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
Aircell Eliminating Unlimited Rate Plan for Gogo Biz Service
Starting next month, unlimited service contracts will not be an option, but current users will be grandfathered in through the end of 2016.
Maintenance and Modifications
Clay Lacy Donates Two Jets To Van Nuys A&P School
The donated aircraft are a 1968 Learjet 24 (N664CL, S/N 167) and a 1979 Gulfstream II-SP (N264CL, S/N 227).
ADS-B OUT LOA Mandatory In Some Countries
In some countries that have implemented ADS-B OUT equipment requirements, a letter of authorization will be mandatory for business jet operators.
Aircraft
In The Works: Mallard Aircraft Turbine Mallard
Company hopes to have the aircraft in production next year.
Charter & Fractional
Fresh Jets Software Facilitates Executive Charter
Fresh Jets aims to introduce new travelers to charter flying with its new software platform for charter operators and corporate travel departments.
Sharing Economy Attracts New Business To General Aviation
The high-technology sharing economy business model is bringing new investment in general aviation companies.
Airports
Emissions Limits Are Santa Monica’s Latest Effort to Curtail SMO Flying
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is attempting to legislate limits on emissions from aircraft engines as a way of cutting traffic at Santa Monica Airport.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviation Alliance: 421, GIII Reman Programs Still Alive
Some people, such as former Cessna CEO Jack Pelton, and partners are no longer associated with the Alliance, and a new source of funding had to be found.
Aircraft
Global 7000 Mockup Is Bizav’s Biggest
The largest-even business jet fuselage mockup arrived at EBACE for its official unveiling.
In First Day, Pilatus Racks Up Orders for 75 PC-24s
U.S. fractional-share Pilatus PC-12 operator PlaneSense placed an order for six PC-24s.
Aviation World Loses Legendary Designer Ed Swearingen
Ed Swearingen died on May 15, leaving behind a legacy of extraordinary airplanes.
Rotorcraft
AgustaWestland Enjoys Steady Growth in European Market
AgustaWestland brought a GrandNew helicopter and a scale mockup of a special AW169 interior to the EBACE show this year.
Aircraft
Pilatus Welcomes Flood of PC-24 Orders On First Day of EBACE
Orders for the Pilatus PC-24 shot up to 75 in the first day of the EBACE 2014 show.
Aircraft
Textron Aviation Brings New Family to EBACE
Bringing together Cessna and Beechcraft under one umbrella seems to have been handled well by Textron.
Pilatus Opens Order Book for PC-24 Jet at EBACE
The company is officially signing agreements with launch customers this week.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Rockwell Collins Retrofits Improve Passenger Experience
Two new cabin systems shown: a new Tailwind 550 satellite TV antenna and a Venue HD cabin system retrofit for Global XRS and 5000 jets.
Aircraft
Pilatus Opens the PC-24 Sales Pipeline
Launch customers for the Pilatus PC-24 twinjet begin signing purchase agreements today at the EBACE show.
FBOs
Mototok Tug Helps Halt Hangar Rash
Wireless-controlled electric tug from Germany frees up wasted hangar space.
Avionics
TrueNorth Simplifies FANS With Iridium Data Link Unit
TrueNorth’s Iridium-based Simphone data link unit promises to make FANS compliance simpler and less expensive.
Sales Soaring After Jetcraft Adds ExecuJet Sales Team
Jetcraft sees plenty of opportunity in the aircraft sales brokerage business, with the U.S. and Europe the strongest markets.
Avionics
New UTC Module Delivers Aircraft Data To Mobile Devices
UTC Aerospace invites EBACE attendees to plug their mobile devices in for a fresh battery charge and a test of the company’s Tablet Interface Module.
ASIG flyTab Turns iPads Into Class 2 EFBs
ASIG and the flyTab consortium offer a range of solutions incorporating the iPad as a Class 2 EFB.
Avionics
Cellphone Ban Could Affect Some Business Aircraft
Proposed rule could unnecessarily ban business aviation passengers from making voices calls from their mobile phones in flight.
Avionics
Aircell Gogo Biz Now Live in Canada
The new Canadian coverage reaches into the country’s southern territories and along its western borders with Alaska.
Avionics
Two More App Developers Add X-Plane Connection
FltPlan and CloudAhoy now integrate with the flight-sim program.
AirSatOne Flightstream Filtering Helps Save Satcom Costs
The new Flightstream SA services are free to any AirSatOne customer and do not require that AirSatOne’s Flightstream AOC router be installed.
Regulations and Government
Airport Commission Revisits Emissions Limits at SMO
Latest effort to curtail operations at Santa Monica Airport involves a proposed recommendation to limit emissions from aircraft operating there.
