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
Airports
Bangor International celebrates 40 years
Maine’s Bangor International Airport celebrates four decades of commercial air service this year.
FBOs
Atlantic renovates FBOs at Midway and Nashville
The freshly refurbished FBO terminal at Atlantic’s Chicago Midway FBO is now open, featuring an extensively redesigned passenger waiting area with improved
FBOs
Jet Source buys Western
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Jet Source has purchased competing FBO Western Flight, adding another 30,000 sq ft of hangar space and the airport’s largest ramp to
Security
Kaiserair adds Santa Rosa FBO
After managing and operating the Apex Aviation FBO at Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif., since January, Kaiserair has purchased the FBO and begun
Security
Family sells Jimsair to Landmark
The Bracamonte family sold the historic Jimsair Aviation Services FBO at San Diego International Airport to Landmark Aviation on July 18, bringing the Land
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Issues New Guidance for PMA Holders
The FAA is looking for comments from the industry on a revision of Order 8120.2, production approval and certification management procedures.
Maintenance and Modifications
StandardAero Leader Change Signals New Strategy
StandardAero’s August 21 announcement that Rob Mionis has assumed the job of president and CEO of the turbine engine overhaul and business aircraft mainten
Safety
ATSB Advises Operators To Check Oxygen Bottles
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued a safety advisory following the rapid depressurization of a Qantas Boeing 747-400 on July 25, urgi
Safety
Repeat Drug Testees Subject to ‘Direct Observation’
The FAA has revised drug and alcohol testing procedures, specifically requiring “direct observation” in all return-to-duty and follow-up drug tests.
Maintenance and Modifications
Airctaft maintenance goes high-tech
To see where business jet maintenance is headed, just look at mechanics’ toolboxes.
Airports
City Brief Says FAA Wrong about SMO Limits
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., expects that the next step in its ongoing battle over runway restrictions at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) will be oral argu
Aircraft
In business class, A380 provides plenty of luxury
It was a short flight, two-and-a-half hours over the Pacific Ocean, but even that amount of time was enough to learn that business-class seats in an Emirat
Charter & Fractional
JetSuite uses low-cost airlines as a model for charter service
A new jet ownership and charter business called JetSuite is preparing to take delivery of its first Phenom 100 next April and has unveiled details about it
Charter & Fractional
Sentient restructures as two separate businesses
The day before Sentient Jet Holdings chairman and CEO Gregory Campbell announced a restructuring of the company into two distinct entities, one of which wi
Charter & Fractional
Post-Vernal Eclipse faces myriad challenges
Eclipse Aviation supplier Albany International revealed on August 19 that Eclipse “has indicated that it was substantially reducing production of the Eclip
Ogden Facility Still On for Jet Aviation
The news that General Dynamics is planning to purchase Jet Aviation for $2.25 billion doesn’t affect the latter’s plans to open a new $6.9 million Midcoast
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Guidance Aids Alterations Approval Process
The FAA has updated guidance provided to field inspectors on how to determine the recommended form of approval for aircraft alterations.
Maintenance and Modifications
FBI: TSA TAT Probe Climb Not a Criminal Act
According to the FBI, federal laws against tampering with aircraft do not apply to the bizarre situation that occurred at Chicago O’Hare Airport on August
Maintenance and Modifications
AIA Launches Effort To Eliminate Counterfeit Parts
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has launched a counterfeit parts “integrated project team” to create standards for government and industry to re
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviation Partners ‘Intensely Interested’ in Spiroids
Years after testing an unusually shaped “spiroid” winglet on a Gulfstream II, Aviation Partners remains “intensely interested” in continuing research into
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Insists on SWA Paying Fine and Penalizes AA
In a move that makes it look as though the FAA is combing through old logbooks to find ways to conduct enforcement actions on commercial operators, the age
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA SAIB: PMA Parts Need COS, Too
Possibly as a result of its Repair, Alteration and Fabrication Team study, the FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SAIB NE-08-40, which r
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Study Critiques OEM Views on Aftermarket
An FAA team explored whether there is a safety and compliance issue with aftermarket repairs and replacement parts made under applicable FAA regulations bu
Maintenance and Modifications
Dassault Opens Fourth Factory-owned Service Center
Dassault Falcon will open a new $6.5 million factory-owned service center at Sorocaba Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, in the fourth quarter, bringing the com
Maintenance and Modifications
Hawker Pax, Crew Stuck in Door Handle Jam
A Hawker 900XP crew recently discovered after landing that a slightly out-of-tolerance closing mechanism can render the cabin door unopenable from inside t
FAA, Congress Turn a Critical Eye to the Eclipse 500
Since August 11, the FAA has been conducting a special certification review (SCR) of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, the agency said today.
Engines
P&WC and Eclipse Probing PW610F Carbon Concern
Pratt & Whitney Canada, manufacturer of the PW610F engine that powers the Eclipse 500 very light jet, and Eclipse Aviation are jointly investigating th
Charter & Fractional
FAA Subpoena Seeks Info from Sentient Leaders
The FAA on August 12 issued subpoenas seeking documents from Sentient Jet Holdings and executives at the charter/management, jet card and business aviation
Maintenance and Modifications
EMTEQ Offers First Chip-On-Board Anti-collision LED
Emteq has received FAA supplemental type certification (STC0359AT) for the industry’s first chip-on-board technology 400-candela anti-collision exterior li
Maintenance and Modifications
Online Logbook System Adds Mx Enhancement
AircraftLogs.com has added new maintenance features to its online logbook system.
