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
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Closes, Wayfarer Aviation Takes Over
On Friday, JetDirect Aviation chairman and CEO Greg C
Aircraft
Special Conditions for Spectrum S.40 Reveal Weights
Spectrum Aeronautical’s all-composite S.40 Freedom light jet is subject to a number of special conditions mandated by the FAA to achieve type certification
Safety
SAIB Warns of Carbon Brake Freezing Problem
The FAA issued a special airworthiness information bulletin (SAIB NM-09-18) last month warning operators of aircraft equipped with carbon disc brakes that
Maintenance and Modifications
Sierra Industries Offering Free Loaner Jets
Customers who bring their Cessna Citation to Sierra Industries of Uvalde, Texas, for major maintenance or inspection events can now drop off their jet and
Maintenance and Modifications
Kurt Sutterer Retiring from Midcoast Aviation
Jet Aviation, which purchased Midcoast Aviation in 2006 and then was bought by General Dynamics last year, announced that Don Petersen is taking over as pr
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Withdrawing Divisive Repair Station NPRM
The FAA has begun the process of withdrawing a controversial December 2006
Charter & Fractional
Jet Direct Planning To Rebrand as Wayfarer Aviation
On Friday, a Massachusetts judge dismissed leg
Charter & Fractional
Restraining Order Halts JetDirect Plans
A Massachusetts judge has granted a petition for a temporary restraining order preventing JetDirect Aviation Acquisition Company (JDAAC) from completing th
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Seeking Comment on Repair Spec Policy
The FAA has published draft Order 8300.14A, “Repair Specification
Maintenance and Modifications
NTSB Critiques Improper Maintenance on AA MD-80
An American Airlines MD-80’s safety was jeopardized, according to the NTSB, due to an “unapproved and improper procedure used by mechanics to manually star
Maintenance and Modifications
Dassault Falcon’s Reno Center Opens
Dassault Falcon yesterday opened its newest Dassault Aircraft Services factory-owned service center at Reno Tahoe International Airport.
Charter & Fractional
Fractional Aircraft Companies Offer Creative Solutions
As the recession tightens its grip on the economy, fractional aircraft providers have stepped up their marketing efforts not only to sell more shares but a
Aircraft
Jet-Alliance Offers Plan for DayJet Eclipse 500s
While various entrepreneurs have tried to buy and resell the 28 Eclipse 500 very light jets that were flown by bankrupt air-taxi firm DayJet, none has succ
Charter & Fractional
JDAAC Plans Payment to Current, Former Employees
As JetDirect Aviation Acquisition Company nears its planned purchase of assets of JetDirect Aviation, JDAAC chairman Robert Pinkas acknowledged the company
Maintenance and Modifications
OEM Strategy Seeks To Minimize PMA Parts
Operators and maintenance providers have long been concerned about OEMs limiting the ability of non-factory-authorized entities to repair components or mec
Engines
TCM Flies Bonanza on Unleaded Aviation Fuel
With pressure increasing on the Environmental Protection Agency to mandate elimination of tetraethyl lead from avgas, Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) has
Maintenance and Modifications
Goodyear Celebrates 100 Years of Aviation Tires
One hundred years after introducing the first aviation tire–the Wing Aeroplane tire–Goodyear Tire and Rubber is adding a new tire to its lineup, the Flight
Maintenance and Modifications
Foam Compliance Pricey for Hangar Owners and Operators
In a survey of members who own or operate aircraft hangars, the National Air Transportation Association asked how new National Fire Protection Association
Training and Workforce
Mechanics Are Winners at Mx Skills Contest
At the Aviation Industry Expo held from March 10 to 12 in Las Vegas, 15 teams of maintenance technicians vied for top honors in the second annual maintenan
Safety
Fatal crash shines light on in-flight icing danger
The crash of Colgan Air/Continental Connection Flight 3407 (a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400) on February 2 has again raised the same issues about in-flight icing
Charter & Fractional
Private-equity Firms Increase Stake in Flight Options
Directional Capital and Resilience Capital Partners have increased their financial stake in fractional-share operator Flight Options and now own a majority
Online help for aviation-job seekers
Times are tough and layoffs are widespread.
FBOs
New Management Installed at Sebring Flight Center
ABS Aviation Management Services has taken over management of Sebring Flight Center at Sebring Regional Airport in Florida, which recently joined the Avfue
Airports
Blue Grass Airport Closes 2006 Accident Runway
Kentucky’s Blue Grass Airport closed Runway 8-26 and has begun building a replacement crosswind runway that will be named 9-27 and will extend 500 feet lon
FBOs
Signature Event Raises Funds for Children's Charity
Signature Flight Support’s ongoing “Cultivate and Celebrate” campaign helped raise more than $180,000 to pay for the Hub of Hope, on-site housing for famil
FBOs
L.J. Aviation Adda New Hangar
At its headquarters at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pa., L.J.
Paris Airport Chooses Synthetic Turf for Runway Edges
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has installed FieldTurf synthetic turf on the edges of the Romeo runway.
