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
Duncan Aviation Opens Aircraft Sales Office in Phoenix
The Phoenix location will be staffed by Doug Kvassay, a longtime aircraft sales and acquisitions representative with the company.
ATC
Harris To Host CPDLC Briefing Tomorrow at Van Nuys
Event will brief pilots on steps needed to participate with departure clearance via CPDLC and give info on upcoming domestic en route CPDLC services.
Avionics
EBAA: New PBN Rule Improves Airport Capacity in Europe
New precision approaches in Europe are underpinned by the EGNOS satellite-based augmentation system.
Aircraft
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega Accepts Second Challenger 650
Rega carries out air-rescue operations in Switzerland with a fleet of 17 helicopters and repatriates patients from abroad with its three Challengers.
JSSI: Bizav Utilization Rates Taking Off
During the second quarter, average per-aircraft utilization reached 30.35 hours; year-to-date average flight hours are up 4.6 percent.
Deliveries Down, but Sales Climb at Gulfstream
Revenues at General Dynamics’ aerospace division, which includes Gulfstream and Jet Aviation, fell $432 million year-over-year, to $3.72 billion in 1H18.
Aviaâ Adds hullo Aircrew to Growing Supplier List
Under the agreement, Aviaâ members have around-the-clock access to a dedicated hullo Aircrew client manager to assist with crewing issues.
Engines
Nordam's U.S. Divisions File for Ch. 11 Reorganization
Nordam says move is result of contractual dispute with Pratt & Whitney Canada; P&WC says it offered Nordam assistance to prevent bankruptcy filing.
Aircraft
New Cessna Denali Mockup Makes AirVenture Debut
Textron Aviation is quickly moving toward first wing mate and completion of the Denali prototype airframes as the program nears first flight in early 2019.
Aircraft
SyberJet To Fly SJ30i with New Avionics in Coming Weeks
The SJ30i, which will also have new interior designs, is expected to enter service in mid- to late-2019, SyberJet said.
European Bizav Flying Flirts with 2008 Peak
Year-to-date growth stands at 2.7 percent versus a year ago, while the rolling 12-month average is up 3.3 percent.
Training and Workforce
SimCom Adds Cessna Citation Mustang Pilot Training
With the new sim up and running, the company is now offering initial, recurrent, and upgrade pilot training for the very light jet.
Aircraft
Cutter Begins Pilatus Mx Ops at Denver Centennial
Its Denver location is equipped to serve the full line of Pilatus aircraft, including the PC-12 and PC-24.
Avionics
ExecuJet Installs First JetWave Systems in Africa
The South African aviation services company is also among the first to offer "fly away" installations of the JetWave hardware on select aircraft platforms.
U.S. Bizav Flying Stumbles in June, Says Argus
This marks the first year-to-date decrease.
Avionics
Bombardier Adds HUD/EVS Option for the Challenger 350
The HUD/EVS will further expand the avionics functionalities of the Pro Line 21-equipped super-midsize bizjet, which has a synthetic vision system.
Aircraft
First Airbus ACJ320neo Now in Final Assembly
Airbus said it has nine firm orders for the ACJ320neo family—three ACJ319neos and six ACJ320neos.
Maintenance and Modifications
NASA Tech Cuts Airframe Noise by 70% on GIII Testbed
Acoustic Research Measurement (ARM) flights tested technologies such as landing gear fairings and the FlexSys morphing-wing flap
Charter & Fractional
Planet Nine In It for the Long Haul
Planet Nine positioned to be a competitive offering in the premium end of the ultra-long-range charter market.
Aircraft
Textron To Cease Production of Cessna Citation X+
Move ends a more than 21-year manufacturing run for the Mach 0.935 twinjet and its predecessor, the Citation X.
Citi Researcher: 'Lost Decade' Over for Business Jets?
"Now we hear the word ‘surreal’ with regards to the rapid market improvement without an identifiable catalyst," said Citi's Jonathan Raviv.
ATC
Aviation Groups Pan Trump Plan for ATC Privatization
“We are disappointed that the Administration continues to reintroduce a failed proposal," the six associations said.
Aircraft
Pilatus Starts Testing PC-24 Jet on Unpaved Runways
With the addition of unpaved runways, the PC-24 will be able to access almost twice as many airports worldwide compared to other jets.
Charter & Fractional
With Union Battle Over, Flexjet Plans for Expansion
Move makes acquisitions easier going forward since Flexjet won't need to get union approval.
Avionics
GPS Interference Concerns Arise over Cellular Network
Ligado now claims it has limited GPS signal disruptions to within a 500-foot diameter around transmission towers.
Charter & Fractional
Encompass Aviation Sues Surf Air for $3.1M in Damages
Encompass alleged that Surf Air is “financially distressed” and failed, virtually from the outset of the contract, to pay for flights two weeks in advance.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Skandia's PC-12 Soundproofing Kit Gets FAA Nod
System was found in tests to reduce overall sound by 4dB (SIL) in PC-12s, as well as improve thermal insulation properties.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet East Aviation Courting A&Ps at NBAA Regional Forum
Positions require a minimum of three years experience working on business aircraft.
Aircraft
First Production Global 7500s Now Being Outfitted
The program’s five flight test vehicles have also completed more than 2,300 flight test hours to date.
WingX: European Bizav Flights Continue To Climb
But the region’s year-to-date growth trend of 2.3 percent is trailing last year´s rate of more than 3 percent, however.
