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
JetSuite Launches Phenom 100 Charter DayCards
JetSuite, which plans to begin flying in the western U.S.
Airports
FAA to Burbank: Nighttime Noise Curfew a No-go
On Friday, the FAA rejected the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Auth
A modest proposal to boost general aviation
Aviation has always been a tightly knit and closed society.
Safety
Icing- and Autopilot-related Incidents
• In January 2006, two pilots flying an American Eagle Saab 340 out of San Luis County Regional Airport in San Luis Obispo, Calif., nearly lost control aft
Safety
As winter nears, turn off autopilot in icing
Ever since the crash of American Eagle Flight 4184 (an ATR 72) in Roselawn, Ind., on Oct.
Hudson ditching pilots to chair EAA’s Young Eagles
Pilot, aircraft owner and actor Harrison Ford passed the EAA Young Eagles baton to two now-famous pilots who will serve as co-chairmen of the Experimental
Aircraft
Modifications under way, Eclipse focuses on parts
Eclipse Aerospace held a supplier summit on October 27 for manufacturers and vendors of Eclipse EA500 very light jet components.
Aircraft
In the works: Spectrum-S40
Spectrum Aeronautical is preparing to manufacture a second S.40 test fuselage as it continues to refine its processes and manufacturing technology since co
Aircraft
In the works: Gulfstream Aerospace – G650 and G250
Gulfstream rolled out two new jets recently, the large-cabin flagship G650 on
Aircraft
In the works: Stratos Aircraft – Stratos 714
The latest entry in the personal jet marketplace–Stratos Aircraft of Bend, Ore.–made its first appearance at the NBAA Convention last month with a full-sca
NBAA Convention Report 2009
For Cessna Mustang owner Jeff Greenberg, NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention just wasn’t long enough.
FBOs
Signature triples Avtrip points
Through the end of the year, customers at participating Signature Flight Support and Executive Beechcraft FBOs in the U.S.
FBOs
Enterprise Jet Center appoints new leader
Enterprise Jet Center at Houston’s Hobby Airport appointed Bobby Courtney as president and CEO.
Airports
Denver International powers up solar fuel farm
Denver International Airport is planning to power its fuel-storage and -distribution system with a new 1.6-megawatt solar power system.
FBOs
Western Petroleum adds five FBOs
Five Maine FBOs have become new Western Petroleum customers, although they will continue to sell ExxonMobil branded fuel.
FBOs
ServiceElements adds survey offering
Customer service training provider ServiceElements has added a new capability: collecting and analyzing market data to help customers expand their business
FBOs
Rizon appoints new group CEO
Patrick Enz has joined Rizon Jet as group CEO, replacing Will Curtis, who has stepped down after spending two years helping develop the company’s Doh
FBOs
Aviation sales sees summer success
The Dayton Air Show again selected Aviation Sales as the preferred FBO for the annual airshow at James M.
Airports
New runway under way at Dallas McKinney
On October 14, state, county and city leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of a new runway being built at McKinney Airport northeast of Dallas.
FBOs
FBO Profile: SheltAir SAV
Business aircraft operators have long asked for a second FBO option at Savannah (Ga.)/Hilton Head (S.C.) International Airport (SAV), and they got their wi
FBOs
New FBOs added to Avfuel's national network
Fuel distribution company Avfuel has added two new FBOs to its network, Pentastar Aviation at Oakland County International Airport in Pontiac, Mich., and A
FBOs
Universal aviation & weather adds Russia operation
Universal Aviation & Weather opened a Russia operation based in Khabarovsk in late August to serve clients traveling to destinations in Eastern R
FBOs
Arrindell Aviation celebrates 20th year
On November 6, Arrindell Aviation invited guests from the St.
Safety
FAA Runway Safety Summit planned for next month
The FAA and co-sponsors Mitre and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) are holding the first International Runway Safety Summit December 1
FBOs
Million Air buys former Hawker Beech Indy FBO
Million Air has purchased one of Signature Flight Support’s two FBOs at Indianapolis International Airport.
Airports
San Diego project might cause taxi delays
San Diego International Airport has begun a major reconstruction project on Taxiway Charlie, which will affect access to the airport’s sole FBO, Landmark A
ABACE Is Back on NBAA Schedule
NBAA will again host the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), on January 18 and 19, 2011.
Maintenance and Modifications
Premier Aircraft 50Dash4 Falcon EASA Certified
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified Premier Aircraft’s 50Dash4 upgrade of the Falcon 50.
Charter & Fractional
Virgin Charter Closed Due to Insufficient Sales
Online charter broker Virgin Charter stopped “activ
