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
Cabin Interior and Electronics
SpaceX Moves a Step Closer to Airborne Satcom Service
The FCC will allow SpaceX to provide satcom services to moving vehicles, including aircraft.
Aircraft
Airbus Creates ACJ TwoTwenty Studio
Buyers of the ACJ TwoTwenty VIP business jet can fully outfit their airplane in Airbus's new creative studio in Toulouse, France.
Avionics
Garmin Celebrates 25,000 Flight Deck Milestone
In 2003, Garmin unveiled the G1000 integrated avionics suite, changing the way pilots fly.
Avionics
ForeFlight Releases Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver
The Sentry Plus ADS-B In receiver is now equipped with an OLED display that shows the battery life, g-load, and carbon monoxide levels.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Bizjet Mobile Launches First Low-cost Certus Satcom
Bizjet Mobile’s new Certus BizjetInternet system is the lowest-cost aviation satcom that works on Iridium’s Certus network.
NOAA Approves ACR Portable 406-MHz Beacons
ACR Electronics' ResQLink 410 and ResQLink View personal locator beacons with Return Link Service have been approved by the NOAA and Cospas-Sarsat.
Airports
GlobalAir Upgrades Airport Resource Center
The online GlobalAir Airport Resource Center has been updated to make the airport and FBO resource easier to use.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Inmarsat Prepping for Higher Speed Satcom
Higher speed satellite service, including coverage for higher latitudes and the Arctic, is coming from Inmarsat.
Avionics
When GPS Denied, Honeywell Has a Solution
Honeywell testing has shown that alternative navigation technologies can mitigate denial of GPS signals.
Training and Workforce
CAE Puts VR To Work in Pilot Training
CAE's virtual and mixed reality training systems provide more efficient and realistic simulator scenarios.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety Taps New Tech for Training
FlightSafety International is putting virtual, mixed, and augmented reality technology to use for modern training programs.
Training and Workforce
Desktop Sim Developer Addresses Bizjet Market
Until recently, the fidelity of desktop simulators of business jets has been lacking, but that has changed with release of the HotStart Challenger 650.
Avionics
ForeFlight Enables Per-leg Altitude Adjustments
A long-awaited new feature in ForeFlight (Pro Plus versions and above) enables per-leg altitude adjustments in flight plans.
Avionics
Extant Buys Astronautics Electromechanical Line
Astronautics is selling its legacy electromechanical instrument product line to support specialist Extant Aerospace.
Avionics
Boeing Signs Operators for ForeFlight Solutions
Charter operators are adopting ForeFlight flight planning and EFB solutions for their worldwide operations.
Aircraft
ACJ TwoTwenty Makes Inroads in Business Aviation
Airbus is seeing consistent growth in sales of its ACJ TwoTwenty, the corporate version of the A220 airliner.
Safety
Aviation Manuals Adapts to ‘Remarkable’ Growth
Aviation Manuals is helping flight operations prepare for upcoming safety management system mandates.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Inmarsat, Honeywell Launch SwiftJet L-band Satcom
Inmarsat's new L-band network will bring higher speeds for L-band satcom users.
Alpha Chocks Offers New Options
An alternative to heavy and unwieldy rubber chocks, Alpha Chocks are available for any size aircraft.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Airbus Gets Creative with New ACJ Design Studio
The new Airbus creative studio fills the need for customers to visualize cabin layout and materials options.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Bivy Stick Simplifies Iridium Satcom Messaging
ACR Electronics added the Bivy Stick Iridium satcom messaging device to its product lineup last year and is promoting it for aviation uses.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Residco Adds To Leasing Pool with Brown Asset Buy
Leasing company Residco is making a move into the light aircraft leasing business and plans to serve flight schools and university flight programs.
Maintenance and Modifications
Stevens Aerospace Holds New MRO Grand Opening
The new Stevens Aerospace MRO facility at Smyrna Airport in Tennessee features a 40,000-sq-ft hangar and 17,000 sq ft of shop and office space.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Exhibit Showcases Electric Ambitions
At the recent Aero Friedrichshafen show, Rolls-Royce Electrica showed off its electric aircraft propulsion and storage systems it is developing.
Training and Workforce
Red 6 Augmented Reality Platform Picked by Saudi’s Advanced Electronics
Augmented-reality platform developer Red 6 has signed a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia-based Advanced Electronics.
Aircraft
Cirrus Continues To Expand European Footprint
Cirrus is opening a new regional operations office in Rotterdam as sales worldwide continue to grow.
Aircraft
Apus Aircraft Design Stores Hydrogen in Wing Spar Tanks
Apus Group is developing a family of composite aircraft that will store hydrogen in circular wing spar fuel tanks.
Aircraft
Daher Delivers First TBM 960 During Aero Show
The new TBM 960 has started deliveries, and the model is already sold out through September 2023.
Aircraft
Pipistrel Seeking To Fly Electric Velis Trainer Under New FAA Rules
Pipistrel hopes to begin deliveries of its Velis Electro electric-powered training airplane in the U.S. next year after changes to FAA regulations.
Aircraft
Flight Design Plans Hydrogen Flight Tests in 2023
Flight Design aims to begin flight tests of its hydrogen-powered Hyfly research airplane in 2023.
