Sharply in 2009
Preliminary 2009 aviation accident statistics released by the NTSB late last week show an overall decrease in aviation accidents for general aviation and o
Charter & Fractional
ExcelAire Exec Bullish on Charter Demand in 2010
Aircraft
Evektor Rolls Out EV-55 Turboprop Twin
Kunovice, Czech Republic-based Evektor last week rolled out its EV-55 Outback, a nine- to 14-seat, high-wing twin turboprop.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Pilots Ratify Initial Contract
Just shy of four years since voting in a union–the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108–the pilots at fractional provider Flight Options overw
Safety
Pilots on Antidepressants Cleared To Fly, FAA Says
In a new policy statement released on Friday, the FAA said that individuals being trea
Safety
Poor Tire Mx, Late Reject Caused 2008 Learjet 60 Crash
During a public hearing today, the NTSB issued the probable cause and 14 new
Groom Lands at Piper as New Exec VP
Vero Beach, Fla.-based Piper Aircraft today appointed 36-year aviation industry veteran Randy Groom as its new executive vice president of sales, marketing
Safety
NTSB Investigating Near-midair over SFO
The NTSB is investigating a near-midair between a United Airlines Boeing 777 and a Cessna
Aircraft
Phenom Fly-in Draws Owners and Operators to Naples
About 30 people attended an Embraer Phenom owners and operators fly-in this past weekend in Naples, Fla., with nine owners flying their Phenom 100s into Na
NBAA Outlines Strategies To Lower Fuel Costs
NBAA yesterday released a new white paper, “Ten Critical Strategies for Long-Term Fuel Sav
UBS: Bizjet Market Recovery in Holding Pattern
While UBS Investment Research’s March business jet index reflects a stable market, other indictors showed that the business aviation market recovery has st
Avionics
Next-gen FMS Tested Aboard G650
Honeywell’s next-generation flight management system (NGFMS) is currently undergoing flight testing on the Gulfstream G650 and the Boeing 747-8.
Safety
Audit Outlines Flight Department Deficiencies
Argus’s latest annual SMS audit report shows that safety management systems (SMS) and emergency response planning have the highest number of deficiencies a
NATA Celebrates 70 Years
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
Groups Fighting Washington Aircraft Taxes
At press time, NBAA and other aviation alphabet groups continued to fight a proposed bill in the Washington state legislature that would impose a 0.5-perce
Charter & Fractional
Cessna Takes Full Reins at CitationAir
Cessna Takes Full Reins at CitationAirCessna Aircraft in late February completed its acquisition of business aviation flight services provider
Aircraft
Used Jets Selling 15% Below Market Value
Pre-owned business jet prices are down 40 percent from the heights of 2008 and are now on average 15 percent below “market value,” Aircraft Post president
