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
Santa Monica Airport Part 16 Hearings Held
Last week, the city of Santa Monica, Calif., was defending its stance on trying to keep larger jets from using Santa Monica Airport at an FAA Part 16 heari
Engines
GE Moving Ahead on Ceramic Engine Components
GE Aviation is pushing the engine design envelope with flight testing of ceramic composite com
Charter & Fractional
Get Ready, SMS Is Coming
In February, the FAA chartered a safety management system (SMS) aviation rulemaking committee
Maintenance and Modifications
New Company Formed To Offer Eclipse Maintenance
A group of experienced former Eclipse Aviation workers appears to have launched a company calle
Maintenance and Modifications
JetDirect Sells JetCorp to Flying Colours
JetDirect Aviation this week sold the assets of maintenance provider JetCorp to Flying Colours of Peterborough, Ontario.
Aircraft
Eclipse assets up for grabs
As the liquidation process for the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation drags on, four groups have announced proposals to buy those assets and restart produ
FBOs
2nd Savannah FBO Debuts in SheltAir Soft Opening
SheltAir Aviation Services has opened a new FBO–the 12th in its network–at Georgia’s Savannah-H
TSA Creates GA Liaison To Address Stakeholder Concerns
The TSA has established a stakeholder liaison position dedicated to addressing concerns about recent security measures, including the Large Aircraft Securi
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Finalizes Asset Purchase Agreement
On Monday, JetDirect Aviation and JDA Acquisition Company (JDAAC) solidified an agreement for JDAAC’s purchase of JetDirect’s assets.
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Ready for Embraer Phenom Service
Owners and operators of Embraer Phenom 100s that are entering into service can have their new very light jets serviced at Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Neb.,
Maintenance and Modifications
Flaps Retrofit Set for Early Embraer Phenom 100s
Embraer is paying for a service bulletin to replace flap-controller units in the first 10 to 20 Phenom 100 very light jets.
Maintenance and Modifications
Technician Charged with Selling Stolen Aircraft Parts
An aircraft maintenance technician who worked for Cessna Aircraft has been charged with one count of selling stolen aircraft parts, according to the U.S.
Aircraft
Another Group Formed To Bid on Eclipse Assets
Eclipse 500 owner Mike Press and deposit-holder Mason Holland on Friday launched a new company called Eclipse Jet to bid on assets of bankrupt Eclipse Avia
Security
Airports Used by GA To See Growing TSA Scrutiny
The Transportation Security Administration is revising its “Operation Playbook” security program, which seeks to work with airline airports used by general
FBOs
Avitat Westchester Challenging Loss of Hangar Lease
FBO Avitat Westchester is about to lose the lease on one of the largest hangars–E-1–at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Puts Second Subsidiary Into Bankruptcy
JetDirect Aviation has now placed two of its subsidiary companies into bankruptcy.
Charter & Fractional
JetDirect Puts Second Subsidiary Into Bankruptcy
JetDirect Aviation has now placed two of its subsidiary companies into bankruptcy.
Maintenance and Modifications
ExecuJet Expands Asia Pacific Presence
ExecuJet Aviation is stepping up the expansion of its business aviation support business in the Asia Pacific region with new maintenance and handling facil
FAA Administrator Selects Safety Personnel
Acting FAA administrator Lynne Osmus has appointed new personnel following last year’s departure of associate administrator for aviation safety Nicolas Sab
Maintenance and Modifications
Interjet Acquired, Plans Growth in Southern Africa
Interjet Group, based at Lanseria International Airport in South Africa, has been purchased by Paul Ludick and TEIM Ventures.
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Layoffs First in Company History
After trying to cut costs by reducing wages and work hours, Duncan Aviation has “had to implement a reduction in its nationwide work force.” It is the firs
Aircraft
UT Finance Asks To Repossess DayJet Eclipses
UT Finance has asked the bankruptcy court overseeing the liquidation of the assets of Eclipse Aviation to allow it to take possession of the 28 Eclipse 500
Aircraft
Multiple Groups Vying To Buy Eclipse Assets
Yesterday a judge verbally approved the motion to convert Eclipse Aviation’s bankruptcy from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7, which means the company’s assets will
Maintenance and Modifications
MX Jet Service Receives Honeywell Line Designation
Last month Honeywell designated MX Jet Service an authorized line service provider for TFE731-series turbofans and 36-100 and -150 APUs.
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Clarifies Meaning of ‘Current’ for Mx Programs
FAR 91.409(f)(3) requires aircraft owners and operators to maintain their aircraft in accordance with a “current inspection program recommended by the manu
Aircraft
FAA Not Planning To Ground Eclipse Fleet
Addressing the question of what happens when a manufacturer goes bankrupt, the FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (CE-09-14) that
Aircraft
Simulated Gulfstream G650 Makes First Flight
Gulfstream Aerospace yesterday said it reached a milestone in development work on the large-cabin G650 and announced that it achieved first flight of a sim
Security
LASP Nets Record Number of Comments to TSA
In what is a record number of comments on a TSA rulemaking, aviation industry proponents flooded the Transportation Security Administration docket for the
Charter & Fractional
Aviation firm launches alternative to Part 91
As happens in every significant downturn, corporate squeamishness about owning business jets climbs while used aircraft languish on brokers’ ramps.
Business aviation loses a corporate aircraft pioneer
Durrell Unger “Dee” Howard, a determined and talented pioneer in the post- World War II development of business aviation, died on February 11 at age 88 in
