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
Charter & Fractional
Meeting outlines ACSF audit standard goals
Fourteen charter operators and four auditing companies met early last month to discuss whether there should be a single audit standard for the charter and
Security
Vague GAO Report Fails To Address Security Risk Issue
10:30 6-21-2011
In response to a Senate committee request, the U.S.
Paris 2011: CRJ1000 enjoying excellent service record
Bombardier’s largest regional airliner–the CRJ1000 NextGen (until the CSeries enters service in 2013)–has made a nearly flawless since entry into service l
Paris 2011: Bombardier Belfast finalizing composite wing manufacturing facilities
In a large building in Belfast very near where thousands of laborers hammered thick steel plates to massive ribs and fittings using thumb-size rivets to bu
Paris 2011: Hampson gains new tooling, manufacturing contracts
Hampson Industries is enjoying a string of new contracts and ongoing programs that will help the U.S.
Paris 2011: Esterline CMC shows glass cockpits, FMS and EFBs
At this year’s Paris Air Show, Esterline CMC Electronics (Hall 5 Stand 242) is showing, for the first time, the Cockpit 9000 avionics suite selected as an
Maintenance and Modifications
Hubbard’s QS3 Gulfstream II/III Hushkit OK’d by EASA
The EASA has certified the Hubbard Aviation Technologies QS3 hushkit system for the Gulfstream II, IISP, IIB and III as meeting Chapter 3 noise requirement
Avionics
Honeywell Tenders Buy Offer To EMS Technologies
Honeywell announced yesterday that it offered to acquire EMS Technologies for $491 million, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
FBOs
Henriksen Opens New GA Airport in Austin
A big celebration was held for an unusual event yesterday, the grand opening of a new general avia
AIN Blog: Dassault’s 7X Grounding Is a Safety Milestone
Dassault Aviation’s grounding on May 26 of the entire 112-aircraft Falcon 7X fleet because of a runaway trim incident is extraordinary in many ways.
Charter & Fractional
End of an Era As Arcadia Aviation Closes Doors
The final chapter in the storied history of a series of well known companies came to an end Tuesday when Arcadia Aviation, an aircraft charter/management c
Aircraft
HBC Signals Growing Interest in China Manufacturing
Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) is holding preliminary discussions about expanding manufacturing operations into China, according to a company spokeswoman, who con
Sokol trades raise auditor questions
Berkshire Hathaway’s audit committee claims that former NetJets chairman and CEO David Sokol violated “the highest standards of business ethics” maintained
Charter & Fractional
Sentient sees better-than-average growth
During the past year national charter brokerage firm Sentient Jet grew by 30 percent in revenue and charter leg spaces sold, according to Marty Guinoo, CEO
Lead emissions may lead to costly California lawsuits
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sent a notice of violation to oil companies and fuel supplier Avfuel, as well as to more than two dozen companies
Safety
Fit for Work: A simple test to spot fit fliers
Aviation is extraordinarily dependent on the performance of people who fly and maintain aircraft.
Avionics
Fusion TSO a major step for Rockwell Collins
The Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system is “good to go,” reported chairman, president and CEO Clay Jones during an April 21 earnings call.
ATC
Cessna Chooses Aircell Aviator 300
Cessna Aircraft has selected Aircell’s Aviator 300 satcom system as optional equipment for the Citation XLS+, Sovereign and Citation X starting with 2012 m
ATC
ACSS TCAS Change 7.1 Approved in Europe
Early last month, the EASA granted European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorization for Change 7.1 software for ACSS’s TCAS 2000 and TCAS II.
ATC
Aviator 200 operational in Europe
Satcom1 is now providing Aviator 200 services in Europe and claims to be the first to do so.
ATC
Avidyne Obtains AML STC for TAS600
Avidyne’s TAS600 traffic advisory system has received an approved model list (AML) supplemental type certificate (STC) from the FAA, covering installation
Safety
WSI Reboots Pilotbrief with zippy features
On May 3, Weather Services International announced the launch of a new version of its online Pilotbrief weather information service, Pilotbrief Optima.
Avionics
EASy II offers major upgrade for Falcon fliers
As Honeywell’s Falcon 900 equipped with the new EASy II avionics upgrade flew solidly down the glideslope to Runway 23 at Morristown Airport in New Jersey,
Avionics
EASy II Pricing
Dassault Falcon declined to release pricing information on EASy II and its optional features.
Safety
CASS attendees share safety solutions
If there was any doubt that hundreds of safety-minded aviation professionals were in attendance during the second day of the 56th Annual Corporate Aviation
Avionics
Rockwell Collins HGS-3500 brings small HUD to smaller airplanes
For more than five years, Rockwell Collins engineers have been working on a tough challenge: how to make a compact head-up display (HUD) system, one that c
Aircraft
Gulfstream G250 Soars Ever Closer To Certification
Three super-midsize G250 flight-test airplanes have flown more than 1,150 hours and 400 flights, and the jet remains on schedule for certification later th
Safety
Hawker Beech Flight Ops Attains IS-BAO Registration
Hawker Beechcraft’s flight operations, including all of the company’s flight test, demonstration and corporate transport operations, have received registra
Aircraft
EBACE 2011: Honda Aircraft well on way to HondaJet certification
As the HondaJet enters the final phases of FAA and EASA certification, Honda Aircraft employees are preparing for volume production and first deliveries, s
