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
Touching Bases: Van Nuys looking at stagee 2 phase-out
Los Angeles Worlds Airports (LAWA) first proposed phasing out jets that meet Stage 2 noise restrictions at Van Nuys Airport in 1990.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Rizon set to open Doha FBO next year
oMiddle East charter provider Rizon has begun work on a new FBO and hangar facility at Doha Airport in Qatar.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Banyan shows appreciation at Hangar63
Fort Lauderdale FBO Banyan Aviation held the third customer appreciation event at its Hangar63 aviation store in late April.
Charter & Fractional
Touching Baes: NetJets signs agreement with Volo
Volo Aviation’s five FBOs are now official service providers for NetJets fractional-share flights and flights by NetJets affiliates.
Regulations and Government
Touching Bases: Confusion over SPCC rules
The National Air Transportation Association is reminding FBOs and airports with fuel farms and trucks that compliance dates for new U.S.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Hiller Group rebrands with Phillips 66
The Hiller Group is rebranding FBOs in 12 central states as Phillips 66 fuel dealers under a new agreement with Conoco-Phillips.
FBOs
Touching Bases: New FBO at Tulsa International
Tulsa International Airport has a new FBO: Aircraft and Turbine Support’s multi-million-dollar complex.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Iniversal sells FBO manager software
FBO Manager software is now back in the hands of Michael Barron and Barry Kress, who used to work for Cornerstone Logic.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Fargo Jet joins Avfuel network
Fargo Jet Center at Hector International Airport in Fargo, N.D., has signed up as an Avfuel-branded fuel dealer.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Landmark officially opens Asheville
Landmark Aviation and the Asheville Regional Airport Authority celebrated the grand opening of the FBO chain’s FBO terminal at Asheville Regional Airport i
EBACE 2009 Report
It might surprise some to hear this, but the state of the economy was not on the minds of everyone at last month’s European Business Aviation Convention &
EBACE 2009
It might surprise some to hear this, but the state of the economy was not on the minds of everyone at last month’s European Business Aviation Convention &
Regulations and Government
Part 135 CRM may be mandatory
The FAA has released a proposal to require crew resource management (CRM) training for all Part 135 certificate holders’ pilots and flight attendants.
Aircraft
In the works: Spectrum Aeronautical S.40 Freedom
The FAA has issued a number of special conditions needed for Spectrum Aeronautical’s all-composite S.40 Freedom twinjet to achieve type certification.
Aircraft
In the works: Farnborough Aircraft – Kestrel
New owners have taken over the insolvent Kestrel program and plan to bring the single-engine all-composite turboprop through to certification.
In the works: Dassault Falcon – Falcon 2000LX
The Falcon 2000LX received EASA and FAA certification at the end of April, and deliveries began in May.
Aircraft
In the works: Daher-Socata – NTx
Sometime in the next year or so, Daher-Socata is expected to announce the formal launch of a new eight- to 10-seat twin-engine turboprop or jet.
Aircraft
In the works: Epic Aircraft – Escape
Epic Aircraft’s Escape all-composite turboprop single flew for the first time on April 9.
Aircraft
In the works: Embraer – Phenom 300
Embraer’s Phenom 300 midsize jet is proceeding toward FAA and Brazilian approval on schedule by year-end.
Rialto Airport destined to be a distant memory?
The planned closure of Rialto Municipal Airport, also known as Art Scholl Memorial Field, in southern California sometime next year means even fewer places
Charter & Fractional
JetSuite Launches Phenom 100 Operation in California
Famed aircraft and spacecraft designer Burt Rutan was the first passenger on a JetSuite-brokered Embraer Phenom 100 Part 135 flight earlier this week to hi
Aircraft
Eclipse Asset Auction One Month Away?
The long-awaited auction of the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation could occur on June 24, according to Mike Press, owner of Eclipse 500 S/N 004 and presi
Regulations and Government
Associations contest FAA’s revocation of Air Trek AOC
The method that the FAA used to shut down air ambulance operator Air Trek of Punta Gorda, Fla., essentially turned into a de facto revocation of the compan
Airports
Santa Monica Ban Blocked; Van Nuys Phasing Out?
On Friday, the City of Santa Monica’s longstanding effort to ban category C and D aircraft from operating into Santa Monica Airport was again blocked, this
Airbus Seeking Arbitration in Hawker Beech Dispute
In Hawker Beechcraft’s (HBC) 10-Q quarterly report that was released last week, the Wichita-based company revealed that it is engaged in a dispute with Air
Bureaucrats block bizav bounceback
These are the hardest times the global business aviation community has ever faced, the industry was told by its leadership at yesterday’s opening general s
Environment
Emissions Trading Looms at EBACE Opening Session
Key officials from the European Commission and Eurocontrol joined EBAA chief executive Brian Humphries and NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen on the podium at
Aircraft
Hawker kicks off EBACE sales tally
Hawker Beechcraft achieved the first new aircraft sale at this year’s EBACE show when Jordanian charter operator RayaJet and its sister company Ayla Aviati
Charter & Fractional
Depositor Claims Learjet 85 Mexico Plan Entitles Refund
An agent representing the holder of a deposit on a Learjet 85 today at an EBACE press conference confronted Bombardier Aerospace for a refund due to the ma
