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
First Production HondaJet Makes Public Debut at Oshkosh
HondaJet also flew a flight demonstration during the afternoon airshow that included high- and low-speed passes.
Regulations and Government
Rep. Graves Pushes FAA on NextGen Avionics Loans
2012 FAA reauthorization bill gave the agency the authority to set up a loan-guarantee program for mandated avionics upgrades.
Aircraft
First Production Cessna Citation CJ3+ Takes Flight
Production flight-test pilot Mark Tuttle said that all systems performed as expected during the 73-minute flight.
Daher-Socata U.S. Southwest Distributor Takes Delivery of Its 100th TBM Aircraft
Avex became a Daher-Socata dealer 15 years ago.
Aircraft
Third Cessna Citation Latitude Joins Flight-test Fleet
This flight also marked the first time all three Citation Latitude prototypes were in the air simultaneously.
Charter & Fractional
WestAir Charter Announces “Price Pledge” for Air Charter Quotes
Its “price pledge” states “it will never bill clients for more than they were originally quoted.”
Charter & Fractional
Executive AirShare Taps Pedicino as Vice President for South Texas Sales
He “will drive Executive AirShare’s growth in key Texas markets.”
Deliveries Continue To Climb at Gulfstream
Gulfstream delivered 77 aircraft (59 large-cabin, 18 midsize) versus 65 (55 large-cabin, 10 midsize) in the same period last year.
Charter & Fractional
Wheels Up Turns One, Plans for More Growth
Company expects to have 1,200 members for its closed charter fleet by year-end and some 2,500 by the end of next year.
Maintenance and Modifications
Nextant Aero Joins Remanufacturing Industries Council, Readies To Unveil G90XT Mockup
Nextant remanufactures Beechjet 400/400XP twinjets and plans to do the same for King Air C90s.
Maintenance and Modifications
Raisbeck Gets STC for Learjet 60 Aft Fuselage Locker
Aft fuselage locker weighs 276 pounds and adds 28 cu ft of storage space.
Avflight Opens FBO at Michigan’s Traverse City
The Avfuel-branded facility offers a range of fueling products and services.
Dassault Readies To Begin Falcon 8X Ground Tests
Dassault expects to fly the new trijet early next year, with certification slated for mid-2016.
Regulations and Government
EASA Issues Proposed Rules for Commercial SEIFR Ops
EASA said the move would harmonize its regulations with ICAO and other major foreign aviation authorities.
NBAA Launches Aviation Weather Subcommittee
Group will focus on improvements in aviation weather information and flight safety.
Enterprise Holdings Chairman To Be Featured Speaker at 2014 NBAA Convention
He will share his perspectives on how business aviation has supported the growth of his company.
GAMA Taps Archer as Engineering and Airworthiness Director
Archer most recently provided key support for the FAA and the Joint Planning and Development Office.
Sonex Personal Jet Makes Maiden Flight
Company will begin taking orders after it publishes performance numbers.
Bombardier Successfully Tests Non-temperature-restricted APU
The prototype equipment was designed for business jets.
Jeppesen Releases Enhanced FliteDeck Pro App for iPad
New integration and collaboration capabilities allow app-to-app route sharing.
Rotorcraft
Aircraft Segments Boost Revenues, Profits at Textron
Second-quarter revenues at Textron Aviation, which includes Cessna and Beechcraft, climbed $623 million year-over-year to $1.18 billion.
Garmin Pilot iOS Aviation App Goes Global
Pilots also have access to expanded coverage of European charts in a single application.
Amelia Rose Earhart Completes Round-the-world Flight in Pilatus PC-12 NG
She is the youngest woman to fly around the world in a single-engine aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Sabena Selects Collins Venue Cabin-management System for BBJ
The updated BBJ cabin will feature HD monitors and digital audio throughout the aircraft.
Charter & Fractional
Executive AirShare Obtains IS-BAO Certification
Extensive audit included the provider’s safety management system, organization, standard operating procedures, training programs and flight operations.
Second-quarter Bizjet Deliveries Won’t Be ‘Impressive’
Some of this reflects product transitions, such as the new Citation X+ and Challenger 350, both of which were certified late in the second quarter.
Embraer Delivers a Better Mix of 29 Bizjets in Second Quarter
Including airliners, Embraer’s firm order backlog was $18.1 billion as of June 30.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter Sister Company TRU Will Manufacture Bell 525 Full-motion Simulator
Simulator will be designed “especially for the unique training requirements and needs of the helicopter pilot.”
Textron Aviation Opens Full Cessna, Beech Lines to Special-mission Market
All 20 current-production aircraft “fit numerous mission profiles,” the company said.
Business Aircraft Brokerage Avpro Opens Chicago Office
New location will help serve Avpro’s growing aircraft brokerage business in the U.S. Midwest.
