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
FBOs
...and a new hangar in Pittsburgh
Atlantic Aviation is growing in Pennsylvania with a new 29,400-sq-ft hangar at its Pittsburgh International Airport FBO, and an additional 7,000 sq ft of f
FBOs
Atlantic Aviation opens San Antonio FBO...
Atlantic Aviation is opening a new temporary FBO terminal at Lackland AFB’s Kelly Field Annex, a huge airport with an 11,550-foot runway five miles from do
FBOs
FBO opportunity at Arlington
Arlington, Wash., issued a request for proposal (RFP) for two properties at Arlington Municipal Airport.
FBOs
Rectrix expanding to Sarasota
Rectrix Aerodrome Centers has begun construction of a new FBO/hangar facility at Florida’s Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
FBOs
Money-saving Web site incites fueler feud
“Everybody is sensitive to the price of jet fuel,” said Steve Elefant, explaining why he founded fuel-pricing Web site AircraftFuel.com last year.
Maintenance and Modifications
Judge rules in favor of Camp in copyright suit
Gulfstream Aerospace’s maintenance manuals are not protected by copyright law, according to a September 27 decision by Savannah, Ga.
Rotorcraft
BLR tailboom strakes draw fire from Bell
Bell Helicopter recently issued new information letters expressing concern about BLR Aerospace tailboom strakes.
Aircraft
Honda sets a price and reveals specs for its VLJ
Honda Aircraft revealed a number of intriguing details about the HondaJet program yesterday, including the airplane’s price, performance figures and the fi
Avionics
VistaNav brings SVS to its electronic flight bag
What if you had an electronic flight bag (EFB) that doubles as a backup multifunction display with airspeed, altimeter, attitude and heading indicators in
Avionics
S-tec, Avidyne team on glass panel
A partnership between S-Tec and Avidyne offers King Air 200 operators a large-display glass cockpit/autopilot upgrade, with FAA supplemental type certifica
Avionics
Airspace flow program passes test
The FAA ran the first trial of its new airspace flow program (AFP) during this summer’s severe weather season.
Avionics
L-3 brings EVS to the masses
“We’re changing the game in how enhanced vision is brought to the market,” said Adrienne Stevens, president of L-3 Avionics Systems, introducing the compan
Safety
Bombardier Safety Standdown 2006
Traditionally, the term “safety standdown” refers to a temporary halt to military operations following a string of accidents.
Training and Workforce
SFAR outlines tougher training requirements
Following its safety evaluation of the Mitsubishi MU-2 last year, the FAA has issued a proposed Special FAR that will force all current and future MU-2 pil
Safety
Gulfstream V causes runway incursion at Los Angeles
The FAA has interviewed the pilots of a Gulfstream V that caused a runway incursion on September 30 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), during whic
Aircraft
Movers & Shakers: Honda defined the compact car. Can it do the same thing with a business jet?
On August 8 Honda Motor Co.
Aircraft
Sales brisk for new HondaJet
The HondaJet officially went on sale at last month’s NBAA Convention in Orlando, racking up orders for “more than” 100 airplanes by the end of the three-da
Aircraft
Congressman introduces bill to ground MU-2 fleet
Despite the issuance by the FAA of a Special FAR (SFAR) mandating initial and recurrent training for MU-2 pilots, lawmakers still want the airplane grounde
Safety
FAA clarifies ‘polished frost’ rule
The FAA issued a new Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 06014) that seeks to clarify the conditions under which pilots can take off with frost adhering to ai
FBOs
SheltAir buys Sowell facility at Panama City
SheltAir Aviation Services expanded its Florida FBO stable to seven and total count to eight with the acquisition of Sowell Aviation Services at Panama Cit
FBOs
Fayetteville Million Air unveils renovation
After eight months of renovations of its FBO facility, Million Air Fayetteville, Ark., held a grand reopening on August 11.
FBOs
Love Field sees regal sale
JetDirect Aviation purchased Regal Aviation, an FBO, maintenance, sales and charter/management company based at Dallas Love Field.
Airports
African business aviation on the rise
Business aviation is growing in Africa, according to Ettore Poggi, managing director of ExecuJet South Africa.
Airports
Rocket Man touching down at Ellington
Houston Ellington Field, home to NASA’s C-9 “Vomit Comet” microgravity research airplane, is expanding to attract more general aviation activity by making
FBOs
Dallas facility is an accidental FBO
The newest FBO building at Dallas Love Field Airport is six years old but looks younger.
FBOs
Air Group Fuel Program tackles trip costs
Aircraft management firm The Air Group launched a discount fuel program and a co-branded Visa card available free to its management clients and for a fee t
FBOs
AirNav adding AirBoss fuel card for transient pilots
Airport information provider AirNav is launching AirBoss, a new fuel card membership service that is open to pilots and FBOs.
FBOs
Allison adds Million Air at Lafayette Regional Airport
Kenneth Allison has added another FBO, the former Lafayette Regional Airport in Louisiana, to his group of Million Air-branded facilities, bringing the tot
