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

Finance, Taxes, Insurance

NBAA Appauds Passage of Bizav-friendly Budget Bill

Majority of aviation funding would bolster air traffic control system
U.S. Capitol at night
Aircraft

One Year Later, Gulfstream Delivers 50th G700

Fleet has logged more than 11,000 hours so far
Gulfstream G700 business jet
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Viasat Improves Satcom Coverage in Middle East, South America

JetXP offers uncapped speed and new service enhancements
Viasat global director Claudio D’Amico
Aircraft

First Production Global 8000 Takes to the Skies

Next steps are completion, then entry into service later this year
Bombardier global 8000 business jet
Safety

Aviators Invited to FAA Notam Reform User Forum

Plans are to outline upcoming improvements to this important safety system
Notices to Airmen FAA search page
Safety

Senator Wants FAA To Eliminate Class B ADS-B Exemptions

Bill would require that aircraft flying near major metro areas use ADS-B Out and In
Aerial view of Washington Reagan National Airport (KDCA)
Maintenance and Modifications

Avcon STCs Multiple Mods on Special-mission King Air

Aircraft is for National Science Foundation-University of Wyoming environmental research
National Science Foundation-University of Wyoming environmental research King Air airplane
Rotorcraft

Rain Tests Autonomous Black Hawk on Burning Brush

Two weeks of testing highlighted the value of quick-reaction fire suppression
Autonomous Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter tackles brush fires
Aircraft

Spike Aerospace Resurfaces Supersonic Bizjet Candidate

S-512 promises “low-boom” Mach 1.6 travel
Spike Aerospace S-512 supersonic business jet
Avionics

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display
Acron Aviation SafeRoute+ ADS-B In airline retrofit
Rotorcraft

FAA Concerned About Bell 206L Vertical Vibrations

Pilots need to know to pull collective to eliminate so-called collective bounce
Van Horn Aviation collective bounce
Operations

Avincis Sends CL-415s To Fight Fires in Israel

Amphibious fire bombers are part of a fleet of 18 based in Italy
Avincis CL-415 Super Scooper aircraft
Rotorcraft

Alpine Helicopters Picks Camp’s Mx and Inventory Tools

Systems will streamline operations, reduce downtime, and improve reliability
Alpine Helicopters Bell 407
Training and Workforce

Sixth FlightSimExpo To Step Up Simulation Reality

Lower-cost but more sophisticated hardware is a theme for this year’s show
FlightSimExpo 2023
Maintenance and Modifications

JetSupport Gains EASA Approval for Challenger Maintenance

Expands capability to maintain Europe-based business jets
JetSupport Challenger business jet maintenance
Training and Workforce

CAE Demos Eye-tracking for ATC Controller Training

Enables assessment of how students scan, process, and respond in a dynamic environment
CAE eye-tracking for air traffic controller training
Training and Workforce

Alaska Airlines Venture Fund Invests in Loft Dynamics 

Plans call for the airline to purchase virtual reality simulators for pilot training
Loft Dynamics virtual reality flight simulators
Rotorcraft

Bell Celebrates 6,000th Helicopter Made in Mirabel

Ceremony included delivery of two Subaru Bell 412EPXs
Bell Textron 6000th helicopter made in Mirabel, Canada
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Viasat JetXP Satcom Sees Strong Uptake Since ‘24 Launch

Broadband service operates on geostationary orbit satellite network
Viasat JetXP satellite communications
Rotorcraft

Loft Dynamics VR Sim Approved for Type Rating Program

Training includes flights in simulator and in the real AS350B3e helicopter
Loft Dynamics VR flight simulator at Airbus Helicopters headquarters
Avionics

Joint Effort To Field Iridium-based GNSS-Denied Solution

System takes advantage of low-earth-orbit satellites’ stronger signals
NAL Research
Maintenance and Modifications

Spaes Adds Pulse Lights to Airbus AS332 Helicopter

Modification improves visibility of the helicopter during firefighting operations
Pulse lights modification on Airbus AS332 helicopter
Rotorcraft

Greece Buying Airbus H215s for Firefighting Operations

Super Puma can drop more than four tonnes of water at a time
Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma helicopter
Safety

Eclipse Owners and Aerocor Launch FOQA Analysis Program

Capturing flight data to improve pilot performance should help with insurance coverage
Eclipse 500 jet
Maintenance and Modifications

Gama Aviation Adds Full-service Mx for Citation XL/XLS

Expands company’s capabilities under Textron Aviation authorization
Cessna Citation 560 XLS business jet
Accidents

AINsight: It’s Time To Put Video Recorders in Cockpits

More data is needed, and there’s only one way to get it
Eye in the Sky
Aircraft

Pilot Report: An Epic Epic E1000 GX

The high-performance turboprop goes fast and is a pleasure to fly
Epic E1000 turboprop
Safety

Notams, Finally Getting Fixed?

Efforts seem to be accelerating to overhaul this critical safety information system
Near-collision at San Francisco International Airport
Operations

Garmin Pilot Now Available as Flight Planning Website

Web version offers free route planning for non-subscribers
Garmin Pilot Web aeronautical layer
Rotorcraft

Bristow, Sikorsky Sign S-92 Enhanced Support Agreement

Coverage supports more than 60 helicopters in SAR and offshore energy operations
Bristow Sikorsky S-92 helicopters