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
Training and Workforce
Mechanics Are Winners at Mx Skills Contest
At the Aviation Industry Expo held from March 10 to 12 in Las Vegas, 15 teams of maintenance technicians vied for top honors in the second annual maintenan
Safety
Fatal crash shines light on in-flight icing danger
The crash of Colgan Air/Continental Connection Flight 3407 (a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400) on February 2 has again raised the same issues about in-flight icing
Charter & Fractional
Private-equity Firms Increase Stake in Flight Options
Directional Capital and Resilience Capital Partners have increased their financial stake in fractional-share operator Flight Options and now own a majority
Online help for aviation-job seekers
Times are tough and layoffs are widespread.
FBOs
New Management Installed at Sebring Flight Center
ABS Aviation Management Services has taken over management of Sebring Flight Center at Sebring Regional Airport in Florida, which recently joined the Avfue
Airports
Blue Grass Airport Closes 2006 Accident Runway
Kentucky’s Blue Grass Airport closed Runway 8-26 and has begun building a replacement crosswind runway that will be named 9-27 and will extend 500 feet lon
FBOs
Signature Event Raises Funds for Children's Charity
Signature Flight Support’s ongoing “Cultivate and Celebrate” campaign helped raise more than $180,000 to pay for the Hub of Hope, on-site housing for famil
FBOs
L.J. Aviation Adda New Hangar
At its headquarters at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pa., L.J.
Paris Airport Chooses Synthetic Turf for Runway Edges
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has installed FieldTurf synthetic turf on the edges of the Romeo runway.
Airports
German Company Patents Circular Parking System
The circular parking ring system developed by Alto General Aviation Services of Eltville, Germany, has received patent rights from the German patent and tr
Accidents
FAA Releases Winter Airport AC
By April 30, certified airports must submit revised snow- and ice-control plans to the FAA.
FBOs
FBO Profile: Einarson Flying Service
Thor Einarson and his family have endured all sorts of economic ups and downs since Einarson Flying Service was founded at Falls International Airport in I
Environment
AvFuel Adds Havasu Air Center
Havasu Air Center near Arizona’s Lake Havasu has joined the Avfuel dealer network.
FBOs
Fort Lauderdale FBO Celebrates 30th Anniversary
This year, Banyan Air Services is celebrating 30 years of service at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in South Florida.
Airports
New Jet Center Planned for California Airport
Later this year, San Luis Jet Center will begin construction on a new FBO at San Luis County Regional Airport on the Central California coast.
Rotorcraft
Forecasts: down cycle likely, but industry will rebound
Engine manufacturers Honeywell and Rolls-Royce expressed tempered optimism about the helicopter marketplace at February’s Heli-Expo, where each released it
FBOs
FBO Report 2009: Service reigns supreme
Amid a troubling decrease in business aviation operations, FBOs are struggling not only to survive but also to continue serving customers using leaner work
Heli-Expo 2009
The helicopter industry isn’t immune to the terrible trouble affecting the global economy, but if Heli-Expo’09 is any indication, the greater diversity amo
FBOs
FBO chains: big three secure monopolies at major airports
When jet-A prices spiked last year after oil prices rose to new highs, pilots complained that the large FBO chains were taking advantage of monopoly locati
Airports
Santa Monica Airport Part 16 Hearings Held
Last week, the city of Santa Monica, Calif., was defending its stance on trying to keep larger jets from using Santa Monica Airport at an FAA Part 16 heari
Engines
GE Moving Ahead on Ceramic Engine Components
GE Aviation is pushing the engine design envelope with flight testing of ceramic composite com
Charter & Fractional
Get Ready, SMS Is Coming
In February, the FAA chartered a safety management system (SMS) aviation rulemaking committee
Maintenance and Modifications
New Company Formed To Offer Eclipse Maintenance
A group of experienced former Eclipse Aviation workers appears to have launched a company calle
Maintenance and Modifications
JetDirect Sells JetCorp to Flying Colours
JetDirect Aviation this week sold the assets of maintenance provider JetCorp to Flying Colours of Peterborough, Ontario.
Aircraft
Eclipse assets up for grabs
As the liquidation process for the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation drags on, four groups have announced proposals to buy those assets and restart produ
FBOs
2nd Savannah FBO Debuts in SheltAir Soft Opening
SheltAir Aviation Services has opened a new FBO–the 12th in its network–at Georgia’s Savannah-H
TSA Creates GA Liaison To Address Stakeholder Concerns
The TSA has established a stakeholder liaison position dedicated to addressing concerns about recent security measures, including the Large Aircraft Securi
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Finalizes Asset Purchase Agreement
On Monday, JetDirect Aviation and JDA Acquisition Company (JDAAC) solidified an agreement for JDAAC’s purchase of JetDirect’s assets.
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Ready for Embraer Phenom Service
Owners and operators of Embraer Phenom 100s that are entering into service can have their new very light jets serviced at Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Neb.,
