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

Amphibious aircraft developer Catalina Aircraft is building an Engineering and Technology Center (ETC) in Vero Beach, Florida, to house design activities for its clean-sheet airplane and to provide space for other aerospace and technology start-ups.&nbsp;
The ETC will feature computer resources for digital-twin development and systems engineering, a scale wind tunnel, wave tank for hydrodynamic testing, and 3D printing and materials labs. Creating the ETC will shorten development cycles for the Catalina team and its Spar amphibious airplane and help tenants with their own programs, with facilities that would be too expensive for them to build separately.
Catalina’s Spar will be certified under FAA Part 25 transport category regulations, and is designed as a multi-mission airplane. Plans call for easily switching from one mission to another, for example, aerial firefighting to transport, patrol, humanitarian support, or search and rescue, “reducing the need for multiple specialized fleets,” according to the company.
In an effort to make the Spar more attractive to civil and government operators, Catalina Aircraft will used the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture for avionics and missions systems design. The aligns the Spar design with U.S Department of War defense system acquisition strategies, based on “modular designs, clearly defined major system interfaces, and widely supported, consensus-based open standards…” the company explained. “Applying that framework to the Catalina Spar, the airframe functions as the major system platform, while mission systems, sensor payloads, and avionics—including the company's BlueDeck HUD suite—are being architected as major system components integrated through clearly documented, standards-based modular system interfaces rather than proprietary connections.”
“Adopting MOSA is a statement of intent,” said CEO Benjamin Folger. “The Catalina Spar is engineered so mission systems and payload interfaces evolve independently of the airframe,&nbsp;exactly what the Department of War is asking industry to deliver.”
Like the original Consolidated PBY Catalina, the twin-engine Spar is a large airplane with a land mtow of 68,500 pounds (65,500 water), a planned cruise speed of 285 knots, and roughly 3,000 nm maximum ferry range. Flight controls are fly-by-wire, and other features include bow and stern thrusters, marine gyro stabilization, a rear cargo and airdrop ramp, aerial refueling capability, and optional pressurization.&nbsp;

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.

Catalina Aircraft To Design Flying Boat at Vero Beach Tech Center

Facility will be shared with aerospace and technology start-ups

Catalina’s amphibious Spar will be certified under FAA Part 25 transport category regulations, and is designed as a multi-mission airplane. 

Catalina Aircraft To Design Flying Boat in Vero Beach

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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.

Backlogs jumped nearly 20% in Q2

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Amy Wilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Comments are due by September 24

FAA Invites Comments on Flightdeck Controls Draft AC

Flight testing continues ahead of FAA Gen3 certification

Textron Delivers 500th CJ4 as Gen3 Nears Certification

Curt Epstein

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.

The Grand Forks location supports the airframer's composites work

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Eagle mod downtime falls 20 percent, company reports

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Charlotte Bailey

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.

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