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

Maintenance and Modifications

ASI Adds Ultrasonic Testing and New Product Lines

Gripedge tools and PM Research PMA products are now available
Aviation Specialities NDT
Safety

NBAA, VAI Critical of FAA Part 108 BVLOS Drone Rule

Electronic conspicuity is needed but there is no widespread agreement on technology standards
Article image
Safety

FAA Publishes New D.C.-area Helicopter Route Charts

Notes added to clarify altitude and operational instructions
DCA chart changes
Aircraft

Fun Times Flying a Classic Lear 23

Jim Donovan’s historic jet joined the NBAA-BACE Tribute to Flight Pavilion
Lear 23
Aircraft

Archer and Joby Demonstrate eVTOL Flight at Salinas Airshow

Both electric aircraft were extremely quiet as they flew over the Salinas Airport runways
Joby eVTOL aircraft
Rotorcraft

StarFlight To Add Three Airbus H145s to Medevac Fleet

LifeFlight Australia and Linfox joint venture expects to fly the new fleet 1,500 hours a year
StarFlight
Maintenance and Modifications

Liebherr-Aerospace Expands MRO at Michigan Campus

Added space facilitates work on heat-transfer, landing gear, and pneumatic components
Liebherr-Aerospace Saline
Charter & Fractional

Leviate Air Group Acquires Vault Aviation

Expands company’s services for sports and entertainment clients
Leviate Air Group
Accidents

Hop-A-Jet Files Lawsuit against OEMs, Service Providers

Complaint alleges Naples accident caused by corrosion of engines’ variable guide vane systems
N823KD Hop-A-Jet Challenger 604
Safety

Skylar AI Assistant Will Help Simplify Pilots’ Tasks

Artificial intelligence assistant monitors systems and traffic automatically
Skyryse
Aircraft

SyberJet To Relaunch with Stretched SJ36 Light Jet

Company aims to design own avionics system and emission-less APU
SyberJet SJ36
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Roundtable: The Rapid Evolution of In-flight Connectivity

In-flight connectivity has become a must-have with multiple heavy data users on board
Roundtable October
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Gogo Plane Simple Antenna Approved for Falcon 7X/8X

Satcom system provides access to high-speed GX service
Article image
Rotorcraft

FAA Policy Allows for OSHA-approved HEC Harnesses

Allows use of restraints as an alternative to TSO-C167–approved harnesses
PJ Helicopters
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Omni Offers No-cost Gogo Upgrade for Classic ATG System

Switching to the C-1 system extends life of older connectivity product
Omni Aircraft Maintenance
Rotorcraft

Coptersafety Adding Second AW139 Full-flight Simulator

New device will be available for pilot training in the first half of 2027
Coptersafety flight simulators
Avionics

EASA Approves Butler Avionics TAWS for Learjet 35/36

Terrain awareness and warning system is available for Europe- and U.S.-based jets
Learjet 35/36
Rotorcraft

Avincis Enters Wind Market with KN Helicopters Buy

Adds four helicopters and operations in Denmark
KN Helicopters wind farm services
Safety

Associations Ask DOD, DOT for GPS Jamming/Spoofing Fix

Many industries rely heavily on vulnerable Global Positioning System navigation signals
gpsjam.org map
Aircraft

Epic Aircraft Celebrates 100th E1000 Turboprop Delivery

New owner will base the E1000 AX in Texas
Epic Aircraft E1000 AX airplane
Cabin Interior and Electronics

STC Issued for Citation Latitude Starlink Upgrade

FAA approval of the AeroMech mod expands the number of covered jets
Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Latitude
Maintenance and Modifications

Leonardo Opens MRO Center at Whiting Aviation Park

Facility is FAA Part 145-approved and will service military and civil customers
Grand opening of Leonardo's MRO facility at Whiting Aviation Park
Rotorcraft

Future Aircrew H135/CT-153 Helos Prep for RCAF Service

Twin-engine configuration and Helionix avionics will prepare pilots for advanced operations
Airbus Helicopters H135/RCAF CT-153 Juno
Rotorcraft

GMR Orders Seven Bell 429s for EMS Operations

New helicopters will be deployed in the second quarter of 2026
GMR buys Bell 429s
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Dassault Obtains STC for Gogo Galileo in Falcon 2000

System provides access to Eutelsat OneWeb satellite network
Gogo Galileo HDX approved for Falcon 2000
Training and Workforce

Apple Vision Pro Could Help Helicopter Students Shine

Flight Sight brings the real world of training into a virtual reality platform
Flight Sight app development
Charter & Fractional

Flexjet Launches Ultra-performance Service with 3 G700s

Ultra-long-range jets will operate under company's Red Label program
Flexjet G700
Maintenance and Modifications

Blackhawk Installs First King Air 350 Autoland System

Adds under- and overspeed protection, engine-out mitigation, and emergency automatic landing capability
Blackhawk installs first King Air 350 autothrottle/autoland system
Rotorcraft

Aero Asset Reports Twin-helo Sales Down, Supply Steady

Asia-Pacific was the only region with a retail sales increase
Leonardo AW139
Avionics

Garmin Adds Sherpa Air as Service, Installation Center

Company plans to develop upgrades for Part 25 aircraft
Sherpa Air hangar