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
Safety
Comments on proposed icing regs highlight operational dangers
Comments submitted to the docket in response to the FAA’s prop
Engines
Power 90 Verified as Money-saving Modification
A study performed by research firm Conklin & de Decker for GE Aviation found “significantly increased operating efficiency, reduced variable costs and
Avionics
Jeppesen addresses snags with delivery of e-charts
Jeppesen leadership is addressing problems the company experienced in July in meeting customer requests for timely delivery of charts.
Charter & Fractional
FAA: Pilot Fatigue Rules Coming for Part 135 Ops
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is “deeply concerned” that language the FAA uses in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for
FBOs
Million Air Wins RFP, Negotiating for Reno FBO Lease
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority board of trustees chose Million Air as the winner of a request for proposals to build a new FBO at Reno-Tahoe Internationa
High-density Seats Squish Penurious Passengers
Aviointeriors of Litina, Italy, garnered scads of attention and incredulous crowds at this week’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Long Beach, Calif.
Flight Attendant's Conference
The annual NBAA corporate flight attendants conference has grown steadily, and on June 24 through 26 celebrated its 15th year and a new name and focus as t
Charter & Fractional
Empty-leg charter adds int'l flights
EmptyLegMarket is adding international charter trips to its online marketplace for empty charter legs that are available for charter users to buy at discou
Aircraft
Piaggio stakes bigger claim to jet project
Recent news reports claimed that Piaggio Aero shareholder Mubadala Development has plans to build its own business jet, but John Bingham, Piaggio America p
Safety
Draft AC Offers OEMs Guidance on Induction Icing
The FAA yesterday issued Draft Advisory Circular 20-147A, which provides new guidance to aircraft manufacturers on compliance with regulations covering eng
Maintenance and Modifications
PMA Industry To Convene at Marpa Conference
The Modification and Replacement Parts Association (Marpa) is holding its annual conferen
Avionics
Product Support Survey 2010 Part 2: Avionics
Garmin ranks number one ahead of tightly packed group of top finishers
Regulations and Government
Wrong ID of ‘Stolen’ Cessna Causes Gunpoint Drama
After landing at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport on August 28, King Schools owners John and Martha King were puzzled when ATC insisted that they taxi to a
Training and Workforce
Parrot Helps Pilots Transmit
King Schools, distributor for Redbird Flight Simulation’s desktop TD and TD2 flight training devices, demonstrated a new Redbird feature, the Parrot contex
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviation Partners Debuts Spiroid Winglets
Aviation Partners (API) broaught a Falcon 50 equipped with radical-looking spiroid winglets to AirVenture, the airplane’s first public appearance after a t
AirVenture 2010
EAA AirVenture, as usual, brought the aviation family together for another week of celebration, innovation and pure enjoyment at Wittman Regional Airport i
Safety
EFB-Pro software gets hot module
Cavu Companies has added a new hold-over time (Hot) module to its EFB-Pro performance software to help pilots ensure compliance with regulatory re quiremen
Rotorcraft
Santulli returns to bizav with leasing company
Richard Santulli, founder of fractional-share company NetJets, is back in the aviation business with a new business jet and helicopter leasing company call
Aircraft
Spectrum Aeronautical Slows Its Jet Programs
Spectrum Aeronautical has slowed development of the lightweight high-performance S.40 Freedom and S.33 Independence jets due to resource constraints.
Charter & Fractional
$65K Penalty Proposed for Flight Options Hazmat Violation
The FAA is seeking a $65,000 civil penalty from fractional-share operator Flight Options for shipping a package that leaked a hazardous material.
Training and Workforce
Upset Training Offered by Tucker/jetAviva Partnership
Sean Tucker’s Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety, which provides aerobatic and upset recovery training in King City, Calif., has partnered with light jet br
Regulations and Government
Former Tetraethyl Lead Exec Settles Bribery Case
A former business director of Innospec, the world’s only manufacturer of tetraethyl lead (TEL) used to boost octane in avgas, and a third-party agent for t
Aircraft
IAM Reopens Negotiations with Hawker Beechcraft
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began contract negotiations with Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) today.
Accidents
Details of Roush Premier Crash Released
The NTSB has released the preliminary report on the crash of a Hawker Beechcraft Premier IA during the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wis.
Safety
FAA Policy Would Change Circuit Breaker Practices
The FAA has issued a draft policy memorandum that seeks to change attitudes about circuit breaker use in electrical systems and how pilots deal with popped
Safety
FAA Wants $580K Penalty from Hillsboro Aviation
The FAA is seeking a civil penalty of $580,000 from Hillsboro Aviation of Hillsboro, Ore., “for allegedly performing improper repairs, deliberately falsify
Airports
California Pols Seek Night Curfew at BUR, VNY
A recent letter sent by three California congressmen to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is asking for nighttime curfew legislation
Santulli Back in Bizjet Business
Richard Santulli announced today the launch of a new business jet and helicopter leasing company, Milestone Aviation Group, headquartered in Dublin, Irelan
Aircraft
Gulfstream, Mitsubishi, Bell Tops in AIN Support Survey
Readers placed Gulfstream on top in the annual AIN
Flight Attendants Conference 2010
The annual NBAA corporate flight attendants conference has grown steadily, and on June 24 through 26 celebrated its 15th year and a new name and focus as t
