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
Maintenance and Modifications
HBS Opens in Mesa, Closing VNY Service Center
Hawker Beechcraft Services will become the second major business jet OEM service center to leave California when it closes its Van Nuys Airport facility on
Piper Delaying Second Phase of Financial Incentives
Piper Aircraft has notified local Indian River County and Florida state authorities that it is
Avionics
Honeywell offers low-cost handheld GPS
Except for some early models, Honeywell’s Bendix/King division hasn’t in recent years focused on the market for GPS handheld navigators.
FBOs
Conglomerate’s FBOs retain their individuality
Jeffrey Ross is at the helm of an unusual conglomeration of FBOs, a quasi-chain of 12 facilities that retain their original brand names instead of adopting
FBOs
Avcard now accepted at Signature
Signature Flight Support and Avcard have implemented a contract fuel discount program at Signature FBOs in the U.S.
FBOs
Universal unveils updated online flight planner
Universal Weather & Aviation has released a new version of the online UVflightplanner.com service with improved functionality.
FBOs
Moses Lake gets new Million Air
Freeman Holdings, owner of five Million Air FBO franchises, has purchased the former Air America Fuel & Services FBO at Grant County International Airp
FBOs
Renovated landmark HPN opens
On December 10, Landmark Aviation celebrated the grand opening of the FBO chain’s newly renovated FBO at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.
FBOs
NATA launches new FBO seminars
The National Air Transportation Association’s new seminar series, “How to Build a More Successful FBO,” got off to a strong start with the first of the two
FBOs
Samaritan 206 drops in at Business Jet Center
The Business Jet Center FBO at Love Field in Dallas had an unusual visitor on November 12, a Cessna 206 on a nationwide tour before traveling to Papua New
FBOs
New runway ready at Cobb County
The widening and repaving project at Cobb County-McCollum Airport in Kennesaw, Ga., was completed early last month, and the runway is now 6,305 feet long a
FBOs
Three FBOs join Avfuel Network
The Million Air FBO at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, N.Y., is now an Avfuel dealer.
FBOs
Rectrix opens second FBO
Rectrix Aerodrome Centers has opened a second FBO, at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida, which joins the company’s first FBO in Hyannis,
FBOs
Davis flight completes remodel
Avfuel dealer Davis Flight Support has remodeled its Yolo County, Calif.
FBOs
Odyssey new name for seven FBOs
Seven former Million Air FBOs have joined in a marketing partnership with Odyssey Aviation Bahamas to form a new Odyssey Aviation FBO network.
Aircraft
In the Works: Outlook good for major OEMs’ programs, but the future is hazier for smaller firms
In many ways, last year was an extraordinary year for business aviation, with a record of more than 1,000 jet deliveries but also a large number of new jet
Aircraft
On the heels of EASA certification, Eclipse files for bankruptcy protection
Eclipse Aviation filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S.
Regulations and Government
TSA seeks comment on LASP
The February 27 deadline for comments about the Transportation Security Administration’s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) rules proposal is rapidly a
NBAA Recalibrates LBA2009 Conference
The inaugural NBAA Light Business Airplane Conference (LBA2009) scheduled in March in San Diego will be held over the course of two days (March 13 and 14)
Safety
NTSB: Don’t Wait For Ice Buildup Before Inflating Boots
The NTSB released a new safety alert warning pilots not to wait for ice to build before inflating de-
Global Aviation’s Lockhart Promoted to Vice President
Independent maintenance provider Global Aviation of Hillsboro, Ore., has promoted Brian Lockhart to vice president.
Maintenance and Modifications
Clifford Issued STC for Citation 550/S550 Reengining
The FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate to Clifford Development for modification of Cessna Citation 550s and S550s with Williams International FJ44-
Aircraft
Eclipse Owners, Depositors Form Customer Committee
A group of Eclipse 500 owners and position holders for the Eclipse 400 and 500 this week formed an ad hoc customer committee to represent their interests d
TransDigm Buys APC From GE’s Unison Industries
General Electric’s Unison Industries subsidiary has sold its Aircraft Parts Corporation (APC) business unit to TransDigm Group for approximately $68 millio
Maintenance and Modifications
Global Jet’s First E-learning Course Now Avilable
Aircraft maintenance training provider Global Jet Services has launched its first online training course for maintenance technicians.
Maintenance and Modifications
Mechanic Sentenced for Fraud, Money Laundering
On December 3, Robert Schlotzhauer of Lee’s Summit, Mo., was sentenced to 12 months home confinement and ordered to pay a $550,000 fine and $63,854 in rest
Charter & Fractional
CitationShares Adjusting Deliveries, Staffing
Fractional share provider CitationShares is reducing the size of its pilot workforce by 30 people, according to CEO Steve O’Neill.
FBOs
FBOs Join New Odyssey Aviation Partnership
Seven FBOs have left the Million Air franchise system and switched to a new brand name, Odyssey Aviation, having joined in a marketing partnership with the
Maintenance and Modifications
AFS Near STC for Bell 430 Inlet Filter System
The FAA is expected to grant a supplemental type certificate within a few months to Donaldson subsidiary Aerospace Filtration Systems (AFS) of St.
