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

Garmin’s new GTN 650/750Xi GPS navcoms have received FAA supplemental type certification and are now available for immediate shipping. The Xi units replace the original GTN 650/750, which entered service in 2011, bringing touchscreen control to panel-mounted avionics and replacing the GNS 430/530.
The new GTNs are slide-in replacements for the previous versions. Prices are $12,495 for the GTN 650Xi and $17,995 for the GTN 750Xi. Pilots can learn how to use the new units with Garmin’s free GTN Xi trainer app for the iPad.
The main upgrade to the GTN Xi is faster dual-core processors, which allow for quicker startup, faster map rendering, a “more vibrant display and vivid colors,” and smoother touchscreen map panning. Advanced navigation features include LPV approaches and Garmin’s visual approach plus support for radius-to-fix approaches. The Xi series also adds terrain alerting, with audible and visual terrain proximity alerts and optional helicopter terrain awareness and warning system, TAWS-A, and TAWS-B.
Like the earlier GTN, the Xi series can integrate with remote audio controls or transponders and display that information on the GTN screen. Fully coupled IFR approaches and VNAV profiles can be flown when the GTN is paired with Garmin’s GFC 500 or 600 autopilot. Other available features include using Garmin’s Telligence voice control when the GTN is connected to a GMA 35c audio panel, global voice calling and texting on the GTN display with a GSR 56 Iridium datalink, and wireless connection to mobile devices with the optional Flight Stream 510.

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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.

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.

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