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&amp;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.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Nextant Aerospace (Booth P713) has expanded its marketing reach with the appointment of newly formed Nextant Pacific as its dealer in the Asia Pacific region. Nextant Pacific is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and was founded in February by managing director John Oppenheim, who previously was sales manager for Hawker Pacific. The new company is responsible for sales, marketing and customer support for Nextant Aerospace’s remanufactured <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2013-06-01/nextant-debuts-400xti-ebace">Nextant 400XTi</a> (Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP) and G90XT (King Air).


The first 400XTi sold into the Asia Pacific region is fitted with an aeromedical interior and is based in Singapore, but registered in Australia. “The 400XTi is a great aeromed aircraft,” said Oppenheim. “We’re able to get an aircraft that provides [excellent] performance but with operating costs lower than a King Air. It competes against the Cessna CJ4 and Embraer Phenom 300 but at a fraction of the price.”


The 400XTi is a remanufactured jet with new Williams International FJ44-3AP engines, Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, winglets and an improved engine-mounting configuration with redesigned nacelles and pylons, according to Nextant Aerospace.


The upgrade takes more than 6,000 man-hours to complete and includes zero-time life-limited components, all scheduled inspections, more than 60 engineering orders that are designed to improve reliability and lower costs, and installation of a new primary wiring harness. The upgrade boosts performance and delivers a range of 2,003 nm (four passengers with 100-nm NBAA IFR reserves) and a high-speed cruise of 460 knots.


Oppenheim also sees a strong market in the Asia Pacific for Nextant Aerospace’s King Air G90XT remanufacturing program. “In Australia and New Zealand the King Air mod is a very appropriate aircraft,” he said. “The King Air has always been a popular aircraft [in the region].”


The G90XT upgrade includes new GE H80 engines and Garmin G1000 avionics. “It has a quick-change interior and single-lever power controls,” he said. “This is going to be a terrific product.” Nextant will make a variety of configurations available, including aeromedical, freight, surveillance and flight training.


While Jet Aviation Singapore will provide maintenance services for Nextant operators in the region, Nextant Pacific plans to launch its own network of service centers as sales of the 400XTi and G90XT grow. “The pipeline of prospects is quite good,” Oppenheim said.

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Nextant Pacific Preps for Growing 400XTi and G90XT Sales

Nextant Aerospace has expanded its marketing reach with the appointment of Sydney-based Nextant Pacific as its dealer in the Asia Pacific region.

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