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
Thick anti-icing fluid a safety concern
The FAA issued a safety alert for operators (Safo 01001) warning operators of aircraft with unpowered elevator controls that control forces may increase af
Environment
Lehigh Valley re-ups with AvFuel
Lehigh Valley Aviation Services, based at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa., has renewed its branding agreement with Avfuel.
FBOs
Ocean Sky receives new capital
UK-based business aviation services group Ocean Sky has received a £10 million ($15 million) injection of fresh capital from its private shareholders.
Aircraft
Piaggio’s Jet Well Beyond Initial Concept Stage
It’s no secret that Piaggio Aero has been working on developing a jet, and this work has accelerated with the support of shareholders Tata and Mubadala.
Charter & Fractional
Jetalliance forms venture with Aeroflot for Russian charter
Jetalliance Aviation Group and Aeroflot Russian Airlines have formed a joint-venture company called Jetalliance East to offer charter services within Russi
Cabin Interior and Electronics
An Avro Business Jet Fit for Adventurous Types
BAE Systems has contracted with Design Q to develop five concepts for the Avro Business Jet (ABJ) and revealed the first of the new designs–the ABJ Explore
Aircraft
Design Q designs Avro Business Jets for the explorer set
BAE Systems has contracted with Design Q to develop five concepts for the Avro Business Jet (ABJ) and revealed the first of the new designs yesterday–the A
LHT kit allows cabins to be quick changeable
Lufthansa Technik’s new VIP cabin quick-change kit allows operators to switch a narrowbody commercial airline interior to VIP configuration overnight.
Avionics
SolidFX readers display Jepp charts
Pilots who are tired of carrying around kilos of paper terminal charts might like digital chart readers
Aircraft
HondaJet Program Logs Another Delay
Honda Aircraft this week began notifying HA-420 HondaJet buyers that the program has again been delayed.
Aircraft
Embraer bides its time while building bizjet line
“The economy is getting better this year,” said Claudio Camelier, Embraer vice president of market intelligence executive jets, but it will take some time
Cessna fleet arrives en masse to put rough patch behind it
Cessna Aircraft has brought 10 of the company’s current in-production fleet to the EBACE 2010 static display, including eight Citation jets (Mustang, CJ1+,
Cessna adds Spain service center, mobile service unit in France
Cessna Aircraft will begin construction of its new service center in Valencia, Spain, next January and expects to open it in 2012.
Bombardier Boosts Training Infrastructure
Bombardier’s training network will employ five additional business jet simulators in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East by early next year, according to
Cessna: ‘Long, Slow’ Bizjet Recovery Starting in 2011
“Cessna’s been through a rough 18 months,” said chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton at an EBACE press conference this morning.
Regulations and Government
Smart Parts sales tax not unusual
Operators of Bombardier jets are dismayed because they
Avionics
Garmin’s aera packs plenty in small package
Garmin late last year released a new line of compact handheld GPS units, the aera 500 through 560 series.
Aircraft
In the works: Cessna Aircraft – Citation CJ4
The largest airplane in Cessna’s CitationJet line, the CJ4, received FAA certification on March 12.
Aircraft
In the works: Hawker Beechcraft – Premier II
The Premier II program is making progress, with first flight occurrin
Aircraft
In the Works: Evektor – EV-55 Outback
On March 30, Evektor rolled out its EV-55 Outback, a nine- to 14-seat, high-wing twin turboprop, at the company’s factory in Kunovice, Czech Republic
FBOs
Judge suspends FBO services at Dulles Jet Center facility
Dulles Jet Center, the corporate hangar facility at Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va., which suffered roof collapse due to a massive snowstorm
Aircraft
Chinese firm to buy Epic assets
A bankruptcy judge on April 12 approved an asset purchase agreement between China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA, also known as AVIC General Avi
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA levies civil penalty on ERA Helicopters
The FAA has proposed that ERA Helicopters pay a civil penalty of $260,000 for operating a helicopter on Part 135 flights without complying with required po
Accidents
Accident underscores importance of tire mx
The fatal runway overrun accident of a Learjet 60 on S
Regulations and Government
FAA to issue medicals for pilots taking SSRIs
Policy will allow pilots taking SSRIs to obtain a special issuance medical certificate
Safety
OEMs Advise Cautious Approach to Volcanic Ash
Operators of turbine-powered aircraft must avoid flying through volcanic ash clouds, according to engine and airframe manufacturers, but if ash is encounte
BBA Aviation divisions see slow business in ’09
BBA Aviation’s Aftermarket Services and Systems and Flight Support divisions have weathered the recession with a modest 7-percent drop in revenue for 2009.
FBOs
Bangor shines as go-to airport for transatlantic tech stops
For more than 40 years, Maine’s Bangor International Airport has been the go-to airport for transatlantic flights as the Eastern- most port of entry to the
