Matt Thurber
Editor-in-Chief
Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.
Latest from Matt Thurber
Safety
FAA Forming Proposals on AeroNav Chart Charges
Following a meeting Tuesday with stakeholders to garner ideas and suggestions on the FAA’s plans to start charging for digital charts
LogTen Pro Adds Visual Duty Time Tracking
Coradine Aviation Systems has released the latest version of its logbook software, LogTen Pro 6.0, available for Apple Macintosh computers
Former FAA Administrator J. Lynn Helms Dies
Former FAA Administrator J. Lynn Helms died on December 11 at age 86. Helms served for nearly three years through January 1984.
FBOs
Scot Spencer Company Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Norton Property Management, which is owned by Milford Harrison and Scot Spencer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 7.
China Certifies Legacy 650
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued a type certificate for Embraer’s Legacy 650, allowing owners to register the jet in China.
AIA Predicts Civil Aircraft Sales Growth
U.S. civil aircraft sales are expected to total $49.7 billion this year, a 3.2-percent annual increase.
Strom Offers Permanent Job Placement Service
Colleyville, Texas-based staffing agency Strom Aviation is now offering placement of employment candidates in permanent positions
Maintenance and Modifications
Comments Support FAA ICA Policy Proposal
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Employees Picket over Multiple Grievances
About 75 to 80 Members of the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and other employees held an informational picketing session
Maintenance and Modifications
Proposed AC Emphasizes Reduced AOA for Stall Events
The FAA has issued a proposed advisory circular that would, as a core principle, include “emphasis of ‘reduce angle of attack’ response
Paolucci Announces Retirement from Cessna
Mark Paolucci, a 32-year employee of Cessna Aircraft, announced that he is retiring from his position as senior v-p of sales
Piper Discussing Incentives Payments with State of Florida
Piper Aircraft is facing repayment requests of government incentives received in 2008 to help the company upgrade its Vero Beach, Fla., facilities
Avionics
Garmin GTN Approved in Europe
The FAA supplemental type certificate for Garmin’s GTN series touchscreen avionics has been validated by EASA,
CEPA Expo Highlights Central Europe Bizav
The first annual CEPA Expo held by the Central Europe Private Aviation Association December 1 and 2 in Prague “made a very encouraging start,”
Avionics
LightSquared Says Tests Show GPS Compatibility
LightSquared reported yesterday that results of testing by an independent laboratory “confirmed that several major high-precision [GPS] receivers
Business Aviation Flying Activity Grows Again
Year-over-year business aircraft flying activity grew slightly by one percent, according to TraqPak data released this week by Argus.
EU Emissions Ruling May Come Sooner Than Planned
The European Union Court of Justice has moved up the date it plans to issue a final ruling on Europe’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) to December 21
Odyssey Opens New Bahamas Handling Facilities
Odyssey Aviation Bahamas has opened two handling locations on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Aviation Partners Responds To Airbus Lawsuit
Aviation Partners (API) founder and CEO Joe Clark issued a statement yesterday in response to Airbus’s lawsuit complaining about API’s winglet patent.
Safety
Vaisala Upgrades Lightning Data
Vaisala, a provider of weather-measuring equipment and services, has upgraded the quality of its Global Lightning Dataset GLD360
EU and China Cooperate on GA Education
The EU-China Civil Aviation Project (EUCCAP) held a two-week workshop in Beijing and Zhuhai to introduce Chinese aviation regulators
ForeFlight Mobile 4.3 Released
ForeFlight Mobile 4.3 has been released in the Apple App Store and adds new features, including a measure function
Safety
Fire-containment Bags Don’t Snuff Fires
AINalerts reported last week that fire-containment bags, like those sold by Aircare Access and Ship It AOG
Security
BARR Program Reinstated by FAA
The FAA lifted all restrictions on the Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) program on Friday
Environment
NATA Seeking Federal Intervention in Avgas Lawsuit
In a letter to DOT general counsel Robert Rivkin, NATA president and CEO James Coyne asked for federal intervention in a lawsuit
Safety
NTSB To Hold Air Show/Race Safety Meeting
The NTSB plans to hold a one-day hearing on air race and airshow safety at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Files Complaint against Aviation Partners
In a complaint filed on December 1 in the U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas, Airbus claims that Aviation Partners
FBOs
ExecuJet Opens Two New FBOs
ExecuJet Aviation Group opened two new FBOs in Australasia. ExecuJet’s first FBO in New Zealand opened in Wellington
AIN Blog: FAA Administrator Babbitt's Big Mistake
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt Arrested for Driving Under the Influence
Avionics
Garmin Halts 500W/530W Production
Garmin stopped manufacture of the GNS 530W and GPS 500W navigators on November 30,
