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
FBOs
PHILLIPS 66 ADDS GLACIER JET
Glacier Jet Center at Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Mont., is now a Phillips 66 fuel dealer.
FBOs
SIGNATURE LUTON TESTS VIDEO IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Signature Flight Support is working with the UK Border Agency and Technology Store to test a new system allowing processing of international passengers 24/
Environment
STAINLESS TANKS A FIRST FOR US AVIATION
US Aviation in Denton, Texas, is the first FBO in the U.S.
Airports
HOUSTON EXECutive AIRPORT ADDS SECOND HANGAR
Privately owned and operated Houston Executive Airport has added a second corporate hangar to its FBO facility.
FBOs
DB Aviation renames FBO, expands charter fleet
DB Aviation, a Chicago-area FBO and charter operator based at Waukegan Regional Airport, has renamed its FBO DB Flight Center.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
ARGUS OFFERS OPERATORS FREE TRIPCHEQ REPORTS
Charter operators that are rated by Argus can now run free TripCheq reports for any aircraft listed on that operator’s DO85.
Airports
FAA REJECTS VENICE DOWNGRADE REQUEST
The FAA has rejected a request by the city of Venice, Fla., to downgrade the Venice airport reference code (ARC) to B-II from the existing C-II.
FBOs
SheltAir names Group president, hires COO for FBO chain
Holland SheltAir Aviation Group has promoted 24-year company veteran John Schmatz to president and recently hired Daniel Walsh as COO of the 13-FBO chain.
FBOs
CRAIG FBOs FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST JACKSONVILLE
Two Craig (Florida) Airport FBOs– Craig Air Center and Sky Harbor–have filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, accusing the city of restricting p
Conklin marks 25th here
Aviation consultancy Conklin & de Decker Aviation Information is marking its 25th anniversary at Heli-Expo by donating $2,500 to the Helicopter Foundat
Aircraft
Honda Aircraft – HondaJet
The first production conforming HondaJet is now scheduled to fly in the middle of this year, at a date yet to be determined, according to a Honda Aircraft
Aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft – Premier II
The updated version of the Premier was expected to fly in December but that has been moved to this month, according to Hawker Beechcraft.
Aircraft
Gippsland Aeronautics – Airvan GA10
Australia’s Gippsland, which is in the process of bringing the twin turboprop Nomad back into production as the Airvan GA24, has cut metal on the Airvan GA
Embraer – Legacy 450, 500
The next new aircraft development program for Embraer comprises the Legacy 450 and 500, and as initial parts begin manufacture, Embraer is testing manufact
Aircraft
Evektor – EV-55 Outback
In mid-December Evektor ran the EV-55 Outback’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21 engines for the first time.
Rolls-Royce's next-gen engines just rolling along
The ongoing worldwide need for helicopters of all types that serve diverse industry and government segments is helping keep manufacturers like Rolls-Royce
Eagle 407 soars with Honeywell engine
Alberta, Canada-based Eagle Copters has an impressive engine modification to show Bell 407 pilots, operators and owners at Heli-Expo 2010.
Program Update: PWC PW210S on track for certification
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has two helicopter engine programs nearing the final stages of development and both remain on schedule.
Aircraft
Conforming HondaJet First Flight Moved to Mid-year
The first conforming HondaJet is now scheduled to fly in the middle of this year, according to a Honda Aircraft spokesman, “with the exact date to be deter
Aircraft
Eastham Complaint Alleges Runaway Premier 1A Trim
Eastham Aviation, a Houston owner of a Hawker Beechcraft Premier 1A, filed a complaint against Hawker Beechcraft on January 19, asking for the manufacturer
Aircraft
787 program now on track
For Boeing employees watching the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner on December 15, there was a palpable sense of relief and joy when test pilots Mike Car
FBOs
Touching Bases: Phenom Operator FlairJet Earns Air Operator Certificate
FlairJet, based at London Oxford Airport, has been issued an air operator’s certificate and is the first European company to get approval to fly charters i
Charter & Fractional
Touching Bases: Sky Limo Charter Sees Growth
Unlike many charter operators that saw revenues decline last year, Sky Limo Air Charter revenues grew during 2009, to more than $6 million before November,
Charter & Fractional
Touching Bases: Charter Operators Earn ARG/US platinum Rating
During the last quarter of last year, ARG/US International added 18 charter operators to its Platinum rating system, bringing the total number of operators
FBOs
Touching Bases: Pentastar Adds Jobs, Aircraft
Pentastar Aviation, headquartered at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Mich., has weathered the past year’s economic turmoil and added 11
FBOs
Touching Bases: Key Ais Recapitalizes Debt
Charter/management and FBO company Key Air completed an arrangement in December to recapitalize its debt.
FBOs
Touching Bases: New FBO at Spirit of St. Louis
Aero Charter Jet Center recently completed a 30,000-sq-ft concrete ramp expansion at Spirit of St.
