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

Textron Aviation has opened a new Career &amp; Learning Center at its East Wichita campus at Beech Factory Airport. While the company has long had such a training facility there, the new center has been expanded to 75,000 sq ft and serves as an application, hiring, onboarding, and training facility. The state of Kansas awarded Textron Aviation $3.325 million to help build the $40 million facility.
Prospective employees start at the Career Zone, where applicants get help from recruiters with resume creation, role matching, and job applications.&nbsp;At the Pre-Employment Zone, candidates are onboarded and undergo WorkKeys skills testing and new-hire training.&nbsp;
The Learning Zone is where professional and technical training takes place and features a simulated manufacturing floor. New-hire mechanics spend eight weeks in training in preparation for a seamless move to the manufacturing floor. “Design. Build. Fly.”—the fourth zone—introduces K-12 students to aviation careers with hands-on activities. A Cessna 172 flight simulator helps the students “explore the joy of flying,” according to the company.
“We are passionate about creating environments where future and current employees can be inspired and thrive,” said Maggie Topping, senior v-p of human resources and communications. “The Career &amp; Learning Center is equipped with the latest technology to provide realistic environments for training scenarios that mimic the reality of our manufacturing operations, setting our employees up for success from day one.”

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

Career & Learning Center Opens on Textron Aviation Campus

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Through an Aviation Learning Opportunities & Funded Training grant, the state of Kansas awarded Textron Aviation $3.325 million to help build the new facility.

Textron Aviation Opens $40M Career & Learning Center 

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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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Textron Aviation

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