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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

Training and Workforce

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers
Aircraft mechanic numbers from the FAA
Engines

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application
Avionics

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference
Roundtable September 2026
Maintenance and Modifications

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location
Epic E1000GX taxiing
Rotorcraft

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view
Aviation Specialties Unlimited E3 PANO night vision goggles
Avionics

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications
A drone and helicopter avoid each other
Avionics

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures
Garmin SmartCharts
Accidents

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure
Damaged tail boom due to vertical hop
Training and Workforce

Rohloff New Textron Aviation CEO as Ron Draper Retires

Draper to stay until the end of the year to smooth the transition
Ron Draper, Textron Aviation president and CEO
Avionics

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system
Klatt Works oxygen-mask head-up display for smoke emergencies
Training and Workforce

Kawasaki To Deploy 1st Asia-Pac Loft H145 VR Simulator

Virtual-reality device allows pilots and crew to practice realistic emergency scenarios
Loft Dynamics VR Multi-Pilot Simulator
Maintenance and Modifications

StandardAero’s Van Nuys Base Adds Mx for Global Jets

Bombardier capabilities add to long-standing Gulfstream services in California
StandardAero Van Nuys, California
Accidents

NTSB Releases Docket Info on Philly Learjet Accident

Investigators focus on somatogravic illusion and pitch-trim setting
Learjet accident Philadelphia
Cabin Interior and Electronics

FlightPath3D and Gogo Extend Bizav Partnership

Flight-tracking service is available for display on passengers' devices
FlightPath3D flight-tracking display
Avionics

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports
KPWK approach
Maintenance and Modifications

Liquidation Auction of Eclipse VLJ Parts, Assets Begins

Parts manufacturer Resurgent Aviation Solutions will close on August 31
Eclipse 500 on runway
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

PlaneWX Pilots Save with 5X5 Insurance Safety Rewards

Decision support system helps pilots assess risks up to 14 days ahead of planned flight
Mark Wolfgang, founder of PlaneWX
Rotorcraft

Bell 505 Makes Asia-Pacific Debut with Aichi Police

Joins fleet of longtime operator of Bell 206s and 412s
Bell 505 helicopter
Aircraft

Catalina Aircraft To Design Flying Boat in Vero Beach

Facility will be shared with aerospace and technology start-ups
Catalina Spar flying boat rendering
Safety

Li-ion Thermal Runaways on the Rise in Aircraft Cabins

Numbers are rising and the risk of a serious incident is increasing
Fire containment bag
Training and Workforce

AOPA Foundation Adds Mx, Manufacturing to School Program

Early testing of the new curriculum could take place in 2028
Charter & Fractional

CFS Aero Moves to Fireblade Aviation FBO at OR Tambo

Will retain FBO and other services at Lanseria International Airport
Fireblade Aviation FBO at OR Tambo International Airport
Aircraft

Honda Aircraft Celebrates 20 Years

Certification took place in 2015, and 275 HondaJets have now been delivered
Honda Aircraft associates celebrate 20th anniversary
Training and Workforce

AINsight: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Oshkosh!

As usual, EAA AirVenture was an incredible show and an extraordinary experience
Boeing C-17 at EAA AirVenture
Aircraft

AstroAero Unveils A200C Cargo Turboprop Single

Plans call for single-pilot operations and flight into known icing approval
AstroAero A200C cockpit
Aircraft

Joby Ends Second Quarter with $2.3 Billion in Cash

Losses climb as R&D spending for certification and production accelerates
Joby eVTOL aircraft
Regulations and Government

SCOTUS To Hear Alaska Alcohol, C-206 Forfeiture Case

Issue has to do with proportionality of punishment
Ken Jouppi, owner of Cessna 206D
Rotorcraft

Enstrom Delivers 480B to Africa’s Safomar Aviation

Distributor will use the helicopter to introduce customers to its capabilities
Enstrom Helicopter 480B
Charter & Fractional

SC Aviation Acquires Wisconsin’s Heartland Aviation

Combined companies will serve clients in the upper Midwest
SC Aviation business jets
Engines

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023
Safran's Arriel 2K engine