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

Jet Linx stood down operations yesterday, as it has one day every year for the past 10 years, for its 10th annual safety summit. The company’s 500 employees participated in the summit, according to Jet Linx, “Not because they had to, but because they chose to in an effort to proactively surface any areas where they could improve.”
Keynote speaker Barry Ellis, president of Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter, shared lessons learned from the company’s February 2024 Bombardier Challenger 604 dual-engine failure accident. The NTSB cited undetected engine corrosion as the cause, even though regular maintenance was accomplished. A maintenance event performed 25 days before the accident found the engines to be airworthy, and 33 successful flights were conducted in the interim period.
“The most dangerous assumptions are often the ones we don’t realize we’re making,” Ellis said. “When assumptions go unchallenged, they become invisible, and invisible risk is the most dangerous risk of all.
“Anyone can say safety comes first when the decision is easy. The real test comes when safety becomes expensive…when safety creates disruption, and when safety conflicts with convenience. Strong systems require strong questioning…require humility… [and] require people willing to challenge assumptions before assumptions become vulnerabilities.”
The summit included a roundtable discussion with Wyvern CEO Sonnie Bates, Jet Linx operational leaders, and Argus International v-p of business aviation audit programs Patrick Chiles.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Jet Linx Stands Down Flight Operations for 10th Annual Safety Summit

Charter operator closes for one day each year to promote safety practices

Keynote speaker Barry Ellis, president of Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter, shared lessons learned from a Bombardier Challenger 604 dual-engine failure accident.

Jet Linx Pauses Operations for 10th Annual Safety Summit

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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.

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Jet Linx

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