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

An FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) issued to Trolltune promises to help operators of Gulfstream IIBs and GIIIs fly within strict noise limits at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in Southern California. The STC isn’t a Stage 3 hush kit, explained Trolltune president Tom Storli, but limits maximum takeoff weight to 64,000 pounds, thus cutting takeoff noise by three decibels–to 79.8 from 82.8–enough to meet the new Van Nuys limit of 80 dBA. This limit is a City of Los Angeles ordinance that takes effect on January 1 next year.


Stage 2 airplanes have not been able to take off at Van Nuys between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. for many years, but they can land at any time. However, as of Jan. 1, 2016, no Stage 2 operations will be allowed in the lower 48 U.S. states, so the Trolltune STC provides two years of operating relief at Van Nuys for GIIB/GIII operators.


While the STC is simple to accomplish with a placard and some paperwork, Storli spent two years researching and flight-testing the mod. The Trolltune STC costs $40,000, although the price will rise to $50,000 as the January deadline nears, Storli told AIN.


Because older Gulfstream values are so low, he explained, operators may be balking at the cost of Stage 3 hush kits. “Others want to defer that decision, and my STC allows them another two years to decide in the case of Van Nuys.”

GIIB/GIII STC Adds Two More Years of Ops at VNY

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