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
Aerion Study Shows Interest in SSBJs
Reno, Nev.-based Aerion is evaluating preliminary results of a new global market survey indicating strong demand for its proposed supersonic business jet.
Aircraft
Dassault Falcon 7X Gets Chinese Papers
The Dassault Falcon 7X received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Accidents
Platinum Jet Trial Postponed until May
The trial of Michael and Paul Brassington, John Kimberling, Brien McKenzie and pilot Francis Vieira, executives and employees of now defunct Platinum Jet M
KAI To Boost Civil Aircraft Manufacturing
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is planning to expand into manufacturing civil aircraft, with possible programs including a sub-100-seat airliner and a bu
Online System Logs Performance Metrics
AircraftLogs.com announced reporting enhancements that capture performance metrics for flight departments.
Accidents
Ice in Fuel System Caused 777 Crash
A fuel-flow restriction at the fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) on the right engine and “most likely” on the left-hand FOHE resulted in the January 2008 cras
FAA: Bizjet Traffic Down 19.6 Percent in ’09
The FAA’s January 2010 Business Jet Report shows total business jet operations worldwide down 19.6 percent last year compared with 2008.
Aircraft
Kodiak Goes from Factory to Haiti
Mission Aviation Fellowship, the Idaho-based charity that conducts flights in support of international missionary efforts, took delivery of its fourth Ques
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy 450 and 500 Programs Making Headway
Embraer said production of the Legacy 500’s first parts has begun at suppliers’ facilities.
Charter & Fractional
Avinode Upgrades Charter Search Engine
Online charter portal Avinode upgraded its new aircraft charter search engine, making it easier for charter brokers and operators to put together the most
Charter & Fractional
$20M Verdict Against XtraJet Overturned
A judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles overturned an earlier $20 million judgment against defunct charter operator XtraJet, saying, “T
Charter & Fractional
Royal Jet Steps Up Private Flights to Iraq
Abu Dhabi-based charter operator Royal Jet is taking increasing numbers of bookings for flights into Iraq.
ATC
FAA Sets Record Straight on Ski Slot Allocation
Data from the FAA debunks the myth that fractional operators grab most of the holiday slots at the Colorado mountain airports, namely Eagle, Aspen and Rifl
Charter & Fractional
VistaJet and Flexjet Join Forces
Executive charter group VistaJet is joining forces with fractional provider Bombardier Flexjet to provide seamless access to each company’s respective serv
Charter & Fractional
Avantair Soars in Difficult Fractional Aircraft Market
Fractional provider Avantair reported revenues of $35.8 million for its fiscal year 2010 second quarter, which ended December 31.
Hawker Beechcraft Rocked by Turbulent 2009
Hawker Beechcraft on Tuesday reported an operating loss of $712 million on sales of $3.2 billion last year, compared with an operating profit of $140.3 mil
JPMorgan: Business Jet Market Continues Recovery
Last month showed further evidence of the “gradual” business jet recovery that has been under way for the past few months, including a shrinking pre-owned
Aircraft
Gulfstream G150 OK’d for Steep Approaches
The FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last week certified the Gulfstream G150 for a steep-approach angle of up to six degrees versus the n
Bombardier’s Bizjet Orders in the Red for 2009
Bombardier on Friday announced that it logged 85 negative net orders for its Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets in the fiscal year ending January
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Pilots Finally Have a Tentative Contract
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108, the union for Flight Options’ 500 pilots, this week announced that it reached a tentative agreement for
Aircraft
Aerion Study Shows Continued Interest in SSBJs
Reno, Nev.-based Aerion today said it is evaluating preliminary results of a new global market survey indicating strong demand for its supersonic business
Aviation User Fees Zapped from FY11 Budget
NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) were pleased to learn that the Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 federal budget propos
NBAA IOC Dates: March 29 to April 1
NBAA said printed brochures mailed to members for the association’s 37th annual International Operators Conference contain incorrect dates for the event.
ASA Group: Increasing Asian Bizav Demand
Hong Kong’s ASA Group–which offers business aviation/VIP security, ground handling and concierge services in Asia–said it has recently seen increased busin
$20M Verdict Against XtraJet Overturned
Saying that “the amount awarded to the plaintiffs was so great that it shocks the conscience,” a judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles
Accidents
Ohio MU-2 Accident Claims Four
A Mitsubishi MU-2 crashed on the afternoon of January 18 during approach to landing at Lorain County Regional airport in Elyria, Ohio, killing all four occ
Don Berlin Retiring from Universal Avionics
Universal Avionics Systems on January 15 announced the retirement of senior vice president and board member Donald Berlin.
Accidents
Legacy Midair Pilots Still in Legal Jungle
American charter firm ExcelAire and pilots Joe Lepore and Jan Paul Paladino remain entangled in Brazilian legal battles more than three years after the Sep
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Aviation Launches Care Program
After building a parts and rotables inventory of 4,000 line items worth more than $25 million, Constant Aviation is now making it available to the corporat
Environment
Dayton U Gets $50M Syn Fuel Research Grant
The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) was awarded a nearly $50 million six-year research grant from the Air Force to develop advanced fuels an
