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
Safety
Harco Probes Still Causing Eclipse Airspeed Problems
The FAA yesterday issued Airworthiness Directive 2008-19-01 warning that some Harco Labs pitot/angle-of-attack (AOA) probes are causing airspeed disagree c
Security
FAA Must Pay in Lost Case Against Corporate Pilots
The NTSB’s chief administrative law judge on September 3 ordered the FAA to pay $12,475 in attorney fees and expenses to two pilots, whom the Agency had ac
Maintenance and Modifications
‘Red Hot’ Bizav Maintenance Market Set To Soar
Consulting firm AeroStrategy sees a huge bump in business aircraft maintenance needs by 2012, due mainly to large numbers of deliveries during recent years
FAA, Congress Turn a Critical Eye to Eclipse 500
Since August 11, the FAA has been conducting a special certification review (SCR) of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, the agency announced on August 20.
FBOs
Visit Galaxy MCO, get a gift card
Galaxy Aviation is offering Visa gift cards to pilots who visit the company’s new FBO terminal and hangar facility during this year’s NBAA Convention (Octo
Eclipse Aviation Splits Into Two Divisions
As part of its “operational excellence strategy” to finish incomplete customer-delivered airplanes, improve production efficiency, fulfill overdue payments
Charter & Fractional
FAA Fishing for Sentient/TAG Connection
The FAA Eastern Region counsel’s office is trying to find out if employees of the former Sentient Jet Holdings were connected via payroll and other systems
FBOs
Big Sky joins AvFuel network
Pilots can earn double Avtrip points from Avfuel’s new dealer, Big Sky Aviation.
FBOs
A new FBO for Livermore
The underutilized Livermore Airport near California’s San Francisco Bay Area might yet see development of a new FBO.
FBOs
...and Yosemite's green solar system
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is reaping 40 percent of its energy requirements from a solar panel installation at the airport, the largest such sys
FBOs
New Hangar under construction at Republic
The Northeastern group of companies, which bills itself as a “specialty services operator” because it isn’t an FBO (no fuel service), is building a new han
FBOs
Castle & Cooke tops list for new VNY FBO
The empty Garrett Jet Center at Van Nuys Airport should finally see a new tenant.
Airports
Bangor International celebrates 40 years
Maine’s Bangor International Airport celebrates four decades of commercial air service this year.
FBOs
Atlantic renovates FBOs at Midway and Nashville
The freshly refurbished FBO terminal at Atlantic’s Chicago Midway FBO is now open, featuring an extensively redesigned passenger waiting area with improved
FBOs
Jet Source buys Western
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Jet Source has purchased competing FBO Western Flight, adding another 30,000 sq ft of hangar space and the airport’s largest ramp to
Security
Kaiserair adds Santa Rosa FBO
After managing and operating the Apex Aviation FBO at Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif., since January, Kaiserair has purchased the FBO and begun
Security
Family sells Jimsair to Landmark
The Bracamonte family sold the historic Jimsair Aviation Services FBO at San Diego International Airport to Landmark Aviation on July 18, bringing the Land
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Issues New Guidance for PMA Holders
The FAA is looking for comments from the industry on a revision of Order 8120.2, production approval and certification management procedures.
Maintenance and Modifications
StandardAero Leader Change Signals New Strategy
StandardAero’s August 21 announcement that Rob Mionis has assumed the job of president and CEO of the turbine engine overhaul and business aircraft mainten
Safety
ATSB Advises Operators To Check Oxygen Bottles
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued a safety advisory following the rapid depressurization of a Qantas Boeing 747-400 on July 25, urgi
Safety
Repeat Drug Testees Subject to ‘Direct Observation’
The FAA has revised drug and alcohol testing procedures, specifically requiring “direct observation” in all return-to-duty and follow-up drug tests.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airctaft maintenance goes high-tech
To see where business jet maintenance is headed, just look at mechanics’ toolboxes.
Airports
City Brief Says FAA Wrong about SMO Limits
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., expects that the next step in its ongoing battle over runway restrictions at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) will be oral argu
Aircraft
In business class, A380 provides plenty of luxury
It was a short flight, two-and-a-half hours over the Pacific Ocean, but even that amount of time was enough to learn that business-class seats in an Emirat
Charter & Fractional
JetSuite uses low-cost airlines as a model for charter service
A new jet ownership and charter business called JetSuite is preparing to take delivery of its first Phenom 100 next April and has unveiled details about it
Charter & Fractional
Sentient restructures as two separate businesses
The day before Sentient Jet Holdings chairman and CEO Gregory Campbell announced a restructuring of the company into two distinct entities, one of which wi
Charter & Fractional
Post-Vernal Eclipse faces myriad challenges
Eclipse Aviation supplier Albany International revealed on August 19 that Eclipse “has indicated that it was substantially reducing production of the Eclip
Ogden Facility Still On for Jet Aviation
The news that General Dynamics is planning to purchase Jet Aviation for $2.25 billion doesn’t affect the latter’s plans to open a new $6.9 million Midcoast
