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
Cirrus Visionary Alan Klapmeier Leaving Company
Although Cirrus Aircraft fielded a large display at EAA AirVenture last week in Oshkosh, Wis., notably missing from the Cirrus exhibit area and Cirrus’s pr
Maintenance and Modifications
PMA Issued for Replacement Airbus Pitot Probes
The FAA issued Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) to Aero-Instruments yesterday for a replacement pitot probe that can be installed on the more than 4,500 A
Aircraft
Eclipse Aerospace in Final Push for Eclipse Assets
The trustee in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings for Eclipse Aviation late last week asked the bankruptcy court to approve the sale of the former very l
Avionics
Avidyne Adds New FMS to Avionics Line
At EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., this week, Avidyne introduced its new low-cost FMS400, which provides flight management system functionality but withou
Charter & Fractional
Sunset Aviation Rebrands, Relaunches as Solairus
As of tomorrow, charter/management company Sunset Aviation LLC officially becomes Solairus Aviation.
Aircraft
AIN 2009 Product Support Survey - Part 1: Aircraft
Aircraft manufacturers last year were struggling to build their service networks and capabilities to help a growing number of operators worldwide keep thei
Sonex Testing Market for Jet-powered Sportplane
Sonex Aircraft brought what might be the only new jet-powered aircraft to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.–a research-and-development project intended to ev
Avionics
Honeywell Adds ACE EFB to AV8OR Handheld Line
Honeywell on Sunday introduced a new handheld EFB navigator with a large seven-inch touchscreen display and geo-referenced IFR charts.
Airports
Santa Monica ban cannot stand, FAA rules
The FAA issued a 57-page opinion early last month affirming its decision that the City of Santa Monica, Calif., does not have the ability to prevent certai
FBOs
Bizav busy at South Africa FBOs
ExecuJet Aviation’s South African FBOs have received a welcome boost in traffic handled over the past couple of months.
FBOs
Millville Jet Center closes
New Jersey FBO and maintenance provider Millville Jet Center closed its doors last month.
Airports
Front range airport welcomes Denver traffic
Traffic at Front Range Airport in Watkins, Colo., has grown rapidly, according to airport executive director of aviation Dennis Heap, due to seasonal closi
FBOs
Signature MIA offers private hangar
Signature Flight Support’s Miami International Airport (MIA) base has a private hangar available, perfect for a large flight department, according to a com
FBOs
First Santiago FBO to open next month
Business aircraft heading for the Chilean capital of Santiago will have a new FBO from September with the opening of GDS Aviación at the city’s Arturo Meri
FBOs
Total FBO offers first PCI compliance
FBOs and aviation service providers will soon have to stop using credit card processing services that are not compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI
Avionics
Garmin GPSmap 696 is a versatile handheld navigator
Garmin’s GPSmap 696 is a capable and feature-filled portable GPS navigator that doubles as a Class 1 or 2 electronic flight bag (EFB) with the ability to d
Charter & Fractional
More FAA oversight possible for Part 135
FAA scrutiny of on-demand Part 135 charter operators may increase following a report issued July 13 by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspect
Klapmeier team vying to buy Cirrus program
Alan Klapmeier, chairman of Cirrus Aircraft, has formed a team to raise funds to try to buy the Vision SF50 single-engine personal-very-light-jet program f
Charter & Fractional
IG Report Accuses FAA of Inadequate Charter Oversight
In a report on the on-demand Part 135 charter industry
Security
Congressional Hearing Addresses GA Security
Yesterday, at a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, general aviation proponents had an opportu
Prices Dropping, but Used Bizjet Inventory Stabilizing
According to JP Morgan Global Equity Research’s latest Business Jet Monthly report, June used business jet inventories remained stable at 14.4 percent of t
Charter & Fractional
CitationShares Reduces Staff to Match Flight Activity
On Tuesday, fractional-share operator CitationShares laid off 41 office staff and furloughed 52 pilots, according to CEO Steve O’Neill, “to match both the
Aircraft
Embraer embarks on next phase of 450/500 program
Embraer engineers have begun the next phase in development of the Legacy 450 midlight and Legacy 500 midsize jets, having completed the joint definition ph
Airports
Ramp repaires under way at Nashua’s Boire Field
At Boire Field in Nashua, N.H., the terminal ramp is undergoing a major resurfacing, including installation of subsurface wiring, extended drainage and rep
FBOs
New Bahrain FBO company formed
Bahrain-based Bexair has launched a new company called Aventura Air Center to “own, operate and manage its FBO in Bahrain and expand FBO operations through
FBOs
Ronson Aviation asset sale
Hawthorne TTN Holdings has agreed to purchase assets of Ronson Aviation at Trenton-Mercer Airport in Trenton, N.J.
