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
FBOs
Touching Bases: Rectrix expands footprint at Sarasota Airport
Rectrix Commercial Aviation Service signed a lease for four additional acres adjacent to its Hangarminium facilities and Rectrix Aerodrome Center FBO at Fl
Airports
Touching bases: Cargo Operations begin at dubai world central
Cargo traffic began operations at Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport in late June, marking the opening of Dubai’s second airport.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Gwinnett County Sseek to privatize Briscoe Field
The FAA has approved plans by Georgia’s Gwinnett County to privatize Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, Ga.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Local airport authority
takes over wilmington airparkDeutsche Post DHL has officially deeded the Wilmington Air Park in Ohio to the Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA), which is
FBOs
Touching Bases: Local airport authority
takes over wilmington airparkDeutsche Post DHL has officially deeded the Wilmington Air Park in Ohio to the Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA), which is
FBOs
Touching Bases: Three FBOs join Avfuel Network
El Aero Services, with FBOs in Carson City and Elko, Nev., has joined the Avfuel dealer network.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Million Air opens in Moses Lake
Million Air’s newest franchised FBO, Million Air Moses Lake, Wash., celebrated its grand opening on July 10.
Avionics
406-MHZ ELTs test themselves
Although the FAA does not specifically require 406-MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) for U.S.-registered aircraft, it seems inevitable that owners
Maintenance and Modifications
Hot section: Western Jet Adds Reno Facility
Later this year, Gulfstream maintenance provider Western Jet will open a new facility at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Aircraft
Product Support Survey 2010 Part 1: Aircraft
Gulfstream once again takes the number one slot for jets (those built in the U.S.); Hawker Beechcraft takes the top spot among newer turboprops.
Avionics
Garmin, Avidyne Let the Servos Do the Flying
Garmin announced yesterday at EAA AirVenture that its new electronic stability and protection (ESP) stability augmentation system will be available on G100
Aircraft
Piper’s New Leader Jump Starts PiperJet Program
According to Piper Aircraft’s recently appointed executive vice president, Randy Groom, a year ago only 12 people were actively working on the single-engin
Aircraft
AIN 2010 Product Support Survey: Part One - Aircraft
How the Survey Was AdministeredContinued weakness in the business aviation market appears to be reflected in a low response rate to the 2010 <
Boeing’s test-center group maintains a busy schedule
Boeing’s Test and Evaluation (T&E) division is spread out over 78 locations, but testing is done at many more locations, including at suppliers and oth
Service-ready team prepares Dreamliner
As certification of the 787 Dreamliner approaches at the end of this year and launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) prepares to take delivery of its fir
Boeing’s new care program is worth its weight in gold
With the advent of the 787 Dreamliner, touted as a “flying WiFi hotspot” chock full of useful data that will be passed along to airline maintenance and eng
Boeing brings blue-sky interior to 737
After launching its new Sky Interior for the 737 airliner last year, Boeing has sold more than 37 customers on the new interior for more than 1,100 firm or
Airports
NBAA Members Tell TSA DCA Access Unworkable
NBAA vice president for safety, security and regulation Doug Carr, representatives from five NBAA member companies and other industry groups met with Brian
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA Awards STC for Soloy LTS101 Helo Mod
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) awarded a supplemental type certificate (STC) to Soloy Aviation Solutions for conversion of Eurocopter AS350BA h
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Revises Alternate Compliance Approval Process
The FAA has issued a draft revised Order 8110.103A with new information about how agency personnel process alternative methods of compliance (Amoc) request
Safety
Techs Need Help with Fatigue Issues, Too
While it seems that most of the focus on fatigue issues is on pilots, the FAA is concerned about maintenance technician fatigue and has taken steps to educ
Maintenance and Modifications
Cessna Aids Special Olympics with Mobile Service
Citation owners who donate the use of their jets to fly participants in this year’s Special Olympics USA National Games to Lincoln, Neb., can rest assured
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
ARSA Mx Liability Insurance Group Licensed
The Aeronautical Repair Station’s efforts to create a risk-retention group to provide commercial liability insurance for its members is closer to fruition.
FBOs
FBO PROFILE: AAR Aircraft Services
For many years, AAR Aircraft Services has operated the sole FBO at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport, and it seems that activity is heating up at <
FBOs
Touching Bases
MILLION AIR OPENS FACILITY IN SAN BERNARDINO
The newest facility in the Million Air FBO franchise chain has opened at San Bernardino Internat
ATC
Despite quirks, the iPad shines in bizav cockpits
Apple’s new iPad tablet computer is enjoying instant popularity, with more than two million of the $499-and-up units selling since deliveries began in earl
Safety
APG Offers Part 91 Performance-analysis Software
Aircraft Performance Group (APG) cofounder Rogers Hemphill believes that the business aviation industry is moving into a new era of applying technology to
Safety
Author urges close look at Part 91 runway data
Aircraft performance is a subject that many pilots dread, during both preflight planning and post-lunch ground school sessions in stuffy classrooms when th
FBOs
ALLFBO develops web booking service
Chase Larabee has launched a new Web-based service called AllFBO.com to eliminate the problem of pilots showing up at an FBO only to find that the customer
