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
Engines
CFM International Signs Garuda Indonesia as Newest Customer for LEAP-1A Engine
Garuda Indonesia has ordered CFM International’s Leap-1A engines to power the airline’s 10 Airbus A320neo jets–a deal worth $220 million.
Bombardier Support Team Has Middle East in Focus
Bombardier Aerospace is emphasizing at the Dubai Air Show this week the support that its Business Aircraft division is providing for local owners and oper
Middle East Business Aviation at “Crucial Stage,” Says MEBAA
The business aviation market in the Middle East is now at a crucial stage in its development.
Charter & Fractional
MEBAA Meeting Explores Mideast Bizav Issues
Regional business aviation companies met in Dubai today to share information and discuss issues at the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA)
Avionics
DAC Device Ports Aircraft Data to iPads
Greenwich AeroGroup subsidiary DAC International has created what it says is an “industry first” interface unit
Aircraft
G650 On Final Approach for Provisional Certification
Gulfstream Aerospace expects to receive provisional type certification (PTC) of its wide-cabin G650 this year–possibly by the end of this month–followed
AIN Blog: Inspiring Magazines Missing from Aviation Arena
Aviation publishers should join forces to create a compelling and inspiring annual publication for young people interested in aviation.
Aircraft
Eclipse Aerospace To Resume VLJ Production
Eclipse Aerospace announced at last month’s NBAA Convention that it is resuming new-build production of its iconic very light twinjet,
Aircraft
G650 On Track for Provisional Certification in 2011
Gulfstream's G650 is on track for provisional certification this year.
International Presence a Growing Factor at NBAA Convention
This year’s NBAA annual convention was bigger and better than last year’s,
2011 NBAA Convention Report
Las Vegas, the site of the 64th Annual NBAA Convention and Exhibition,
Avionics
XM In-flight Weather Lands on iPad
The recently released ForeFlight Mobile v4.2 iPad app now allows users to display XM WX inflight weather data overlaid on maps displayed on the ForeFlight
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA To Allow Pilots To Update Nav Databases
The FAA delivered some good news in a proposed rule change that will free operators from the burden of needing mechanics to update onboard navigation
Safety
Apple iOS 5 Update Problematic for iPad EFB Users
Apple’s new iOS 5 operating system is causing problems for iPad aviation app users, including deletion of data without warning
Maintenance and Modifications
Banyan Expands Maintenance Shop Hours
Banyan Air Service has expanded the hours of operation of its maintenance shop at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida.
ATC
ACSS Showcases Surveillance Avionics
Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems is riding a wave of interest in surveillance-type avionics.
Maintenance and Modifications
Raisbeck Sees Surging Demand for Learjet and King Air Performance Mods
Raisbeck Engineering is enjoying surging interest in Learjet and King Air performance modifications that continues to outpace the sluggish economy.
Maintenance and Modifications
1800Endoscope.com Portable Borescope Peers Into Tight Spots
1800Endoscope.com is displaying its new 1800TVS4 portable borescope at Booth
Training and Workforce
Loft Offers Alternative for Jet Type Rating Training
Loft offers a training alternative to FlightSafety, CAE SimCom and CAE Simuflite.
Two iPad 2s in Business Jet Center Photo Contest
The Dallas Love Field-based FBO is taking advantage of social media to create a “virtual Facebook photo contest” with an aviation theme.
Apps turn iPad into airborne solution
Apple’s iPad tablet computer is only about a year-and-a-half old,
Avionics
Rockwell Collins HUD gets synthetic vision
The overwhelming desire when looking at the Pro Line Fusion system in the Rockwell Collins Challenger 601 on which we took a test flight is to keep looking
Avionics
Honeywell moves forward on head-down EVS/SVS combo
The future is coming and it looks like this: the weather at your destination was supposed to improve, but it stubbornly remains below the 200-foot minimums
NBAA Rewards 50- And 60-Year Safe Flyers
In 1998, the National Business Aviation Association started honoring member companies that have flown 50 years or more without an accident, and in 2006, th
Avionics
FCC Licenses Row 44’s North Atlantic Broadband
Row 44 has received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval to provide broadband connectivity on transatlantic flights, using the T11N North Atlan
Avionics
Embraer Chooses Sennheiser Headsets
Embraer has selected Sennheiser to provide its HMEC 26 active noise-reduction headsets for the Phenom 100 and 300, Lineage 1000 and E170 through E195 airli
Avionics
Waas Satellite Serving Alaska Will Be Back Online Soon
Intelsat’s Galaxy 15 geostationary satellite, which ceased broadcasting the Waas signal covering some airports in Alaska on December 16, is now back under
Avionics
SVT Approved for Phenom 300
Embraer’s Phenom 300 has received approval for the upgrade to Garmin’s synthetic vision technology (SVT).
Avionics
Thrane & Thrane Presents Aviator Wireless
Thrane & Thrane recently introduced its Aviator wireless handset, a device designed to work with the Danish satcom specialist’s Aviator SwiftBroadba
