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
In The Works: Embraer Phenom 100 and 300
Embraer technicians were scheduled to begin final assembly of the Phenom 100 very light jet (VLJ) prototype in preparation for the jet’s mid-year first fli
Aircraft
In The Works: Comp Air CA12
Expect to see the first flying Comp Air Model 12 single-engine turboprop at the Sun ’n’ Fun Fly-In from April 17 through 23 in Lakeland, Fla.
Safety
NTSB takes a close look at ice bridging
Every few years, a debate erupts about whether the phenomenon of ice bridging is real or something questionable that pilots discuss while hangar flying or
Engines
Engine ready for PiperJet prototype
The first flight-worthy Williams FJ44-3AP engine for the prototype PiperJet has arrived at Piper Aircraft’s factory in Vero Beach, Fla.
FBOs
Florida FBO focuses on amenities
Florida FBO focuses on amenities Plenty of FBOs at popular destinations offer movie rooms with giant projector screens, comfortable seating an
FBOs
Runway shortening opposed
NBAA and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) have submitted comments to the FAA about the proposed shortening of Santa Monica, Calif.’s sing
FBOs
Second BWI FBO still pending
Although Mercury Air Centers/Corporate Wings won the bid to build an FBO at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) early last y
FBOs
New GA hours, gateway for DCA
Hanscom Field, Bedford, Mass., is now a gateway airport for companies that want to fly into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
FBOs
Stop calling JeffCo tower
Following the name change of the former Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield, Colo., to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport last October, the tower’s app
FBOs
Discovery cancels VIH buy
A plan for Discovery Air to buy VIH Aviation Group, which would have included VIH affiliate YYJ FBO Services at Victoria International Airport in British C
FBOs
Elliott renovating Omaha Base
The first phase of Elliott Aviation’s renovation of its Omaha, Neb.
FBOs
Asheville seeking FBO
North Carolina’s Asheville Regional Airport will be the site of a $37 million, 373,000-sq-ft terminal, office and hangar development spearheaded by Aviatio
FBOs
Dublin FBO adds fuel service
Encore FBO’s Dublin, Ireland facility made history on March 6 when a company line service technician drove an Encore fuel truck onto the airport’s general
FBOs
EMAS offers max coating
Engineered Arresting Systems (Esco) has developed a third-generation coating system for its engineered materials arresting systems (EMAS) placed at the end
FBOs
Airports closing (temporarily)
• Runway reconstruction will close Friedman Memorial Airport, Sun Valley, Idaho, from April 24 at 9 a.m.
Wescam cuts weight on new sensing turret
The Wescam division of L-3 Communications is here with the first installation of its new MX-15i imaging turret installed on a UK Maritime and Coastguard Ag
SuperHUMS sees anomalies
Intelligent Automation Corp.
Searchlight wins RTCA approval
The slightly worn helicopter searchlight at the Vectorbeam Technologies booth (No.
Helo UAV turning heads here
First-time Heli-Expo exhibitor Cybaero (Booth No.
NH90 still strong
AgustaWestland and Eurocopter have confirmed “their joint commitment to the NH90 program,” the two companies announced here at Heli-Expo’07.
Chelton’s helo autopilot nears STC
The new Chelton Flight Systems Heli-SAS autopilot should be certified on the Bell 206 and 407 late this year, according to Chelton president Gordon Pratt.
With Zuccaro in charge, it’s a safety-first world
HAI president Matt Zuccaro sees a bright future for the helicopter industry and is optimistic that Heli-Expo’07 may break attendance records set at last ye
For Columbia, the gem is 50 years of rotor motion
Columbia Helicopters is celebrating two anniversaries and is honoring four employees here at Heli-Expo’07.
New paradigm in police helos
One of two Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department Bell 407s modified by Paradigm Aerospace is on display at the L-3 Communications booth (No.
FBOs
Midwest Aviation grand opening
Kansas City Aviation Center celebrated the grand opening of its newest FBO, Midwest Aviation Center at Missouri’s Spirit of St.
FBOs
Western intros Gold Standard
Boise, Idaho-based Western Aircraft is offering FBO customers a new concierge-style service called Gold Standard.
FBOs
Firstflight adds two FBOs
Avfuel dealer FirstFlight is building a new chain, starting with two FBOs at Pennsylvania’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Garden City, Ka
