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
Ambassador Jet Center opens Condo Hangars
Ambassador Jet Center, based at Dallas Executive Airport (formerly Redbird), has completed the first of three new hangar facilities.
Environment
FBOs join Avfuel network
Avfuel announced that Colorado Springs FBO Colorado jetCenter has joined its dealer network.
Rotorcraft
Heli-Expo Preview 2010
Spirits were high and attendance reached a healthy 15,243 at Heli-Expo’10, held February 21 to 23 in Houston.
Aircraft
Hearing Today To Decide on China Bid for Epic Air Assets
An evidentiary hearing was scheduled today to determine the winner of an auction held last Friday for the assets of bankrupt Epic Air and its sister compan
FBOs
Olympics boost traffic at Vancouver FBOs
The three FBOs located at Canada’s Vancouver International Airport each managed hundreds of operations during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Revue Thommen redesigns Russian searchlight
Revue Thommen of Waldenburg, Switzerland, has signed a licensing agreement with Russian firm Transas for redesign and manufacture of the Transas hel
FBOs
AIN FBO Survey: The Americas 2010
Download the complete report2010_AIN_FBO Survey_The Americas.pdf
Regulations and Government
Stage 2 Aircraft To Be Phased Out at Van Nuys
The Los Angeles City Council voted on February 26 to ban Stage 2 aircraft from operating at Van Nuys (Calif.), phasing out these noisier jets over the next
Charter & Fractional
Marty Guinoo Steps In As New Sentient Jet CEO
Sentient Jet announced today that Marty Guinoo is taking over as CEO, replacing Steve Hankin, who has left the company for a new job as managing director o
Aircraft
Harlow Aero in Bid To Buy Epic Air Assets
Phillip Friedman, CEO of Harlow Aerostructures of Wichita, is vying to buy the assets of bankrupt aircraft developer Epic Air.
FBOs
Vancouver FBOs Celebrate Olympic Success
Canada’s Vancouver International Airport had its “busiest day in history” when general aviation travelers departed after closing ceremonies of the 2010 Win
Safety
Hearing Pushes FAA To Speed Icing Safety Regulations
The House aviation subcommittee yesterday held a hearing on aircraft icing to address issues brought to light by the NTSB’s recent “Most Wanted” list of “u
Crowds Come Out for Busy Houston Heli-Expo
Nearly 15,000 attendees filled the exhibit hall at the George R.
FBOs
OCTAGON’s ECOFLO OFFERS GREEN DE-ICER FLUID
Responding to new Environmental Protection Agency guidelines that could eventually become law, Octagon Process has developed a Type 1 de-icer fluid that us
Airports
NATA UPDATES TETERBORO ONLINE TRAINING
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has updated its online Teterboro Airport training tool, which covers critical safety information for pil
Airports
DHL TO DONATE AIRPORT TO COUNTY
Deutsche Post DHL announced on January 19 that it has agreed with Ohio’s Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA) to donate DHL’s former Air Hub/Wilmingto
FBOs
PASSUR’S OPSNET INTEGRATES AIRPORT INFO
Ten North American airports have contracted for or are already managing field-condition reporting using Passur Aerospace’s OpsNet system.
ATC
PC-based RVR system receives FAA approval
The FAA has approved Vaisala’s AviMet PC-based runway visual range (RVR) system for use by FAA ATC facilities in the U.S.
FBOs
PHILLIPS 66 ADDS GLACIER JET
Glacier Jet Center at Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Mont., is now a Phillips 66 fuel dealer.
FBOs
SIGNATURE LUTON TESTS VIDEO IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Signature Flight Support is working with the UK Border Agency and Technology Store to test a new system allowing processing of international passengers 24/
Environment
STAINLESS TANKS A FIRST FOR US AVIATION
US Aviation in Denton, Texas, is the first FBO in the U.S.
Airports
HOUSTON EXECutive AIRPORT ADDS SECOND HANGAR
Privately owned and operated Houston Executive Airport has added a second corporate hangar to its FBO facility.
FBOs
DB Aviation renames FBO, expands charter fleet
DB Aviation, a Chicago-area FBO and charter operator based at Waukegan Regional Airport, has renamed its FBO DB Flight Center.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
ARGUS OFFERS OPERATORS FREE TRIPCHEQ REPORTS
Charter operators that are rated by Argus can now run free TripCheq reports for any aircraft listed on that operator’s DO85.
Airports
FAA REJECTS VENICE DOWNGRADE REQUEST
The FAA has rejected a request by the city of Venice, Fla., to downgrade the Venice airport reference code (ARC) to B-II from the existing C-II.
FBOs
SheltAir names Group president, hires COO for FBO chain
Holland SheltAir Aviation Group has promoted 24-year company veteran John Schmatz to president and recently hired Daniel Walsh as COO of the 13-FBO chain.
FBOs
CRAIG FBOs FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST JACKSONVILLE
Two Craig (Florida) Airport FBOs– Craig Air Center and Sky Harbor–have filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, accusing the city of restricting p
