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
Paper giving way to digital chart data
Evidence that Jeppesen is moving rapidly toward a world cluttered with less paper can be seen in airline terminals all over the world.
Frakes stacks solve soot problem
Owners and operators of Hawker Beechcraft King Airs enjoy the solid reliable performance offered by the venerable turboprops, but there is one King Air ch
Avidyne autopilots offer digital solutions for avionics retrofits
Avionics manufacturer Avidyne is displaying its full line of cockpit displays and flight control systems as well as its R9 integrated flight deck at this
EBACE 2011: Rockwell Collins Adds European Regional Trip Support To Ascend
Rockwell Collins has added European Union regional trip support to the services provided under its Ascend flight information solutions.
Last year,
Aircraft
At EBACE, Gulfstream Reiterates G650 Is on Schedule
Although the April 2 crash of flight test G650 S/N 6002<
Aircraft
EBACE 2011: Gulfstream Sees Growing Orders, Product Support Business
Gulfstream Aerospace is well on its way to achieving certification of two new jets this year–the G250 and G650–as utilization of the nearly 2,000-strong, i
Aircraft
EBACE 2011: Comlux Aviation Approved for Gulfstream Maintenance
The FAA has approved Comlux Aviation Services, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, to provide maintenance services for the Gulfstream GII, GIIB and GIII models
Aircraft
EBACE 2011: Comlux Unveils Just-completed A320ACJ
A unique Airbus ACJ320 arrived here on Sunday and is on static display, the first Airbus to
Avionics
Head-up guidance moves to smaller aircraft
New technology is finally enabling avionics manufacturers to make head-up display (HUD) systems smaller, and Rockwell Collins is first out of the gate w
Avionics
Garmin touchscreens are new pilot interface
At this year’s Aircraft Electronics Association show in March, Garmin International (Stand 1367) introduced the long-awaited successors to the 14-year-old
Avionics
EASy II Upgrade TSO’d for Dassault Falcon 900
Honeywell’s EASy II upgrade for the Falcon 900 EASy received FAA technical standard order (TSO) approval from the FAA and is slated for certification in th
Androids, ipods, big screens mounted by Flight Display
Flight Display Systems (Stand 668) is breaking new gro
California FBOs Facing Lead Lawsuits
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) warned dozens of companies at 25 California airports as well as oil companies about violations of the California
AIN Blog: RNP Offers Alternative Fix for Airport Noise
There’s a new way to fix long-standing noise and emissions problems at airports that are surrounded by nearby neighbors, such as Naples Airport in Florida
Data Shows Positive Biz Aircraft Sales Signs
First-quarter 2011 business jet and turboprop sales and retail transactions were positive, according to data providers Amstat and JetNet.
Charter & Fractional
NATA: Contract pilot rule change an ‘emerging issue’
In yet another case of local interpretation of federal regulations, at the Long Beach, Calif., Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) FAA inspectors have
Avionics
Collins Developing HUD for Turboprops, Light Jets
Rockwell Collins is developing the HGS-3500 head-up guidance system, a smaller and lighter head-up display (HUD) for turboprop singles to midsize jets.
Safety
Jeppesen sees future with far less paper
by Matt Thurber
Electronic flight bags and newer devices like the Apple iPad and Android-based tablets are part of what is driving Jeppesen t
Charter & Fractional
NetJets under new leadership after Sokol resignation
On March 28, David Sokol resigned from his job as chairman of several Berkshire Hathaway-owned companies, including fractional-share provider NetJets.
Avionics
Dealers delight in new avionics at AEA’11
The annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show is a showcase for avionics dealers, the people who sell, install and repa
Safety
ACSF Supports Single Charter Standard
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is trying to encourage charter and fractional operators to support the move to a single safety audit standard–its
Maintenance and Modifications
Part 39 Interpretation Raises AD Compliance Questions
The FAA is seeking comments on a proposed legal interpretation of Airw
AIN Blog: FAA Interpretation Outlines Onerous AD Compliance Issues
One of the problems with the aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) process is that it gives people, and especially FAA lawyers, too much time to think.
Charter & Fractional
Avantair offers frax-share leasing
Avantair now offers leasing of fractional shares of Piaggio Avanti turboprops.
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Receives Final Fusion TSO
The FAA issued the final in a series of 50 Technical Standard Orders (TSO) for the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system last week.
Solons Share Safety Secrets at CASS 2011
The 56th Annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS), jointly sponsored by NBAA and the Flight Safety Foundation, last week hosted about 350 attendees
Charter & Fractional
Lawsuit Seeks Sokol Remedy from Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway shareholder Mason Kirby filed a lawsuit on Monday against Berkshire Hathaway, company executives Warren Buffett and Charles Munger and o
