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
Aircraft
Chapter 7 Filing Signals End of Eclipse Era
In a letter sent to employees on Tuesday, Eclipse Aviation general manager Michael McConnell and CFO Mark Borseth wrote that “our company is out of time an
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Aviation Completes China-based Legacy Mod
Nextant Aviation subsidiary Constant Aviation finished a 41,000-foot modification and 48-month inspection on a China-based Embraer Legacy 600.
Maintenance and Modifications
AAR Landing Gear Services Resumes Full Operations
The FAA returned the repair station certificate that it suspended from AAR Landing Gear Services on February 10, and the AAR division immediately resumed w
Training and Workforce
Fast Track A&P/Associate Degree Program Available
Future technicians can now take advantage of a combined FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic and associate degree program offered by St.
Maintenance and Modifications
Report Says Mechanics Missing in Human Factors Efforts
In a report titled “An Overview of Human Factors in Aviation Maint
Industry perspective: AgustaWestland
Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland’s helicopters address what has become a sweet spot in today’s economy, the medium helicopter segment.
Industry perspective: Robinson Helicopter
Frank Robinson, who turned 79 in January, likes to joke about his employees forcing him into retirement to pay him back for asking a former employee to
Bell/Agusta prepping two more BA609s for testing
Work continues on the Bell/Agusta Aerospace BA609 civil tiltrotor program, with more than 100 people dedicated by both Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland t
Bell focuses on to-do list as 429 certification nears
Bell Helicopter’s Model 429 is nearing the certification home stretch, with FAA approval now planned in the second quarter this year, roughly half a year l
JetDirect Aviation Signs Sale Agreement
JetDirect Aviation Holdings on Tuesday evening announced that it signed an agreement to sell most of the assets of its charter/management company JetDirect
Industry Perspective: Bell helicopter
Last year, Bell Helicopter president and CEO Richard Millman surprised the helicopter world with the announcement that the company planned to shut down
Aircraft
Eclipse Board Furloughs Employees Pending Financing
Although the bankruptcy court approved the sale of Eclipse Aviation to EclipseJet International on January 20, the financing to complete the sale has yet t
Maintenance and Modifications
StandardAero Receives FAA and EASA Design Approvals
The FAA and EASA granted a major repair organization design authorization (MRA-ODA) to StandardAero’s Maryville, Tenn.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Grants Certification to Freedom Aero Service
Freedom Aero Service, a new repair station opened by people who used to work for Weco Aerospace Systems in Lincoln, Calif., received FAA certification on J
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA, AAR Agree To Settle Landing-gear Issues
On February 10 the FAA issued an emergency order of suspension to AAR, suspending the repair station certificate held by AAR Landing Gear Services.
Safety
San Diego Ramp Event Not a Playbook Action
After news broke last week of the Transportation Security Administration’s unauthorized inspections of Nashville (Tenn.) Airport pilots and employees and t
Maintenance and Modifications
Precision Aviation Expands With New Vancouver Shop
Rapid growth at Precision Aviation Group’s two Canadian subsidiaries prompted the addition of a new facility in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Maintenance and Modifications
New Cessna Service Center Opens in Mesa
While Cessna Aircraft is closing its Toledo, Ohio Citation service center at the end of next month, the company celebrated the opening of its new Mesa Cita
Maintenance and Modifications
New FAA Funding Act Addresses Foreign Repair Safety
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 introduced on Monday by House Transportation Committee chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and House aviation subcommitte
Regulations and Government
Burbank Night Curfew One Historical Step Closer
Yesterday the Burbank-Glendale Airport Authority delivered to the FAA the first-ever application for airport access restrictions that would apply to Stage
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Pushes Ahead with Provo Plans
By August next year, Duncan Aviation will have a new maintenance facility in Provo, Utah, in a 15,000-sq-ft hangar leased from Million Air Provo.
TSA Conducts ‘Inappropriate’ Screening at BNA FBOs
Transportation Security Administration officials conducted unauthorized screening of passengers and flight crew at FBOs at Nashville International Airport
Airports
Oxford Airport reports steady traffic increase
Since opening a new business aviation facility six months ago, the UK’s Oxford Airport continues to record increased traffic.
FBOs
Passur selected by Oyssey
The Odyssey Aviation FBO marketing partnership, which includes eight FBOs, has chosen Passur’s FBO software suite for customer flight tracking and to impro
FBOs
FlightSafety International praises Panorama
FlightSafety International director of worldwide sales Steve Gross and Rhett Reavis, regional marketing manager, presented Panorama Flight Service senior v
FBOs
FBOs join Phillips 66 network
New members of the Phillips 66 aviation fuel dealer network include Butterfly Aviation at Renner Field in Goodland, Kan.; Otis Air Service, the sole FBO at
FBOs
Handling fee lowers Key Air fule prices
Key Air’s Twin Cities (Minneapolis) and Treasure Coast (Fort Pierce, Fla.) FBOs are now offering jet-A at significantly lower prices, but accompanied by a
