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&amp;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.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Software-focused investment firm Thoma Bravo yesterday completed its purchased of portions of Boeing’s Digital Aviation Solutions business for $10.55 billion in cash. The sale included Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData, and OzRunways.
Thoma Bravo has named the entity Jeppesen ForeFlight, which is now led by former Boeing v-p of Digital Aviation Solutions CEO Brad Surak. Jeppesen Foreflight serves all aviation segments, including commercial, business, military, and general aviation.
ForeFlight was founded in 2007 and took advantage of then-new devices to deliver aeronautical chart display capabilities on Apple iPod Touchs and iPhones. When the iPad was introduced in 2010, ForeFlight quickly became the electronic flight bag (EFB) software of choice, and it has grown into widespread use in business and general aviation, airline, and military cockpits. Jeppesen had developed its own EFB software that also gained a strong following but it never had as much functionality as the ForeFlight app.
Boeing bought ForeFlight in March 2019 and Jeppesen Sanderson in 2000, but the two companies were run essentially separately and their key products were never merged. Jeppesen data is, however, an important part of many ForeFlight products. Just prior to the closing of the sale to Thoma Bravo, Jeppesen announced that by Oct. 31, 2026, it will no longer offer paper charts, signifying the end of an era that began when Elrey Jeppesen started his company in 1934, selling copies of his “little black book” that contained hand-drawn IFR approach procedure charts for airports that he frequented.
According to Surak, “Backed by 90 years of Jeppesen’s gold-standard data and ForeFlight’s relentless spirit of exploration, this combination is building the most unified, intuitive platform in aviation. As we return to independence alongside a leader in software private equity investing, we’re enabled to move faster, think bigger, and innovate.”
Artificial intelligence will be a significant factor in upcoming development, he explained. “AI is the north-star for our multi-year roadmap of integrated solutions as we look to build on our proven heritage and move to new horizons. We have an unmatched history of pioneering—from inventing aviation charts to transforming aeronautical data into digitized pilot support systems—and we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible. Jeppesen ForeFlight is bringing AI to aviation, from the flight deck to the operations control center driving increased operational efficiency and bolstering safety.”
“We are thrilled to complete this transaction and to support Jeppesen ForeFlight as a standalone company with significant growth opportunities ahead,” said Holden Spaht, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo. “The company has been a cornerstone of the aviation industry for more than 90 years, combining deep domain expertise with a culture of innovation. We look forward to helping strengthen that leadership position and leveraging AI to drive the next wave of digital transformation in aviation.”

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Boeing Completes Sale of Digital Aviation Solutions to Thoma Bravo

New company led by Brad Surak is named Jeppesen ForeFlight

Thoma Bravo has purchased portions of Boeing’s Digital Aviation Solutions business for $10.55 billion in cash and named the new company Jeppesen ForeFlight.

Boeing Sells Digital Aviation Solutions to Thoma Bravo

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New avionics platform simplifies installation and maintenance

Nighthawk Guardian Avionics Begin Delivery in December

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Military aircraft are set to be the first use cases for the Superpilot technology

Joby is First Aviation Partner For Nvidia's IGX Thor Platform

Garmin upgrade includes autothrottle with envelope protection features

Stevens Performs First Post-STC KA350 Autoland Install

Charlotte Bailey

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Software shows aircraft’s position, velocity, and orientation when GNSS signals are unavailable

Honeywell Rolls Out Alternatives for Jammed Navigation Signals

New features include voice commands and PlaneSync connectivity

Garmin Releases Next-generation D2 Aviator Watches

Obsolete parts could mean grounding of the still-popular twinjet

Hawkers Could Be Grounded by FDR Failures, Duncan Warns

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

In this article

ForeFlight

Jeppesen

More In Avionics

Nighthawk Guardian Avionics Begin Delivery in December

New avionics platform simplifies installation and maintenance

Joby is First Aviation Partner For Nvidia's IGX Thor Platform

Military aircraft are set to be the first use cases for the Superpilot technology

Stevens Performs First Post-STC KA350 Autoland Install

Garmin upgrade includes autothrottle with envelope protection features

Honeywell Rolls Out Alternatives for Jammed Navigation Signals

Software shows aircraft’s position, velocity, and orientation when GNSS signals are unavailable

Garmin Releases Next-generation D2 Aviator Watches

New features include voice commands and PlaneSync connectivity

Hawkers Could Be Grounded by FDR Failures, Duncan Warns

Obsolete parts could mean grounding of the still-popular twinjet

Honda Aircraft Completes Autoland TIA Tests, SAF Flight

Garmin's safety system will be added to the HondaJet Elite II

Honeywell Expands FMS Guided Visuals to Europe Airports

Six European airports will be added to start

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN