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
Safety
FlightSafety Adds More Sims to Upset Training Program
The new upset prevention and recovery training course at FlightSafety prepares pilots for loss-of-control situations.
Bizav World Wings Its Way to Las Vegas
More than 26,000 people are expected at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas November 17-19.
Avionics
TopMax Places Head-worn HUD on Headsets
The new Thales head-up display is lighter and costs about half the price of a conventional HUD.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Gogo Business Aviation Plans for Faster Future
The airborne connectivity company is preparing to build its networks to handle higher connection speeds.
Maintenance and Modifications
Growth Continues at Jet Aviation St. Louis
The company’s St. Louis Downtown Airport facility now comprises 625,000 sq ft of hangar space.
Charter & Fractional
Sun Air Solidifies Southern California Bases
The Camarillo, Calif.-based company offers aircraft charter/management, maintenance, FBO and film location services.
NBAA Convention Preview: NBAA 2015 Is Vegas’s Baby
This year’s NBAA Convention takes place November 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Aircraft
AIN Blog: Here Come the Drone Police
The plan to enact rules for registration of drones will open a huge can of worms.
Avionics
Exemption Available for Part of ADS-B Out Requirements
The FAA will allow aircraft owners and operators to delay installation of a rule-compliant GPS/GNSS sensor to meet ADS-B Out equipage requirements.
Avionics
Avionics Source Aims To Serve Consumers, Industry
The idea is to be able to show aircraft owners in one place all the options for avionics upgrades, including the option of quality used avionics.
Avionics
FAA Allowing Easy Attitude Indicator Upgrades
The installation can be done as a minor alteration.
Avionics
FlightStar Offering ADS-B for Learjet 40/45
The company plans to offer ADS-B STCs for a number of older business jets.
Avionics
Gogo Biz 4G To Be Available in 2017
Business aviation operators can be flying with Gogo Biz 4G in 2017.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet-Care Offering Free Gas Path Analysis Clinic
The free trial allows operators to try Jet-Care's Gas Path Analysis trend monitoring service.
Leadership: Flight Departments Strive To Strategize
Running a modern flight department is a huge challenge for aviation department leaders.
Dayton is Ground Zero on The Aviation Trail
A visit to some of the sights on The Aviation Trail in Ohio highlighted many facets of early aviation history.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Gogo Biz 4G Connectivity Coming To Bizav Early 2017
The new Gogo Biz service is more than three times faster than the existing Gogo air-to-ground network for business aviation.
Fuel
Tankering Benefits Tangible and Achievable
There are many ways to calculate whether to carry extra fuel that is cheaper versus buying expensive fuel at the destination.
Aircraft
Hands On: Icon A5 a Surprisingly Satisfying Airplane
The amphibious light-sport A5 is finally entering production to satisfy orders for more than 1,500 copies of the aircraft.
Aircraft
Hands On: TTx Is Cessna’s Speediest Single
The Cessna TTx is a capable flying machine, with long range and swift cruising–all without retracting the landing gear.
Avionics
Hands On: HUD and Fly-by-Wire Enhances Legacy 500
In the middle of next year Embraer will offer optional head-up display with enhanced and synthetic vision for the Legacy 450 and 500.
Aircraft
Legacy 450 Flies Fine Steep Approach
Testing of the steep approach mode for the Legacy 450 and 500 is done and Embraer expects certification next month.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Report 2015
Charter/management firms report steady growth in fleets and business, from both management customers and buyers of charter lift.
Avionics
TrueNorth Offers Wireless Access to Smaller Aircraft
The Optelity Hot Spot allows operators of smaller jets and turboprops to provide wireless access for passengers and pilots.
Aircraft
Textron Rolls Out 2,500th Caravan
Bering Air will take delivery of the 2,500th Caravan after paint and interior work is completed.
ATC
Pope Francis Gets Presidential TFR Treatment
The size of the Temporary Flight Restrictions erected for Pope Francis’s visit to the U.S. raises questions: why such elevated security?
Maintenance and Modifications
SoCal Jets Adds Universal Avionics, TrueNorth Dealerships
The Van Nuys maintenance provider, in business for 31 years, services Gulfstream, Challenger, Falcon, Hawker, Learjet and Citation jets.
