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

Chicago Midway Decommissioning Closed Runway 13L-31R

The project will add holding, parking, and deicing areas to what is now Taxiway H
Chicago Midway Airport
Maintenance and Modifications

Jet Parts, DAS Aviation Merger To Improve Efficiency

Combines component repair and overhaul and parts services companies
DAS Aviation component repair
Rotorcraft

Los Angeles Police Dept Puts VR Simulator to Work

Loft Dynamics device makes emergency training much more realistic
LAPD helicopter crew
Rotorcraft

Sweet Helicopters Keeps Indianapolis 500 Fans Moving

Traffic jams make it worthwhile for people to fly on short helicopter charter flights
Sweet Helicopters Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Engines

Williams Int’l Building Turbine Engine Factory in Florida

New facilities represent an investment of more than $1 billion
Williams International FJ44 turbine engine
Operations

Garmin SmartCharts Revamp Flight Procedures Process

Move adds company to terminal procedures charting market
FAA vs Garmin SmartCharts
Rotorcraft

Airbus Helicopters Opens Niagara Distribution Center

Facility will serve regional customers and improve the OEM’s efficiency
Airbus Helicopters Niagara distribution center
Rotorcraft

Rotortrade Sees Growth in Latin American Helo Market

Brazil’s energy market is a strong driver of rotorcraft activity in LATAM
Leonardo AW109E VIP by Rotortrade
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

NBAA Appauds Passage of Bizav-friendly Budget Bill

Majority of aviation funding would bolster air traffic control system
U.S. Capitol at night
Aircraft

One Year Later, Gulfstream Delivers 50th G700

Fleet has logged more than 11,000 hours so far
Gulfstream G700 business jet
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Viasat Improves Satcom Coverage in Middle East, South America

JetXP offers uncapped speed and new service enhancements
Viasat global director Claudio D’Amico
Aircraft

First Production Global 8000 Takes to the Skies

Next steps are completion, then entry into service later this year
Bombardier global 8000 business jet
Safety

Aviators Invited to FAA Notam Reform User Forum

Plans are to outline upcoming improvements to this important safety system
Notices to Airmen FAA search page
Safety

Senator Wants FAA To Eliminate Class B ADS-B Exemptions

Bill would require that aircraft flying near major metro areas use ADS-B Out and In
Aerial view of Washington Reagan National Airport (KDCA)
Maintenance and Modifications

Avcon STCs Multiple Mods on Special-mission King Air

Aircraft is for National Science Foundation-University of Wyoming environmental research
National Science Foundation-University of Wyoming environmental research King Air airplane
Rotorcraft

Rain Tests Autonomous Black Hawk on Burning Brush

Two weeks of testing highlighted the value of quick-reaction fire suppression
Autonomous Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter tackles brush fires
Aircraft

Spike Aerospace Resurfaces Supersonic Bizjet Candidate

S-512 promises “low-boom” Mach 1.6 travel
Spike Aerospace S-512 supersonic business jet
Avionics

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display
Acron Aviation SafeRoute+ ADS-B In airline retrofit
Rotorcraft

FAA Concerned about Bell 206L Vertical Vibrations

Pilots need to know to pull collective to eliminate so-called collective bounce
Van Horn Aviation collective bounce
Operations

Avincis Sends CL-415s To Fight Fires in Israel

Amphibious fire bombers are part of a fleet of 18 based in Italy
Avincis CL-415 Super Scooper aircraft
Rotorcraft

Alpine Helicopters Picks Camp’s Mx and Inventory Tools

Systems will streamline operations, reduce downtime, and improve reliability
Alpine Helicopters Bell 407
Training and Workforce

Sixth FlightSimExpo To Step Up Simulation Reality

Lower-cost but more sophisticated hardware is a theme for this year’s show
FlightSimExpo 2023
Maintenance and Modifications

JetSupport Gains EASA Approval for Challenger Maintenance

Expands capability to maintain Europe-based business jets
JetSupport Challenger business jet maintenance
Training and Workforce

CAE Demos Eye-tracking for ATC Controller Training

Enables assessment of how students scan, process, and respond in a dynamic environment
CAE eye-tracking for air traffic controller training
Training and Workforce

Alaska Airlines Venture Fund Invests in Loft Dynamics 

Plans call for the airline to purchase virtual reality simulators for pilot training
Loft Dynamics virtual reality flight simulators
Rotorcraft

Bell Celebrates 6,000th Helicopter Made in Mirabel

Ceremony included delivery of two Subaru Bell 412EPXs
Bell Textron 6000th helicopter made in Mirabel, Canada
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Viasat JetXP Satcom Sees Strong Uptake Since ‘24 Launch

Broadband service operates on geostationary orbit satellite network
Viasat JetXP satellite communications
Rotorcraft

Loft Dynamics VR Sim Approved for Type Rating Program

Training includes flights in simulator and in the real AS350B3e helicopter
Loft Dynamics VR flight simulator at Airbus Helicopters headquarters
Avionics

Joint Effort To Field Iridium-based GNSS-Denied Solution

System takes advantage of low-earth-orbit satellites’ stronger signals
NAL Research
Maintenance and Modifications

Spaes Adds Pulse Lights to Airbus AS332 Helicopter

Modification improves visibility of the helicopter during firefighting operations
Pulse lights modification on Airbus AS332 helicopter