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
Aircraft
FAA Issues Revised AD on Eclipse Thrust Levers
In response to a thrust-lever quadrant failure in an Eclipse 500 on June 5, the FAA issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD 2008-13-51) on June 12,
Engines
Standard Aero Breaks Ground on new CF34 Facility
Turbine engine overhauler Standard Aero on Thursday celebrated the ground-breaking of a new 80,000-sq-ft facility at its Winnipeg, Canada headquarters.
Airports
California Legislature Reignites SMO Ban Controversy
The California state legislature added to the debate about the safety of large jet operations at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) by passing a bill that asks the
Maintenance and Modifications
Plastek Launches Acrylic Window Restoration System
Last week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., Plastek CEO Gus Ordonez announced a version of the company’s military window repair and restoration kit for t
Maintenance and Modifications
West Star Aviation Serves Growing Conquest SID Market
Grand Junction, Colo.-based West Star Aviation has completed Supplemental Inspection Document (SID) inspections on 27 Cessna Conquest II twin turboprops, e
Charter & Fractional
FAA Cites Maintenance in Alaska 135 Revocation
On July 24, the FAA issued an emergency order of revocation to LAB Flying Service of Juneau, Alaska, effectively shutting down the 52-year-old air carrier,
Comp Air 12 Aims for Certification and No Kit Version
Merritt Island, Fla.-based Comp Air is moving ahead with plans to certify the Comp Air 12 and will not offer a kit version of the hefty turboprop single, a
Avionics
Avionics Makers Bring More New Products to Oshkosh
Competition for panel space and pilot eyeballs continues to intensify, with avionics manufacturers announcing more new products at EAA AirVenture this week
Rotorcraft
Rolls and GE Unveil New Turboprop Engines
Rolls-Royce unveiled a new turboprop engine for general aviation applications on Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
Aircraft
Cirrus Vision SJ50 Jet Single Makes Public Debut
Yesterday afternoon, Cirrus test pilot Kent Vandergrift flew Cirrus Design’s prototype Vision SJ50 single-engine jet to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., co
Gulfstream Maintenance Datalink Goes Mainstream
Gulfstream this month logged its 10,000th downlink via its PlaneConnect maintenance datalink system.
More Co. TBO Extension OK’d for P&WC PT6A-60s
Minden, Nev.-based Maintenance On Reliable Engines (More Co.) received approval from the FAA for its instructions for continued airworthiness to extend the
Foreign Repair Station Applications in Limbo
In a demonstration of how congressional mandates force lawmakers to come to grips with reality, the process of granting Part 145 repair station certificate
Regulations and Government
Part 23 Requirements Under Review
The FAA is working on a review of Part 23 certification regulations, with the goal of “improving the certification process and requirements and also contin
FBOs
Middle East welcomes business aviation
Middle East FBO activity is accelerating, with a United Arab Emirates company planning to build an FBO at the new Al Maktoum International Airport and an A
FBOs
BJC hosts customer cookout
Once a month during the hot Texas summer, Business Jet Center’s Dallas FBO rolls out the barbecue grill and dishes out sizzling hamburgers and hot d
Training and Workforce
Air BP FBO training now online
Fuel provider Air BP is offering an online training program for FBOs in the company’s USGA dealer network.
FBOs
Renovations complete at Million Aire Victorville
Renovations are complete at the Million Air Victorville at Southern California Logistics Airport.
FBOs
DOJ orders Signature to sell FBO
For Signature Flight Support to proceed with its planned acquisition of seven Hawker Beechcraft FBOs, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will require that Sig
Aircraft
AIN Product Support Survey 2008
The highest overall rating for jets again goes to Gulfstream.
FBOs
Servion serves up Avfuel
Waco, Texas-based Servion has built new facilities and joined the Avfuel network.
FBOs
Franchisee seeks split from Million Air stable
A battle is brewing between the Million Air FBO franchising company and one of its more prominent franchisees, a group of seven Million Air FBOs owned by v
FBOs
New choice at Yellowstone
Avfuel dealer Choice Aviation’s new facilities are up and running at Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyo., which is less than an hour from Yellowston
Accidents
TEB crash prompts NTSB safety recommendation
The NTSB issued safety recommendations A-08-48 and -49 on July 17 warning that pilots may decide to abort takeoffs in Bombardier Challengers if the pilots
FBOs
Atlantic opens new terminal
Atlantic Aviation opened a new 6,000-sq-ft FBO terminal at Charleston Executive Airport in Johns Island, S.C.
Charter & Fractional
Start-up firm enters VLJ ring
Another company has launched a bid in the crowded single-engine jet field.
Aircraft
Revamped Adam Aircraft Plans A700 Approval by 2010
AAI Acquisition, which bought the assets of Adam Aircraft Industries for $10 million after Adam filed for bankruptcy in February, is ramping up the certifi
Raburn Out at Eclipse as Etirc's Pieper Takes Reins
Amid scuttlebutt about persistent financial problems, Eclipse Aviation founder and CEO Vern Raburn (left, in photo) stepped down today and company chairman
