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

Brazil-based agricultural aircraft operators can learn more about how their Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A engines operate, thanks to a new training course that FlightSafety International implemented last December.

 


The Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A Series Pilot Familiarization Course is available in Botucatu, Brazil, as well as Bangalore, India; Brisbane, Australia; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Haikou, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Montreal, Canada; Paris Le Bourget, France; Singapore; Toronto, Canada; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Wichita, Kansas. The Botacatu center is operated by Aeroglobo, which is a FlightSafety-approved facility.

 


The familiarization course takes one day and helps pilots learn more about the PT6A, including “an in-depth overview of the engine’s major systems and its interface with the aircraft,” according to FlightSafety. Other topics covered in the class include normal and abnormal operation, and operational procedures plus recommendations to help operators achieve maximum performance and peak efficiency from their PT6As.

 


The legacy turboprop powers a number of agricultural aircraft made by companies such as Air Tractor, Frakes, PZL-Okecie, Schweizer, and Thrush.

 


“This new course will provide agricultural pilots who fly aircraft equipped with Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A-series engines with the information and hands-on practical training needed to help operate and maintain the engines to the highest standards,” said Steve Gross, senior vice president, commercial at FlightSafety.

 


“In listening to our agricultural customers’ needs, we’ve recognized that in addition to providing high-quality [original equipment manufacturer] maintenance training, it is equally important to optimize pilots’ understanding of engine operability and performance to enhance communication with the technicians maintaining the aircraft,” said Tim Swail, vice president, customer programs at Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada.

 


FlightSafety, which was appointed Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada’s authorized training provider in 2010, has provided more than 15,000 courses for the manufacturer's engines and APUs for customers in 126 countries, including at FlightSafety learning centers and via eLearning and interactive distance-learning courses.

 


FlightSafety’s other training facility in Brazil is in Curitiba, where it offers Embraer ERJ-145/Legacy 600 type rating and recurrent training in a level D full-flight simulator. EPA Training Center operates the training center in Curitiba, in joint cooperation with FlightSafety.

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

FlightSafety PT6A Training Aimed at Agricultural Operators

Agricultural operators can learn more about their PT6A engines at FlightSafety's Botucatu training facility. 

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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.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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.

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