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
Aircraft
Eclipse Aerospace Reopens Shuttered ABQ Facility
On Tuesday morning at Albuquerque International Airport, Mason Holland and Michael Press were joined by Albuquerque mayor Martin Chávez to celebrate the re
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Seeks Analysis of Major/Minor STC Changes
The FAA has issued a draft
FBOs
FBO Chain Profile: Avantair
Camarillo Airport in Southern California is one of those airports that reveals its treasures as visitors either drive or fly in, starting with the hulk of
Safety
AvFuel offering fire safety training
On October 13 and 14, Avfuel is holding a quality-assurance and fire-safety seminar at the Avflight FBO at Capital City Airport in Lansing, Mich.
FBOs
Ocean Sky hosts open travelers
FBO Ocean Sky Jet Centre hosted 74 aircraft that traveled to Prestwick Airport for the short drive to the British Open at Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, where f
Airports
Three hangars destroyed at Kansas airport
Hurricane-strength winds destroyed three hangars at Salina Airport in Kansas on August 10, but luckily there were no aircraft in the hangars during the sto
Airports
DCA gateway airports added
The Transportation Security Administration has added Richmond Jet Center at Richmond International Airport in Virginia and Executive Beechcraftat Spi
Regulations and Government
NFPA backs down on hangar sprinkler requirements
The National Fire Protection Association’s technical committee on airport facilities has dropped a proposed requirement for automatic sprinkler systems in
Avionics
FlightAware introduces free online flight planner
The flight planner available on Flight-Aware’s Web site is still in pre-release beta form, and FlightAware is asking users to submit feedback.
Safety
AmSafe touts airbag seatbelts for airliners and business aircraft
After successfully developing the market for airbag inflatable seatbelts in new and existing light aircraft, Phoenix Ariz.-based AmSafe Aviation is targeti
Airports
Bizav Services at Ireland West
Ireland West Airport Knock on the country’s west coast is aiming to provide low-cost services to business aviation traffic transiting between Europe and th
Aircraft
In The Works: Stratos Aircraft - 714
Stratos Aircraft is also targeting the four-seat VLJ market, but its entry has one engine, a 3,030-pound-thrust Williams International FJ44-3AP, and more a
Aircraft
In The Works: Epic Aircraft Dynasty, Elite, Victory, Escape
Epic Aircraft’s plan to transition from the kit-built market to certified aircraft has suffered a setback.
Aircraft
In The Works: GP Aerospace - GP210
Brazil-based GP Aerospace is trying to raise $10 million to build a flying prototype of the company’s GP210 very light jet.
Aircraft
In The Works: Comp Air - CA-12, CA-9
Comp Air is still planning to certify its single-engine turboprop CA-12, but has not yet formally applied to the FAA for a type certificate.
Training and Workforce
King Schools offers online Part 135 course
King Schools has added a new course–Part 135 initial and recurrent training–to its series of professional online courses.
Aircraft
Epic Air To File for Bankruptcy
In a hearing of the lawsuit filed by Blue Sky Avgroup against k
EAA AirVenture 2009
That the annual EAA AirVenture show offers a mouth-watering and impossible-to-swallow cornucopia of everything aviation was never more evident than at this
Charter & Fractional
Start-up fractional Jet Republic topples
Jet Republic, which last year announced a plan to buy up to 110 Bombardier Learjet 60XRs and launc
Consequences from Hudson River Midair Continue
Following the August 8 fatal midair over the Hudson River VFR corridor between a single-engine Piper Lance and a Liberty Helicopters AStar, the FAA has ini
Boisture Makes More Changes at Hawker Beechcraft
Last week Hawker Beechcraft chairman and CEO Bill Boisture warned employees that due to “significant economic challenges…we are making a host of difficult
Charter & Fractional
Frax Firm Jet Republic Suspended, Orders Cancelled
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has “terminated its firm and conditional order purchase agreement with Jet Republic.” The cancellation removes
Class-action Lawsuit Targets Textron, Cessna Backlog
The City of Roseville Employees’ Retirement System has filed a class-action complaint “on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated” alleging that
Jobs Forum Highlights GA Impact in Arkansas
At the General Aviation Jobs for Arkansas Forum held last week at a hangar at Dassault Falcon’s facility at Little Rock National Airport, politicians joine
SEC Charges Brantley Capital with Securities Fraud
Robert Pinkas, Tab Keplinger and Brantley Capital Management (BCM) have been charged “with securities fraud for overvaluing assets in an investment portfol
Environment
Flight departments develop belt-tightening strategies
Pilots spend an extraordinary amount of time worrying about their jobs, and this is understandable, given the dramatic cutbacks in business aircraft travel
Aircraft
Epic Doors Closed as Founder Disappears
Epic Aircraft’s facility in Bend, Ore., has been locked shut and company founder, chairman and CEO Rick Schrameck seems to have disappeared.
