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
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Guidance Aids Alterations Approval Process
The FAA has updated guidance provided to field inspectors on how to determine the recommended form of approval for aircraft alterations.
Maintenance and Modifications
FBI: TSA TAT Probe Climb Not a Criminal Act
According to the FBI, federal laws against tampering with aircraft do not apply to the bizarre situation that occurred at Chicago O’Hare Airport on August
Maintenance and Modifications
AIA Launches Effort To Eliminate Counterfeit Parts
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has launched a counterfeit parts “integrated project team” to create standards for government and industry to re
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviation Partners ‘Intensely Interested’ in Spiroids
Years after testing an unusually shaped “spiroid” winglet on a Gulfstream II, Aviation Partners remains “intensely interested” in continuing research into
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Insists on SWA Paying Fine and Penalizes AA
In a move that makes it look as though the FAA is combing through old logbooks to find ways to conduct enforcement actions on commercial operators, the age
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA SAIB: PMA Parts Need COS, Too
Possibly as a result of its Repair, Alteration and Fabrication Team study, the FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SAIB NE-08-40, which r
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Study Critiques OEM Views on Aftermarket
An FAA team explored whether there is a safety and compliance issue with aftermarket repairs and replacement parts made under applicable FAA regulations bu
Maintenance and Modifications
Dassault Opens Fourth Factory-owned Service Center
Dassault Falcon will open a new $6.5 million factory-owned service center at Sorocaba Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, in the fourth quarter, bringing the com
Maintenance and Modifications
Hawker Pax, Crew Stuck in Door Handle Jam
A Hawker 900XP crew recently discovered after landing that a slightly out-of-tolerance closing mechanism can render the cabin door unopenable from inside t
FAA, Congress Turn a Critical Eye to the Eclipse 500
Since August 11, the FAA has been conducting a special certification review (SCR) of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, the agency said today.
Engines
P&WC and Eclipse Probing PW610F Carbon Concern
Pratt & Whitney Canada, manufacturer of the PW610F engine that powers the Eclipse 500 very light jet, and Eclipse Aviation are jointly investigating th
Charter & Fractional
FAA Subpoena Seeks Info from Sentient Leaders
The FAA on August 12 issued subpoenas seeking documents from Sentient Jet Holdings and executives at the charter/management, jet card and business aviation
Maintenance and Modifications
EMTEQ Offers First Chip-On-Board Anti-collision LED
Emteq has received FAA supplemental type certification (STC0359AT) for the industry’s first chip-on-board technology 400-candela anti-collision exterior li
Maintenance and Modifications
Online Logbook System Adds Mx Enhancement
AircraftLogs.com has added new maintenance features to its online logbook system.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bombardier Adds Global Aviation as Service Provider
Global Aviation of Hillsboro, Ore., is now a Bombardier Business Aircraft-authorized AOG/line maintenance facility, strengthening service center coverage o
Aircraft
FAA Issues Revised AD on Eclipse Thrust Levers
In response to a thrust-lever quadrant failure in an Eclipse 500 on June 5, the FAA issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD 2008-13-51) on June 12,
Engines
Standard Aero Breaks Ground on new CF34 Facility
Turbine engine overhauler Standard Aero on Thursday celebrated the ground-breaking of a new 80,000-sq-ft facility at its Winnipeg, Canada headquarters.
Airports
California Legislature Reignites SMO Ban Controversy
The California state legislature added to the debate about the safety of large jet operations at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) by passing a bill that asks the
Maintenance and Modifications
Plastek Launches Acrylic Window Restoration System
Last week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., Plastek CEO Gus Ordonez announced a version of the company’s military window repair and restoration kit for t
Maintenance and Modifications
West Star Aviation Serves Growing Conquest SID Market
Grand Junction, Colo.-based West Star Aviation has completed Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) inspections on 27 Cessna Conquest II twin turboprops, e
Charter & Fractional
FAA Cites Maintenance in Alaska 135 Revocation
On July 24, the FAA issued an emergency order of revocation to LAB Flying Service of Juneau, Alaska, effectively shutting down the 52-year-old air carrier,
Comp Air 12 Aims for Certification and No Kit Version
Merritt Island, Fla.-based Comp Air is moving ahead with plans to certify the Comp Air 12 and will not offer a kit version of the hefty turboprop single, a
Avionics
Avionics Makers Bring More New Products to Oshkosh
Competition for panel space and pilot eyeballs continues to intensify, with avionics manufacturers announcing more new products at EAA AirVenture this week
Rotorcraft
Rolls and GE Unveil New Turboprop Engines
Rolls-Royce unveiled a new turboprop engine for general aviation applications on Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
Aircraft
Cirrus Vision SJ50 Jet Single Makes Public Debut
Yesterday afternoon, Cirrus test pilot Kent Vandergrift flew Cirrus Design’s prototype Vision SJ50 single-engine jet to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., co
Gulfstream Maintenance Datalink Goes Mainstream
Gulfstream this month logged its 10,000th downlink via its PlaneConnect maintenance datalink system.
More Co. TBO Extension OK’d for P&WC PT6A-60s
Minden, Nev.-based Maintenance On Reliable Engines (More Co.) received approval from the FAA for its instructions for continued airworthiness to extend the
Foreign Repair Station Applications in Limbo
In a demonstration of how congressional mandates force lawmakers to come to grips with reality, the process of granting Part 145 repair station certificate
Regulations and Government
Part 23 Requirements Under Review
The FAA is working on a review of Part 23 certification regulations, with the goal of “improving the certification process and requirements and also contin
