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
Eclipse Position-holder Sues for Deposit Refund
Geiger Excavating filed a lawsuit against Eclipse Aviation, seeking refund of a $150,000 deposit for an Eclipse 500 VLJ plus pre-judgment interest and cost
Charter & Fractional
FAA Grant Funds Illegal Charter Hotline
The FAA has provided grant money to fund a hotline for charter operators to report “suspected illegal commercial activity,” according to the National Air T
Aircraft
NTSB: Challenger Mistrim Is ‘Unsafe Characteristic’
The NTSB issued a safety recommendation letter on Thursday warning that pilots may
Regulations and Government
FAA Study Seeks Part 23 Certification Rule Changes
The FAA’s Small Aircraft Directorate in Kansas City is expected to deliver to the FAA Administrator next month a preliminary report on recommended updates
Sentient Gets New Funding and New CEO
Sentient Jet Holdings, parent of Sentient Flight Group, today revealed that its financial backers have agreed to provide a new supply of funding to help th
Safety
Touching Bases: Safety 1st develps TEB training
A comprehensive pilot training and briefing system is available online (www.airportflightcrewbriefing.com/Teterboro) to help pilots prepare for flights int
Airports
Touching Bases: Carlsbad adds VIP customs service
Since January, pilots flying to airports in Southern California have been able to obtain overflight permits and fly directly to destinations like McClellan
FBOs
Touching Bases: Emblem makes plans for a western FBO chain
Emblem Aviation purchased New Breed Aviation at Ralph Wenz Field Airport in Pinedale, Wyo., and plans to add a second FBO location in Arizona.
Environment
Touching Bases: Pilots get smart about finding fuel savings
In a survey conducted by information provider Conklin & de Decker, operators reported that they save significant amounts on jet fuel by participating in di
FBOs
Touching Bases: Castle & Cooke opens in HNL
Castle & Cooke Aviation opened its new FBO at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on June 10.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Jet Aviation, Airod sign FBO MOU
Under a memorandum of understanding signed by Jet Aviation and Airod, Jet Aviation will operate an FBO at Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport under a partnership
Airports
Touching Bases: Cornwall Airport expects more business aviation traffic
Although it may not seem like a lot of traffic compared to a metropolitan U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Charter Industry Changes May Have Significant Effects
Charter volume is dropping significantly in some markets, according to information provided to AIN by charter industry insiders.
Regulations and Government
Congress Investigating Eclipse Aviation, Won’t Say Why
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has asked the Department of Transportation’s inspector general (IG) to investigate Eclipse Aviation.
Airports
Airport Profile: Aeroport de Sion
Although it seems that there are not many alternatives to big-city airports in Europe, small underutilized airports such as Sion, east of Geneva offer a wa
FBOs
Touching Bases: Spectra Jet joins FBO set
Learjet and Challenger maintenance company Spectra Jet has opened an FBO at Springfield Airport in Ohio.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Sunborne set to build FBO?
SunBorne broke ground on a 36,000-sq-ft office and hangar facility on the company’s 125-acre Centennial InterPort property at Centennial Airport near Denve
FBOs
Touching Bases: Jet Aviation adds Ogden FBO
Jet Aviation Ogden (Utah) is scheduled to open before year-end, under an agreement that the Swiss company signed with Kemp Development.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Aero Toy Store expands Montreal
Aero Toy Store finished a 45,000-sq-ft expansion at its FBO in Dorval, Quebec, in late May.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Upgrades done at Threshold
Avfuel dealer Threshold Aviation finished renovations of its Chino, Calif.
Airports
Touching Bases: Schönefeld reaps benefits of impending Tempelhof closure
ExecuJet Europe is expanding its presence at Berlin Schönefeld Airport in Berlin, following an April 27 public referendum that will lead to the closure of
FBOs
Touching Bases: Atlantic makes more room on Teterboro tarmac
Atlantic Aviation has added 550,000 sq ft to its Teterboro, N.J.
FBOs
Touching Bases: Key Air adds third FBO
Key Air continues expanding, with its newest FBO, Key Air Treasure Coast, at St.
Aircraft
In the Works: Viking Air, Spectrum Choose Apx
Two more OEMs–Spectrum Aeronautical and Viking Air– have selected Honeywell’s Primus Apex avionics suite.
Aircraft
In the Works: Cessna Citation XLS+
Cessna received FAA certification of the Citation XLS+ on June 2.
Aircraft
In the Works: Dassault Falcon 900LX
Dassault added another wing-letted model to the company’s lineup, the Falcon 900LX, which will replace the Falcon 900EX following certification in the firs
Aircraft
In the Works: Bombardier Learjet 85
Bombardier has chosen its facility in Querétaro, Mexico, to manufacture the composite structure for the Learjet 85.
Aircraft
In the Works: Cessna Citation Columbus
Engineers at Cessna are finishing architecture and layout planning for the Wichita OEM’s largest jet, the fly-by-wire Columbus, and the company revealed ne
Charter & Fractional
Web-based program gives Part 91/135 operators OK to go
If the FAA’s crackdown on charter operational control has taught operators anything, it’s that the number of compliance items that a Part 135 certificate h
Airports
FAA: SMO cannot ban large-airplane operations
The FAA has concluded that the city of Santa Monica, Calif., “is currently in violation of its federal obligations,” a determination made as an initial res
