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
SyberJet Breaks Ground on SJ30 Delivery Center
Company plans to deliver the SJ30i version with a Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0/SyberVision cockpit and new interior late next year.
Operators Add Worldwide Communications With Low-cost Flyht Dragon System
Dragon allows pilots and passengers to communicate using voice or data, without the need for an expensive certification and installation approval program.
NextGen GA Fund Offers Money For Avionics Upgrades
Low-interest loans available for owners and operators of business aircraft.
Air Charter Safety Foundation Asap Expands To West Coast
Van Nuys-based Jet Edge signs on.
Safety
FAA Rulemaking Might Ease Medical Certification Requirements
Rulemaking effort could delay action mandated by Congress.
Jeppesen Offering Free Aviation Nav Info and Charting Webinars
Jeppesen is holding a series of free webinars to help pilots improve their knowledge of navigation information and charts.
Regulations and Government
NBAA Tax Seminar To Tackle Key Bizav IRS Issues
Subjects to be covered include application of federal excise tax to managed aircraft flying under Part 91 and business aircraft leasing structures.
Maintenance and Modifications
Honeywell Adds Retrofits Through Bombardier Agreement
Operators Of Bombardier Jets based in the Asia-Pacific region can now obtain many more Honeywell upgrades at Bombardier’s Singapore service center.
Regulations and Government
Groups Work To Ease Bizav Ops in Asia-Pacific
Core principles could boost business aviation prospects in the Asia-Pacific region.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Fleet in China Grows Unabated
Easing regulations and further opening of the airspace is helping helicopter sales grow by an average of 20 percent per year in China.
Rotorcraft
Chinese HAI Could Be Formed At Zhuhai show
Easing regulations and further opening of the airspace is helping helicopter sales grow by an average of 20 percent per year in China.
Avionics
Satcom1 and Emteq Activate Advanced Router Software
Satcom1 announced activation of its AvioIP advanced router software on an Emteq eConnect airborne router installed on a Bombardier Global Express.
Bizav Associations Reveal Strategy For Success
A meeting at ABACE 2014 outlined how new Core Principles for Business Aviation could boost business aviation prospects in the Asia Pacific region.
Avionics
Satcom Direct Is Ready for GX Aviation High-speed Satcom
Satcom Direct is preparing for the 2015 launch of Inmarsat’s GX Aviation high-speed satcom system.
Aircraft
Pilatus PC-12 Highlights Race-team Transports
Pilatus brought its PC-12 painted in Sauber F1 race team colors to ABACE, a few days before this weekend’s Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Rotorcraft
Avion Pacific Turns 21, Sells 16 Helis
Avion Pacific sold 16 helicopters last year and plans to add new services to continue growing.
Maintenance and Modifications
Nextant Aero Names Avic as Sales Rep for Greater China
Nextant Aerospace is currently developing the G90XT, a modified King Air 90 twin turboprop with new GE H80 engines and Garmin G1000 avionics.
AsBAA Ready For Central Role
The Asian Business Aviation Association has undergone a revitalization and is coming up with new ways to serve its members.
Aircraft
Dassault Plans Bigger Falcon Family
Strong Falcon Sales In China Are Due To Large Investments In Product Support.
Long-term Approach Underscores Honeywell’s China Plans
Honeywell is demonstrating key business and commercial aviation technologies at its ABACE 2014 stand.
China Business Aviation Group and JetNet Sign Strategic Alliance
A strategic Alliance between CBA and JetNet will help improve JetNet’s aviation database.
Aircraft
Avic Becomes Nextant Sales Rep For Greater China
Nextant Aerospace is currently developing the G90XT, a modified King Air 90 twin turboprop with new GE H80 engines and Garmin G1000 avionics.
Gulfstream G280 Adds Speed Records En Route To Shanghai
Gulfstream’s G280 has logged a total of 47 city-pair speed records, including two during the flight to Shanghai.
Rotorcraft
Shanghai Site of AgustaWestland and Sino-US Intl. HQ
Sino-US Intercontinental is the non-exclusive distributor for civil AgustaWestland helicopters in China.
G280 Breaks Two City-pair Speed Records On Flight To Shanghai
Gulfstream’s G280 has logged a total of 47 city-pair speed records, including two during the flight to Shanghai.
Rotorcraft
AgustaWestland and Sino-US Chose Shanghai for China HQ
Sino-US Intercontinental is the non-exclusive distributor for civil AgustaWestland helicopters in China.
Charter & Fractional
Global Jet Now Flying Charters In China
The new jets include a 2011 Airbus ACJ319 and 2012 Cessna Citation XLS+ that joined the fleet in January and a Bombardier Challenger 605 added in February.
PT6/PW100 Training Moved To Haikou
FSI is providing all courseware and training engines for the program, which initially includes training on the PT6A and PW100 series engines.
