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

Aircraft

Cessna Slows Citation Mustang Production

Cessna Aircraft instituted rolling furloughs on May 17 affecting up to 200 people at the company’s Independence, Kan.
Charter & Fractional

End of an Era as Wayfarer Aviation Closes Doors

Wayfarer Aviation is closing tomorrow, after having let go most of its employees earlier this week.
Charter & Fractional

FAA To Establish Ops Specs for Non-U.S. Charter Outfits

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that could provide a somewhat simpler means for non-U.S.
Aircraft

Suppliers, Orders Grow for Cirrus Vision Jet

Cirrus Aircraft’s SF50 Vision single-engine jet program is “making good progress,” according to president and CEO Brent Wouters, who spoke during a Web pre
Charter & Fractional

Darby challenges certificate revocation

Five years after the February 2005 Challenger overrun at Teterboro–one of the most notorious accidents in business aviation history–the FAA has
FBOs

FBO wants to bring corporate ops back to Reagan National

It has been almost nine years since terrorists showed the world how easy it was to hijack fuel-laden airliners and use them as missiles on Sept.
Charter & Fractional

VistaJet sees surge in revenue

European charter operator VistaJet reports that revenues grew by 20 percent last year and that the company has expanded its fleet of Bombardier jets to 26
Environment

Phillips 66 provides rebate for compassion missions

Phillips 66 Aviation is offering a $1-per-gallon rebate to qualifying pilots flying Angel Flight Northeast and Mercy Medical Airlift missions, when fuel is
Regulations and Government

FAA gives compliance a closer look

The FAA seems to have been extraordinarily busy of late finding incidents of non-compliance with regulations.
Maintenance and Modifications

Honeywell To Tear Down TPE331s that Operated in Ash

Honeywell’s engine division scored a unique opportunity last month when two TPE331-5 engines arrived at the company’s Phoenix headquarters.
FBOs

Sporavia and Aviastec plan FBO at Spanish airport

On May 4, Sporavia and Aviastec signed a 30-year lease with CR Aeropuertos for a four-acre lot at Ciudad Real Airport south of Madrid, where the companies
FBOs

Execujet opens new Zurich hangar

In April ExecuJet Aviation Group took over a 20,000-sq-ft hangar at Zurich’s Kloten Airport.
FBOs

Lyon Bron opens green hangar

Lyon Bron Airport in France held a grand opening for a new 32,000-sq-ft hangar on April 2.
Maintenance and Modifications

Volcanic ash imposing new layer of ops, mx concerns

A bold move by British Airways in April–the launching of 26 airplanes toward the UK while British airspace was closed–finally broke the European
FBOs

Landmark joins Globalair.com Air Resource Center

Landmark Aviation has added its 33 continental U.S.
FBOs

Privatair plans Bahrain expansion

PrivatAir is targeting a July 1 opening date for its new charter/management business in Bahrain.
FBOs

JetEx opens first international FBO

JetEx Flight Support has opened its first FBO, a refurbishment of the former Flying Group facility at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, which it acquired in Feb
FBOs

Rizon FBOs to open soon

Rizon Jet’s two FBOs at London Biggin Hill and Doha, Qatar, are set to open in July.
FBOs

Universal offers integrated tankering solution

Universal Weather & Aviation has added integrated fuel tankering calculations to its UVflightplanner.com system.
FBOs

Nice Airports get Bizav upgrades

France’s Nice Cote d’Azur Airport now has a consolidated general aviation terminal (GAT) housing three FBOs: Swissport Executive Aviation (a joint venture
FBOs

Air Rutter adopts Jetflite as new name

Charter/management operator Air Rutter International has changed its name to JetFlite International and added a new operating base at Republic Airport in F
FBOs

Avfuel adds handling services

Fuel distributor Avfuel now offers international flight planning and ground handling through its Avplan subsidiary.
FBOs

Cutter sells Dallas exec FBO

Cutter Aviation last month finalized a plan to consolidate its Dallas-area operations at its growing North Dallas location at Collin County Regional Airpor
FBOs

Harrods sold to Qatar Holdings

The Harrods Aviation FBOs at London Luton and Stansted airports, as well as helicopter charter operator Air Harrods, have been sold as part of a $2.2 billi
FBOs

New FBO under construction at Florida’s Page Field

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last month for a 46,000-sq-ft general aviation complex at Page Field in Fort Myers, Fla.
Aircraft

In the Works: June 2010

Gulfstream – G650Test pilot John O’Meara and senior experimental test pilot Tom Horne flew Gulfstream’s G650 proto- type to its top operating
Avionics

Jepp takes new approach with SolidFX reader

Pilots now have many choices for viewing approach plates, arrival and departure charts and airport diagrams in the cockpit, from traditional paper to elect