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
Avionics
StarPort Receives STC for RAAS in 850XP
Orlando-based StarPort received an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of Honeywell’s Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS) in a
Avionics
ADS-B Certified in A320
While much hand-wringing surrounds the FAA's plans for implementation of the NextGen air transportation system and Europe's single European sky system, som
Aircraft
Avcorp Work Moving Back to Cessna, Other Suppliers
Structural assembly work done by Canada-based Avcorp will be transitioned back to Cessna facilities and other suppliers, according to a Cessna spokesman.
Chart firms offer Jepp alternative
Pilots who have problems obtaining Jeppesen charts or believe Jeppesen holds a monopoly on the distribution of IFR approach and en route charts might be in
TAG plans joint venture with China First Mandarin Group
TAG Aviation Asia and China First Mandarin Group (CFMG) signed a preliminary joint-venture agreement to serve the business aviation market in Asia with air
Aircraft
Embraer ‘flight testing’ FBW before Legacy flies
The technology in Embraer’s newest business jet series, the Legacy 450 and 500, enables detailed exploration and development to take place much further ahe
Aircraft
Conforming HondaJet Makes Maiden Flight
The first conforming Honda Aircraft HA-420 HondaJet took off from Runway 5 at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C., at 3:31 p.m.
Hawker Beechcraft: survival of the fighters
Bill Boisture is embroiled in the challenge of his career.
Airbus Renews Training Agreement with CAE Through 2017
Airbus has renewed its flight training agreement with CAE through 2017, covering most Airbus models, including the in-development A350 XWB.
iPad App Planned for Sagem C-FOQA
HMM Aviation will deploy Sagem's C-FOQA (corporate-flight operational quality assurance) system in the Middle East market under a letter of intent signed a
Emirates-CAE adds Gainjet contract
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT, Stand C615) announced yesterday that it signed a contract with Athens-based Gainjet Aviation to provide Gulfstream G450
Hadid Looks Eastward for More Flight-handling Business
Hadid International Services (Stand C246) "can be considered a pioneer in its field.
Charter & Fractional
TAG and China First Mandarin Group form business aviation partnership
TAG Aviation Asia and China First Mandarin Group (CFMG) signed a preliminary joint-venture agreement to serve the business aviation market in Asia with air
ABACE rejoins the business aviation show circuit
The Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) will rejoin the business aviation show circuit on February 28 to March 1, 2012 at Hongqiao Airp
FBOs
Signature Evaluating Middle East FBO Market at MEBA
FBO chain Signature Flight Support, with 103 facilities around the world, is interested in opening a Middle East FBO, said Steve Gulvin, regional vice pres
FBOs
Bahrain AOC set for TAG Aviation
TAG Aviation is in the final stages of receiving an air operator's certificate from the Kingdom of Bahrain and expects the AOC to be issued by the end of t
Charter & Fractional
Jetallliance East launches Russia charter operations
Jetalliance East has launched charter operations in Russia and the CIS.
Aircraft
MENA means growth for Hawker Beechcraft
Soaring sales of its business aircraft family have prompted Hawker Beechcraft to enlist ExecuJet Aviation to boost its product support network here in the
Charter & Fractional
Spot Air Sees Charter Growth
Air charter group Spot Air is expanding its services into additional European countries after experiencing significant growth during the past two years.
Jeppesen Mobile TC: The World at Your Fingers
Jeppesen wasn't the first to offer an iPad app to the aviation market, but its Mobile TC app was worth the wait.
MEBAA welcomes MEBA show growth
The fourth Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show is off to a strong start, with exhibitor numbers climbing more than 40 percent from 2008 and registere
Charter & Fractional
Rizon To Manage Airbus Corporate Jetliner
Rizon Jet will manage and operate a new Airbus Corporate Jetliner for an undisclosed Aranian Gulf customer.
Aircraft
Aviation Partners' Winglets Wing Their Way to MEBA
Visitors to the MEBA static display will see some Dassault Falcon business jets equipped with Aviation Partners, Inc.
A Trend or Golden Opportunity?
The grand opening on September 29 of Signature Flight Support’s new FBO at California’s Fresno Yosemite International Airport was an interesting move.
Aircraft
Brazil midair Legacy finally returns to U.S.
The Embraer Legacy 600 involved in the midair with a Gol Transportes Aéreos Boeing 737 on Sept.
FBOs
Touching Bases FBO Profile: Port City Air
When the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, N.H., was converted into a civil airport in the early 1990s, Bob Jesurum, a computer hardware and softw
FBOs
First SMS NPRM released
The FAA’s first notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on safety management systems (SMS) was published on October 7 and will require Part 139 airports to
FBOs
Touching Bases: TWC and ACM set purchase deal
Van Nuys, Calif.-based TWC Aviation signed a binding agreement to acquire ACM Aviation, a worldwide aircraft management and charter firm based in San Jose,
FBOs
Touching Bases: TEB Honors Good-Neighbor OPS
Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (TEB) honored 24 company flight departments and individuals with its annual Good Neighbor Awards at the NBAA Conventio
FBOs
Touching Bases: City of Sugar Land rebrands FBO
Sugar Land Regional Airport near Houston has renamed its FBO Global Select.
