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
Charter & Fractional
Citing Recession, Flight Options Furloughs More Pilots
In a letter sent to all pilots and flight attendants last Wednesday, Flight Options vice president of flight operations Bob Tyler announced furloughs that
Maintenance and Modifications
Despite Economy, Tech Demand Remains High
Aviation jobs listing service JSFirm reported record postings for aviation professionals last year, with more than 4,000 company members, 60,000 individual
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Revises Carbon Brake De-icer Fluid SAIB
The FAA has issued a revision of Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin NM-08-27 to more accurately reflect information developed by the SAE G-12F cata
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA Grants 145 Approval to Aerospace Welding Minneapolis
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted Part 145 approval to Aerospace Welding Minneapolis, based in Eagan, Minn.
Maintenance and Modifications
BBA Relocates Phoenix Regional Turbine Center
Dallas Airmotive, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company, has moved its Phoenix regional turbine center from Scottsdale Airpark to a new f
Aircraft
Eclipse Aviation Auction Takes Place Tomorrow
The public auction for the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by the bankruptcy court’s selection of the winner on Fri
Maintenance and Modifications
Revised AMT Training Award Program Launches Soon
The FAA’s new online aviation maintenance technician (AMT) awards program should be available shortly on the FAA Safety Team Web site.
Maintenance and Modifications
AirCare Expands Into EMS Equipment Mx Market
AirCare Solutions Group, which provides emergency training, products and services to business aviation and airline operators, purchased Majestic Aerotech,
Maintenance and Modifications
Cabin Innovations Formed from Yankee Pacific Merger
Yankee Pacific Aerospace has merged two of its holdings–Executive Aircraft Completions (EAC) and Cabin Innovations–into a single division called Cabin Inno
Maintenance and Modifications
AAR Hires FAA Maintenance Division Chief David Cann
David Cann, the FAA’s former chief of the Flight Standards Service’s aircraft maintenance division, is now vice president of regulatory compliance for airc
Maintenance and Modifications
HBS Opens in Mesa, Closing VNY Service Center
Hawker Beechcraft Services will become the second major business jet OEM service center to leave California when it closes its Van Nuys Airport facility on
Piper Delaying Second Phase of Financial Incentives
Piper Aircraft has notified local Indian River County and Florida state authorities that it is
Avionics
Honeywell offers low-cost handheld GPS
Except for some early models, Honeywell’s Bendix/King division hasn’t in recent years focused on the market for GPS handheld navigators.
FBOs
Conglomerate’s FBOs retain their individuality
Jeffrey Ross is at the helm of an unusual conglomeration of FBOs, a quasi-chain of 12 facilities that retain their original brand names instead of adopting
FBOs
Avcard now accepted at Signature
Signature Flight Support and Avcard have implemented a contract fuel discount program at Signature FBOs in the U.S.
FBOs
Universal unveils updated online flight planner
Universal Weather & Aviation has released a new version of the online UVflightplanner.com service with improved functionality.
FBOs
Moses Lake gets new Million Air
Freeman Holdings, owner of five Million Air FBO franchises, has purchased the former Air America Fuel & Services FBO at Grant County International Airp
FBOs
Renovated landmark HPN opens
On December 10, Landmark Aviation celebrated the grand opening of the FBO chain’s newly renovated FBO at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.
FBOs
NATA launches new FBO seminars
The National Air Transportation Association’s new seminar series, “How to Build a More Successful FBO,” got off to a strong start with the first of the two
FBOs
Samaritan 206 drops in at Business Jet Center
The Business Jet Center FBO at Love Field in Dallas had an unusual visitor on November 12, a Cessna 206 on a nationwide tour before traveling to Papua New
FBOs
New runway ready at Cobb County
The widening and repaving project at Cobb County-McCollum Airport in Kennesaw, Ga., was completed early last month, and the runway is now 6,305 feet long a
FBOs
Three FBOs join Avfuel Network
The Million Air FBO at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, N.Y., is now an Avfuel dealer.
FBOs
Rectrix opens second FBO
Rectrix Aerodrome Centers has opened a second FBO, at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida, which joins the company’s first FBO in Hyannis,
FBOs
Davis flight completes remodel
Avfuel dealer Davis Flight Support has remodeled its Yolo County, Calif.
FBOs
Odyssey new name for seven FBOs
Seven former Million Air FBOs have joined in a marketing partnership with Odyssey Aviation Bahamas to form a new Odyssey Aviation FBO network.
Aircraft
In the Works: Outlook good for major OEMs’ programs, but the future is hazier for smaller firms
In many ways, last year was an extraordinary year for business aviation, with a record of more than 1,000 jet deliveries but also a large number of new jet
Aircraft
On the heels of EASA certification, Eclipse files for bankruptcy protection
Eclipse Aviation filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S.
Regulations and Government
TSA seeks comment on LASP
The February 27 deadline for comments about the Transportation Security Administration’s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) rules proposal is rapidly a
NBAA Recalibrates LBA2009 Conference
The inaugural NBAA Light Business Airplane Conference (LBA2009) scheduled in March in San Diego will be held over the course of two days (March 13 and 14)
Safety
NTSB: Don’t Wait For Ice Buildup Before Inflating Boots
The NTSB released a new safety alert warning pilots not to wait for ice to build before inflating de-
