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
Data Shows Positive Biz Aircraft Sales Signs
First-quarter 2011 business jet and turboprop sales and retail transactions were positive, according to data providers Amstat and JetNet.
Charter & Fractional
NATA: Contract pilot rule change an ‘emerging issue’
In yet another case of local interpretation of federal regulations, at the Long Beach, Calif., Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) FAA inspectors have
Avionics
Collins Developing HUD for Turboprops, Light Jets
Rockwell Collins is developing the HGS-3500 head-up guidance system, a smaller and lighter head-up display (HUD) for turboprop singles to midsize jets.
Safety
Jeppesen sees future with far less paper
by Matt Thurber
Electronic flight bags and newer devices like the Apple iPad and Android-based tablets are part of what is driving Jeppesen t
Charter & Fractional
NetJets under new leadership after Sokol resignation
On March 28, David Sokol resigned from his job as chairman of several Berkshire Hathaway-owned companies, including fractional-share provider NetJets.
Avionics
Dealers delight in new avionics at AEA’11
The annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show is a showcase for avionics dealers, the people who sell, install and repa
Safety
ACSF Supports Single Charter Standard
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is trying to encourage charter and fractional operators to support the move to a single safety audit standard–its
Maintenance and Modifications
Part 39 Interpretation Raises AD Compliance Questions
The FAA is seeking comments on a proposed legal interpretation of Airw
AIN Blog: FAA Interpretation Outlines Onerous AD Compliance Issues
One of the problems with the aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) process is that it gives people, and especially FAA lawyers, too much time to think.
Charter & Fractional
Avantair offers frax-share leasing
Avantair now offers leasing of fractional shares of Piaggio Avanti turboprops.
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Receives Final Fusion TSO
The FAA issued the final in a series of 50 Technical Standard Orders (TSO) for the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system last week.
Solons Share Safety Secrets at CASS 2011
The 56th Annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS), jointly sponsored by NBAA and the Flight Safety Foundation, last week hosted about 350 attendees
Charter & Fractional
Lawsuit Seeks Sokol Remedy from Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway shareholder Mason Kirby filed a lawsuit on Monday against Berkshire Hathaway, company executives Warren Buffett and Charles Munger and o
Avionics
HUD Benefits Moving To Turboprops, Light Jets
Rockwell Collins announced the new smaller and lighter compact HGS-3500 head-up guidance system today at the FSF/NBAA Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar in
Charter & Fractional
ACSF Seeks Support for Single Audit Safety Standard
ACSF Seeks Support for Single Audit Safety Standard
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is trying to encourage charter and fractional operators
Maintenance and Modifications
NBAA Mx Management Conference Grows Again
NBAA’s 26th annual Maintenance Management Conference opened yesterday in San Diego, celebrating the contributions of flight department maintenance managers
Aircraft
AIN Blog: Warning: Airliner Lavatories no Longer Have O2 Supply
The FAA is abdicating its safety responsibility.
Avionics
Announced at AEA: new avionics extend cockpit capabilities
by Matt Thurber
Among the new products introduced at the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) International Convention & Trade Show on Marc
Environment
Rising fuel prices squeeze charter operators, FBOs
by Matt Thurber
For a pilot worried about whether the next bump in operating costs will be one more incentive for the boss to sell the airpla
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Places First-ever Bombardier Order
by Matt Thurber
NetJets, the Berkshire Hathaway-owned fractional-share operator, completed a purchase agreement early last month for up to 1
ATC
XM WX for iPad Gets Green Light
Pilots who use Apple’s iPad tablet computer have been lusting for one additional bit of functionality, in-flight weather data.
Charter & Fractional
Sources Say NetJets To Thrive After Surprise Sokol Exit
Yesterday’s announcement that NetJets chairman and CEO David Sokol resigned from
GV Copilot, Flight Attendant Freed by Congo
The copilot and flight attendant who were detained in the Democratic
Rotorcraft
Heli-Expo 2011 Breaks a Record
by Matt Thurber
Feedback from exhibitors at this year’s Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show–the 63rd annual event–was notably
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Estate Seeks Chapter 7 Clawback
The bankruptcy trustee for debtors associated with JetDirect Aviation filed a complaint on February 20 that could force FBOs, charter operators, mai
Charter & Fractional
Sokol Resigns as NetJets Leader
David Sokol has resigned from his job as chairman of several Berkshire Hathaway-owned companies, including fractional-share provider NetJets.
Aircraft
In the Works: Gulfstream G250
As engineers design more structural components using composite materials, the resin transfer molding (RTM) process is seeing increased use in business jets
AIN Blog: iPads Are Missing in the World of Aircraft Simulation
The rapid uptake of Apple’s iPad into business and even commercial aviation cockpits has been stunning.
Aircraft
In the Works: Cirrus Vision SF50
