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
Regulations and Government
Congress Urged to Make FAA Reauthorization a Priority
Aviation industry groups and politicians urged members of the 113th Congress to expedite plans to continue funding the FAA.
Charter & Fractional
Charter and Fractional Report 2014
The charter market, according to the many companies interviewed for this special report, is in relatively good shape.
Avionics
Performance Planning Feature Added To ForeFlight App
The app now offer performance-planning capability.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets China Flies First Charter Customer
The inaugural NetJets Business Aviation Ltd flight in a Hawker 800XP touched down at five airports in China.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
AT&T Drops Plan For High-Speed Airborne Datacom
The AT&T air-to-ground 4G LTE network was slated to offer service late next year.
EASA Approval Granted for Sandel HeliTaws
The company’s entire product line is now FAA and EASA certified.
Avidyne Adds ADS-B in Receiver
The MLB100 delivers ADS-B traffic and free Flight Information System-Broadcast weather to compatible Avidyne displays.
Citation X+ Pilot Report
Cessna’s re-do of the Citation X thoroughly updates the classic speedster with new avionics and cabin features and an even swifter top speed.
Trine Aerospace Adds Caravan Camera Mount STC
Retractable camera mount system is designed to protect expensive surveillance equipment from FOD and lightning strikes.
Sporty’s Lowers Price of SP-400 Backup Com/ILS
With an updated sunlight-readable screen, the SP-400 is a useful backup device for any cockpit.
MU-2 Pilots Remain Enthusiastic About Their Airplanes
Two MU-2 pilots explain why the like the high-performance twin-turboprop.
FlightSafety Debuts Online G550 Ground School
The online course can be used to gain credit for two days worth of classroom time during recurrent training.
L-3 Ready for Fast-approaching ADS-B Deadline
The coming deadline for ADS-B equipage means that aircraft operators need to think about upgrades.
Elite Program Gives New Life to Ex-NetJets Citation Xs
First aircraft was inducted into the Elite program last year and the second is on display this week at NBAA 2014.
Citation X Elite Adds New Life To Older Jets
As NetJets Citation Xs exit service, Textron Aviation has developed a refurb program to bring them up to modern standards.
Air BP Purchases Statoil Aviation Fuel Business
Air BP picks up 73 new airports in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands and Germany.
Landmark’s New ‘Green’ FBO Opens at SAN
The huge exterior hangar wall of the San Diego facility provided the best opportunity for Canadian artist Ken Gangbar’s nature-themed work.
Powerlines Can’t Hide from Safe Flight Detector
Helicopter pilots will appreciate a little help in finding powerlines before it’s too late.
Avionics
Universal Avionics Unveils InSight Integrated Flight Deck
The Tucson, Arizona-based company becomes the latest to offer a Part 25 avionics suite, centered on its new EFI-1040 flight displays.
Portable Satcoms Save Communications Costs
BizjetMobile’s Iridium and SwiftBroadband portable satcom systems offers a low monthly unlimited texting and email cost of $899.
Ikhana Twin Otters Live Longer
The Murietta, Calif. Twin Otter specialist has an in-house engineering team that develops life-extending repairs.
FMS Training Done the Universal Way
Learning how to use an FMS is much easier in a classroom and not inside the airplane.
Navtech Offers Alternative For Aeronautical Charts
Canadian company also provides performance, flight planning, crew planning and navigation data solutions.
Sporty’s Offers Prep Program for ATP Candidates
The required 10 hours of simulator training for pilots seeking ATP certificates is available through a new Sporty’s course.
ForeFlight Partners with Comply365 To Aid Fleet Operations
New features in the popular iPad app include simpler fleet deployment, weight-and-balance solution, flight recording and more.
FAA Issues STC to Elliott Aviation for NZ-2000 FMS Upgrade
The NZ-2000 upgrade combined with the Primus Epic CDS/R retrofit prepares Hawkers for NextGen avionics requirements.
NARA Panel To Tackle Aircraft Sales Situation
Panel session titled “Current Trends Impacting Business Aircraft Sales.”
NBAA/CAN Soiree To Feature High-Value Auction Items
Bidders can try to win a PGA golf tour package, a Gogo Business Aviation ATG 2000 and more.
