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
EU Emissions Ruling May Come Sooner Than Planned
The European Union Court of Justice has moved up the date it plans to issue a final ruling on Europe’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) to December 21
Odyssey Opens New Bahamas Handling Facilities
Odyssey Aviation Bahamas has opened two handling locations on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Aviation Partners Responds To Airbus Lawsuit
Aviation Partners (API) founder and CEO Joe Clark issued a statement yesterday in response to Airbus’s lawsuit complaining about API’s winglet patent.
Safety
Vaisala Upgrades Lightning Data
Vaisala, a provider of weather-measuring equipment and services, has upgraded the quality of its Global Lightning Dataset GLD360
EU and China Cooperate on GA Education
The EU-China Civil Aviation Project (EUCCAP) held a two-week workshop in Beijing and Zhuhai to introduce Chinese aviation regulators
ForeFlight Mobile 4.3 Released
ForeFlight Mobile 4.3 has been released in the Apple App Store and adds new features, including a measure function
Safety
Fire-containment Bags Don’t Snuff Fires
AINalerts reported last week that fire-containment bags, like those sold by Aircare Access and Ship It AOG
Security
BARR Program Reinstated by FAA
The FAA lifted all restrictions on the Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) program on Friday
Environment
NATA Seeking Federal Intervention in Avgas Lawsuit
In a letter to DOT general counsel Robert Rivkin, NATA president and CEO James Coyne asked for federal intervention in a lawsuit
Safety
NTSB To Hold Air Show/Race Safety Meeting
The NTSB plans to hold a one-day hearing on air race and airshow safety at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Files Complaint against Aviation Partners
In a complaint filed on December 1 in the U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas, Airbus claims that Aviation Partners
FBOs
ExecuJet Opens Two New FBOs
ExecuJet Aviation Group opened two new FBOs in Australasia. ExecuJet’s first FBO in New Zealand opened in Wellington
AIN Blog: FAA Administrator Babbitt's Big Mistake
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt Arrested for Driving Under the Influence
Avionics
Garmin Halts 500W/530W Production
Garmin stopped manufacture of the GNS 530W and GPS 500W navigators on November 30,
Avionics
FreeFlight ADS-B Receiver Gets FAA TSO
The FAA has issued TSO authorization for FreeFlight’s Rangr FDL-978TX ADS-B universal access transmitter,
Avionics
Gulfstream Selects GE’s Health-management Solution
GE Aviation has been awarded two contracts from Gulfstream Aerospace to provide integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) technology for the Gulfstream G
Avionics
Satcom 1 Simplifies Telecom Billing
Danish satellite communication service specialist Satcom 1 has launched Flight Billing to simplify and expedite billing for onboard satcom usage.
Avionics
Safe Flight Adds Speed Controls, Autothrottles
Safe Flight Instrument is celebrating its 65th anniversary with several new programs,
Aircraft
In the Works: Privateer Industries Privateer
The single-engine Privateer amphibian was to have flown earlier this year, but is currently still under construction, although now in the final assembly ph
Aircraft
In the Works: Piper Aircraft PiperJet Altaire
Shortly after Piper Aircraft posted billboards in Wichita advertising for engineers, the company suspended further development of the single-engine PiperJe
Regulations and Government
EU: Techs, Not Pilots, Update Nav Databases
The rules for aircraft registered in the European Union require that technicians perform database updates on aircraft that weigh more than 6,020 pounds.
AIN Blog: GPS Jammer Guy Touts Wares at Dubai Air Show
GPS and satcom jammer systems on display at Dubai Air Show
NBAA Releases Flight Expenses Handbook
The latest version of the NBAA Reimbursement of Flight Expenses for Owner-Pilots Handbook was released today.
Safety
Firebags Can Snuff Out Onboard Li-ion Battery Fires
The fiery failure of a lithium-ion battery powering an Apple iPhone 4 aboard Regional Express Flight ZL319 last Friday
Maintenance and Modifications
Sierra Industries Adds G1000 to Citation Mod Offerings
One of the aircraft parked at the NBAA static display at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the NBAA Convention in October was a highly modified Cessna
Avionics
FAA To Allow 135, 121 Pilot Updating of Nav Databases
The FAA is seeking comments on a proposed rule change that will allow pilots flying under commercial operating regulations to update navigation system data
California Lawsuit Loss Could Lead to Ban on Leaded Avgas
The battle over leaded avgas in California took a turn against a coalition of associations representing users
Avionics
HBC Offering Retrofits of Max-Viz EVS
Hawker Beechcraft is offering installation of Max-Viz EVS-1500 infrared enhanced vision systems (EVS) for the Hawker 750, 800, 850 and 900 series.
Avionics
U.S. Air Force Selects Cavu’s iPhone App
The U.S. Air Force has selected the EFB-Pro performance-calculating iPhone app for pilots of its fleet of C-21A Learjet 35As.
Avionics
iOS 5.0.1 Fixes Some iPad Aviation App Data Issues
Apple’s latest update to the iOS operating system–iOS 5.0.1–is expected to prevent some of the automatic data deletion problems that iPad users
