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

Aviation associations are celebrating the defeat of Hawaii Senate Bill 2747, which would have required air tour operators to carry aircraft liability coverage of $20 million per person per incident. AOPA, NBAA, and NATA collaborated with the Vertical Aviation Association (VAI) on steps to oppose the bill.
S.B. 2747 was introduced by Senator Chris Lee (D-District 25) in January and would have required $1 million per person per incident liability insurance. This version of the bill passed in both the Hawaii Senate and House, but the Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts removed that threshold and sent the bill for further review to the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. This committee has “expertise in addressing insurance limits,” according to the VAI, and in April it increased the liability limit to $20 million.
The VAI highlighted the damage that the bill would cause to air tour operators “in productive dialogue with Hawaii state legislators to address the vertical aviation industry’s concerns about the bill,” the association said, “emphasizing the potential financial burden and regulatory conflicts the bill posed.” Two key issues were “the impracticality of obtaining the specified insurance coverage at a reasonable cost and the risk of violating FAA grant assurances, potentially jeopardizing Hawaii’s federal funding for airport improvement programs.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Legislators Kill Harmful Hawaii Air Tour Insurance Bill 

The bill would have required liability insurance of $20 million per person

A key issue of the Hawaii Senate Bill 2747 was “the impracticality of obtaining the specified insurance coverage at a reasonable cost," according to the VAI.

Legislators Kill Hawaii Air Tour Insurance Bill 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Rotorcraft

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

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