Matt Thurber
Editor-in-Chief

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&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.

Latest from Matt Thurber

Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Volocopter Files for Insolvency, Seeks Financing for eVTOL Aircraft

Company is the second German eVTOL manufacturer to resort to insolvency protection in December
Volocopter's VoloCity eVTOL aircraft.
Safety

UK Mandates Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Light Aircraft

CO poisoning continues to cause fatal accidents and incidents
Light airplane cockpit
Aircraft

Icon Aircraft Moving Some Manufacturing to China

Company president Jason Huang resigns and Lily Hu takes over
Icon A5 amphibious airplane
Regulations and Government

ATC User Fees Are Back on the Political Agenda

Industry offers to work with incoming administration to improve efficiency
San Francisco International Airport air traffic control tower
Aircraft

Cirrus Delivers 600th Vision Jet Since 2016 Market Entry

An average of seven Vision Jets per month were delivered during the first three quarters of this year
600th Cirrus Vision Jet
Training and Workforce

Yawman Arrow Helps Flight Simulator Community Go Mobile

Combines sophisticated controls in a hand-held device
Yawman Arrow flight simulator controller
Rotorcraft

Bahrain Orders Nine Airbus H145 Helicopters for Police

Helicopters will fly for law enforcement and emergency medical operations
Airbus Helicopters H145
Rotorcraft

Robinson Symmetrical Stabilizer Acquires New Approvals

Operators in Argentina, the EU, India, and Japan can now install the empennage kit
R66 improved empennage
Maintenance and Modifications

STC Enables Halon-free Fire Extinguishers for Falcon 7X

Halotron BrX is weight efficient and leaves no residue after application
Halon fire extinguishers
Regulations and Government

FAA Updates ADS-B Privacy ICAO Address Program

Participants' information is no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act requests
FAA Privacy ICAO Address
Airports

Purdue Polytechnic Patenting Runway Status Lights 

ADS-B and computer vision enables system to detect landing and on-runway traffic
Purdue Polytechnic runway status light visualization
Cabin Interior and Electronics

SmartSky $1B Lawsuit Accuses Gogo of Illegal Monopoly

Complaint claims Gogo forced only competitor out of air-to-ground market
SmartSky lite antenna
Avionics

Collins Announces Upgrades to King Air, Hawker Avionics

New features add MultiScan radar and next-gen capabilities
King Air Collins flight deck upgrade
Cabin Interior and Electronics

OneWeb Low-earth-orbit Satcom Set To Launch on January 1

Service provider Gogo has 27 STC packages under development for business aircraft
OneWeb at MEBAA
Aircraft

Royal Jet Expanding Fleet with ACJ320neo Purchase

UAE-based charter operator has previously had an all-Boeing fleet
Royal Jet MEBAA2024
Regulations and Government

UAE Regulators Streamline Bizav Regulatory Framework

Efforts to make the UAE more welcoming are being done in concert with aircraft operators
UAE Regulators Streamline Bizav Regulatory Framework
Engines

Serbia's Green Power Certifying Small Turboprop Engine

Low-cost turboprop engine could be suitable replacement for pistons
Green Power Turbine Systems TPE200 turboprop engine
Aircraft

New Singapore Bizav Show Tapping Growing Marketplace

BAAFEx will alternate with the biennial Singapore Airshow
Singapore's Changi Exhibition Centre
Safety

Qatar Executive Selects MedAire360 for Charter Fleet 

Company's Gulfstream G700 jet is latest to be equipped
MedAire360 inflight medical resource
Avionics

GPS Spoofing Still a Problem for Aircraft Operators

Main security threat areas include Middle East conflict zones
GPSJam map of interference
Charter & Fractional

IC Leasing Places Order for Second Falcon 2000LXS

Jet will be operated by Germany-based DC Aviation
Falcon 2000LXS
Aircraft

Dassault's Falcons Fly in Middle East Market

Long range and a large cabin are Middle East prerequisites
Dassault Falcon 8X at MEBAA 2024
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Greenpoint Highlights Oasis and AeroSuite Interiors

Company offers customized cabins for large VVIP aircraft
Greenpoint Technologies AeroSuite interior for Boing Business Jet
Charter & Fractional

DC Aviation Adds Small and Large Jets to Charter Fleet

Company offers short- to long-haul charter trip capability in Middle East
DCAF managing director Holger Ostheimer
Safety

MedAire Expands MidEast Bizav Security, Health Services

Flight crew mental health is an important facet of operational safety
MedAire's security operations center
Maintenance and Modifications

ExecuJet Signs MOU for Local Paint Services at Satys

Middle East business aircraft operators won't have to fly to Europe for paint
Satys aircraft paint facility in Dubai
Maintenance and Modifications

Ronaldo is Thrilled with Happy Design Studio Jet Livery

Many private aircraft owners prefer to show off their distinct liveries
Christiano Ronaldo's Bombardier Global XRS business jet
Charter & Fractional

Chapman Freeborn Passenger Count Surges in Middle East

Charter flight broker is making its MEBAA Show debut
Claudia Krajhanzl, Chapman Freeborn v-p for passenger services in the IMEA region
Rotorcraft

Vita Rescue System Hoist Is Qualified by U.S. Army

Testing was also conducted by the Air Force
Vita Rescue System with helicopter
Rotorcraft

Subaru Bell 412EPX Certified by EASA

European operators can now fly the helicopter in EU countries
Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopter