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
Air Routing adds fuel analyzer
Flight planning and trip-handling company Air Routing has released a fuel stop analyzer as part of its new online Trip Quotes service.
FBOs
New hangar at Houston Exec
Privately owned Houston Executive Airport in Texas has experienced enough demand to justify building a new 23,400-sq-ft corporate hangar.
Aurora honors Wes Lematta
Oregon’s legislature voted to honor Columbia Helicopters founder and chairman Wes Lematta by renaming Aurora Airport Wes Lematta Field at the Aurora State
FBOs
Destin Jet opens FBO terminal
After completing a new hangar last November, Destin Jet on Florida’s Emerald Coast opened its new 6,000-sq-ft FBO terminal in April and held a grand-openin
FBOs
Signature, AviaPartner develop in Nice
Signature Flight Support and AviaPartner will jointly develop an FBO at Nice Airport in France.
FBOs
FBO Profile: Mac Dan Aircraft
A small New Jersey Airport that is growing in popularity as a destination for New York City-bound travelers will likely become even more popular as pilots
FBOs
Paradise hanger for sale in Las Vegas
A few years ago, finding an empty hangar at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was impossible, but now one of the hangars in the Paradise Aviation
FBOs
Grand opening for Loyd's Aviation
Loyd’s Aviation at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, Calif., celebrated the grand opening of its new FBO location and introduced a new name, Bakersfiel
Airports
Branson Airport is open
The new Branson Airport in Missouri held a grand opening in May, and the privately owned and -financed airport opened its doors to general aviation traffic
FBOs
Flightline First is newest FBO at Lakefront
The aviation scene is improving at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, with renovation of the famous terminal building under way, construction of a new Odyss
Airports
Lifting the veil: flight department welcomes public
It shouldn’t be news that a corporate flight department is inviting the public to a day of fun at the local airport, but in an era when users of private je
Aircraft
In the works: Epic Aircraft-Elegance, Genesis
At the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., in April, Epic Aircraft launched a pair of turbine twins.
Aircraft
In the works:Dornier Seaplane-Seastar
Dornier Seaplane exhibited its all-composite Seastar amphibian at the Canadian Business Aviation Association show in Montreal in late May, showing off fres
Aircraft
In the works: Cessna-Citation CJ4
Cessna joined the wings and fuselage of the third CJ4 in mid-May, marking major assembly of the first CJ4 in Cessna’s new assembly line using production to
Aircraft
EASA Suspends Eclipse 500 Type Certificate
The European Aviation Safety Agency earlier this month suspended the European type certificate (TC) held by bankrupt Eclipse Aviation.
Avionics
More on Honeywell’s EGPWS Front
Honeywell is offering a new product called “long landing”–an EGPWS software solution, in addition to its new SmartLanding.
Avionics
SmartLanding software adds approach guidance to EGPWS
The verdict has been in for a long time: a stabilized approach is an essential part of a safe landing.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Aviation Insurance
In an economy that has ravaged aviation, one stable segment is the insurance industry, but change is coming.
Regulations and Government
High cost of hangar fire codes
If they didn’t already know it, attendees at the NATA FBO Leadership Conference held last month in Chantilly, Va., learned that fire codes set by the Natio
Where have all the (JetDirect) people gone?
Now that JetDirect Aviation has closed and gone bankrupt and Wayfarer Aviation has arisen from the JetDirect assets, former employees of the once high-flyi
Security
TSA may change LASP
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) appears to be taking seriously the 7,000-plus submitted comments opposing the proposed large aircraft secu
Safety
DHS IG raps TSA for its anti-GA campaign
General aviation operations present such a limited and hypothetical threat to security that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not need
Aircraft
Klapmeier Team Vying To Buy Cirrus Jet Program
Alan Klapmeier, chairman of Cirrus Aircraft, has formed a team to raise funds to try to buy the Vision SF50 single-engine jet program from majority Cirrus
Airports
FAA To Decide Burbank Noise Curfew Fate by November 1
The FAA has acknowledged that the application by the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA)
Maintenance and Modifications
Comeaux Pleads No Contest in Parts Scheme
Last year Jerry Roy Comeaux and his wife, Vicki, were indicted for “conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud involving aircraft parts, mail fraud, wire fraud, con
Regulations and Government
FOIA Request Seeks List of BARR Participants
A December 2008 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by investigative journalism organization
Security
DHS Report: No Need for TSA to Regulate GA Security
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General released a report on “TSA’s Role in General Aviation Security” that concludes: “We determ
Maintenance and Modifications
AircraftLogs Adds Maintenance Features
Features added to the online aircraft tracking system AircraftLogs include a new meter-reading capability that allows users to update and adjust Hobbs and
