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 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
Charter & Fractional
Another Charter Outfit Files Chapter 7
JetChoice, a Little Canada, Minn.-based membership charter company, voluntarily filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (liquidation) last Friday.
Charter & Fractional
Elite Aviation Files Lawsuit for Unpaid Charters
Van Nuys, Calif.-based Elite Aviation has filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, Northwest District, accusing charter broker JetCardPlus an
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Aviation Officially Bankrupt
A petition for bankruptcy under the Chapter 7 code was filed by JetDirect Aviation with the U.S.
FBOs
FBO Profile: Banyan Air Service
Thirty years ago, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was the sleepy undeveloped South Florida of novelist John D.
FBOs
Touching Bases: New FBO offers choice at lakefront
Flightline First opened a new FBO facility at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans late last month.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Air BP QC Seminar dayes
Fuel provider Air BP has released dates for its nationwide two-day safety and quality-control seminar series.
FBOs
Touching Bases: NATA sets conference agenda
On the agenda for this year’s National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference are a variety of events covering marketing, airports
FBOs
Touching Bases: Milliion Air acquires jet center Medford facility
Million Air Medford purchased competing FBO Jet Center Medford and now has 90 percent of the fuel market on the Oregon airport.
Airports
Touching Bases: New hangar taking shape at Florida’s Cecil Field
The Jacksonville (Fla.) Aviation Authority is building a 21,000-sq-ft hangar and hoping a maintenance company will lease the facility.
FBOs
Touching Bases: ASA opens in Dubai
The ASA Group has opened an office in Dubai to expand its VIP handling services.
Airports
Touching Bases: Silverwing building LUX fly-in cmmunity
The former Sandpoint Aviation FBO at Sandpoint Municipal Airport next to Northern Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille is now SilverWing Aviation.
FBOs
AirQuest joins Avfuel network
AirQuest Aviation, based at Butler County Airport north of Pittsburgh, is now an Avfuel dealer and offers customers Avtrip points for fuel purchases
FBOs
Avitat HPN files restraining order
Although Westchester County Airport in New York agreed to grant a new lease on Hangar E-1 to JPMorgan Chase, existing leaseholder Avitat Westcheste
FBOs
Sheltair opens Savannah FBO
SheltAir Aviation Services opened its 12th FBO, at Georgia’s Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, in late March, offering new competition for the fo
Aircraft
Remnants of Adam Aircraft See Final Shutdown
AAI Acquisition, the company formed to buy the assets of bankrupt Adam Aircraft Industries, is closing its doors at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo.
Regulations and Government
Industry moves toward a quieter supersonic bizjet
Reductions in supersonic boom intensity could allow for overland operation of future supersonic civil aircraft, according to a panel of supersonic technolo
Aircraft
In The Works: Diamond Aircraft D-Jet
Certification of the single-engine Diamond D-Jet has been delayed again and is now scheduled for early next year.
Aircraft
In The Works: Gulfstream Aerospace G250 and G650
Although Gulfstream has joined the rest of the aviation industry in announcing layoffs, the company remains on schedule with new-airplane programs.
Eclipse Embroiled in Legal Actions
A new legal dispute has emerged in the Eclipse Aviation saga, this time involving investor Alfred Mann; Etirc Aviation, subsidiary of recently insolvent in
