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

In the results from this year’s AIN Product Support Survey, Garmin remains in the top spot for cockpit avionics manufacturers, with a first-place overall average of 8.2, down 0.1 from last year. Rockwell Collins takes second place, with an overall average of 8.0, the same as last year. In third place this year is Universal Avionics at 7.9, down 0.1 from last year when it and Rockwell Collins shared second&nbsp;place. Honeywell and BendixKing (they are sister companies but serve different market segments) swap places this year, with Honeywell in fourth place at 7.6 (up 0.1) followed by BendixKing at 7.4 (down 0.3).
Garmin’s score this year sees top ratings for overall product reliability (8.8), technical reps (8.4), cost of parts (7.4) and parts availability (8.3). Top ratings for Rockwell Collins are technical reps (8.4), technical manuals (7.9) and parts availability (8.3). Universal Avionics scores the highest rating for warranty fulfillment (8.5) and AOG response (8.4).
On the cabin electronics side, two companies received enough ratings this year to be added to the results: cabin monitor manufacturers Aircraft Cabin Systems and Rosen Aviation.
Tying for first place this year are Gogo Business Aviation and Satcom Direct with an 8.3 overall average, both up 0.1 from last year’s first-place tie. Rockwell Collins received the second-highest score this year with a ratings jump of 0.4 to a 7.9 overall average, followed by Aircraft Cabin Systems (7.8), Honeywell (7.5) and Rosen Aviation (7.4).
Satcom Direct tops the charts for overall product reliability at 8.6 and receives high marks for technical reps (8.9), technical manuals (8.3) and warranty fulfillment (8.8). Gogo Business Aviation’s high scores are for AOG response (8.4), cost of parts (7.8) and parts availability (9.1).

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

Product Support Survey 2016: Avionics

AIN readers rate avionics manufacturers on their product support during the past year.

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.

Terrain awareness and warning system is available for Europe- and U.S.-based jets

EASA Approves Butler Avionics TAWS for Learjet 35/36

Charles Alcock

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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.

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.

Partnership is focused on achieving single-pilot operations for legacy aircraft

GE Teams With Merlin to Combine Autonomous Autopilot with FMS

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.

Company plans to develop upgrades for Part 25 aircraft

Garmin Adds Sherpa Air as Service, Installation Center

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

These demonstrations are based on real-life incidents where this technology could have given pilots more time to react.

We Fly on Honeywell’s Boeing 757 and Experience Its New Runway Safety Alert Technology

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.

Approval allows operators allows 100-foot decision height on approaches in all conditions

EASA OKs Falcon 6X for Enhanced Flight Vision System Ops

Amy Wilder

Rollout begins with CJ2 and CJ2+ operators

Tamarack and ForeFlight Expand Active Winglet Data

Airlines conduct more flights, but more GA aircraft are eligible to participate

GA, Bizav Surpass Airlines in CPDLC Participation

Curt Epstein

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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