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
Airports
Santa Monica Airport Lease Rates Would Skyrocket Under Commission Plan
The city could earn an additional $8.9 million a year by raising lease rates.
ATC
NetJets and FAA Sign NextGen Implementation MoU
Under the five-year MoU, NetJets will work with Ohio State University on analyzing airspace operations data and NextGen implementation.
Avionics
Sidesticks Shine in G500 Sim Flight
Gulfstream’s new jets have vastly improved cockpit ergonomics thanks to active control sidesticks.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NoFlyZone Offers Drone Privacy Zones for Homeowners
NoFlyZone data will be used in geo-fencing software that restricts where drones can fly.
Avionics
Aireon’s Free Alert Service Finds HQ in Ireland
Alert is a free service for rescue agencies, ATC providers or operators that need the location and last flight track of ADS-B-equipped aircraft.
Avionics
Wearable 'Glass Cockpit' In Airborne Testing
The Glass4Flight application provides heading, speed, altitude, time, route, traffic and other information in a hands-free environment.
Airports
Clay Lacy Breaks Ground on $10M Expansion at Van Nuys
South campus will add a modern FBO terminal to the company’s flagship location, two new hangars, office space and training facilities.
Avionics
L-3 Unveils Full Set of Lynx ADS-B Systems
The Lynx MultiLink Surveillance System ADS-B transceivers fill the mandate for a variety of aircraft types.
Charter & Fractional
Mach One Carves Out Charter Niche Built on Loyalty
The Chino, Calif., charter provider operates 10 jets and most of its trips serve charter broker Sentient Jet.
Accidents
AIN Blog: What's Wrong With Pilot Training?
The aviation industry has an opportunity to provide pilot training that could prevent the kinds of accident that have been happening.
Charter & Fractional
Acana Outlines Charter Broker Issues
At the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers conference, the Air Charter Association of North America held a meeting on broker best practices.
Fuel
Avianis Integrates with FuelerLinx
The Avianis client-relations platform can now accept fuel-management requests from the FuelerLinx fuel-management service.
Rotorcraft
Heli-Expo 2015 Alighting in Orlando
This year’s Heli-Expo show will feature more than 60 helicopters on static display and more than 700 exhibitors.
FBOs
Fireblade FBO Selects FBO One Software
The South African FBO is the only private aviation facility at Johannesburg’s main international airport, OR Tambo.
Safety
Incoming S & D Chairwoman Excited About Annual Conference
This year’s Schedulers & Dispatchers conference featured a unique live emergency response demonstration.
Airports
DCA Bizav Flights Might Lose Armed Officer Requirement
Business aviation traffic at the convenient Washington, D.C. airport has suffered in part because of the requirement to carry an armed security officer.
Charter & Fractional
Avicus Touts Efficiency of Shanghai Office
The charter broker and aircraft sales and leasing company has offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Maine Air Charter Operator Realizes Shuttle Opportunity
After launching a successful corporate shuttle service, the Portland, Maine-based company is considering other shuttle opportunities.
Charter & Fractional
Baker Aviation Expands Fort Worth Fleet and Facilities
Texas company specializes in aircraft charter management and aircraft maintenance.
Survival Skills for Flight Departments: The Robust Ones Promote Themselves to Company Leadership
Flight departments occasionally close, and aviation managers should understand the reasons why this happens.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Prevails in Lawsuit against IRS
The court "invalidated the more than $500 million of assessments, penalties and interest the IRS was attempting to collect from NetJets."
Airports
AOPA, NBAA File Brief Countering Santa Monica Appeal
This case could affect roughly 200 airports in the U.S. that were transferred from government to local control.
Charter & Fractional
Questionable ‘Customers’ Still Target the Charter Business
Fraudulent charters, nonexistent airplanes and thousands of dollars of absconded funds serve as a warning to watch out for potential scammers.
Avionics
Building an ADS-B Ground Station Is Easy As Pi
FlightAware is feeding its data-hungry network with signals gathered by about 2,000 ADS-B ground stations.
ATC
Pro Star Receives Change 7.1 AML STC
The upgrade is a software change and is available from authorized BendixKing and Honeywell dealers.
Aircraft
Nextant G90XT Makes Maiden Flight
The G90XT features new GE H75-100 engines, Garmin G1000 avionics, systems improvements and an upgraded interior.
ATC
Asia-Pac Drops LOA Requirement for ADS-B Ops
Some states have no or insufficient operational approval processes.
ATC
Pilot Seeks FAA Change to ADS-B Mandate
Eliminating the requirement for some would encourage owners of lower cost GA aircraft to keep flying.
