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
Fireblade FBO Selects FBO One Software
The South African FBO is the only private aviation facility at Johannesburg’s main international airport, OR Tambo.
Safety
Incoming S & D Chairwoman Excited About Annual Conference
This year’s Schedulers & Dispatchers conference featured a unique live emergency response demonstration.
Airports
DCA Bizav Flights Might Lose Armed Officer Requirement
Business aviation traffic at the convenient Washington, D.C. airport has suffered in part because of the requirement to carry an armed security officer.
Charter & Fractional
Avicus Touts Efficiency of Shanghai Office
The charter broker and aircraft sales and leasing company has offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Maine Air Charter Operator Realizes Shuttle Opportunity
After launching a successful corporate shuttle service, the Portland, Maine-based company is considering other shuttle opportunities.
Charter & Fractional
Baker Aviation Expands Fort Worth Fleet and Facilities
Texas company specializes in aircraft charter management and aircraft maintenance.
Survival Skills for Flight Departments: The Robust Ones Promote Themselves to Company Leadership
Flight departments occasionally close, and aviation managers should understand the reasons why this happens.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Prevails in Lawsuit against IRS
The court "invalidated the more than $500 million of assessments, penalties and interest the IRS was attempting to collect from NetJets."
Airports
AOPA, NBAA File Brief Countering Santa Monica Appeal
This case could affect roughly 200 airports in the U.S. that were transferred from government to local control.
Charter & Fractional
Questionable ‘Customers’ Still Target the Charter Business
Fraudulent charters, nonexistent airplanes and thousands of dollars of absconded funds serve as a warning to watch out for potential scammers.
Avionics
Building an ADS-B Ground Station Is Easy As Pi
FlightAware is feeding its data-hungry network with signals gathered by about 2,000 ADS-B ground stations.
ATC
Pro Star Receives Change 7.1 AML STC
The upgrade is a software change and is available from authorized BendixKing and Honeywell dealers.
Aircraft
Nextant G90XT Makes Maiden Flight
The G90XT features new GE H75-100 engines, Garmin G1000 avionics, systems improvements and an upgraded interior.
ATC
Asia-Pac Drops LOA Requirement for ADS-B Ops
Some states have no or insufficient operational approval processes.
ATC
Pilot Seeks FAA Change to ADS-B Mandate
Eliminating the requirement for some would encourage owners of lower cost GA aircraft to keep flying.
Airports
Airports, FAA Adapting To LED Lighting Push
To pilots, LED lights look different from incandescent lights, and there are issues to be resolved when airports switch to the new technology.
Regulations and Government
FAA Withdraws Air Training Device Final Rule
Rule would have allowed instrument pilot trainees to obtain credit for up to 20 hours of instrument time in an approved aviation training device.
Charter & Fractional
Avinode Aims To Build U.S. Market Share
Charter portal Avinode serves the needs of charter operators and brokers, but not buyers of charter services.
Safety
AIN Blog: Don't Fear the Quadcopter
Quadcopters are fun and capable machines, but pilots need to operate them safely and carefully.
Avionics
Satcom Direct Router Supports Speedier Streaming
Passengers can make calls and send texts using their own smartphone numbers.
Avionics
Satcom1 Testing SwiftBroadband Channel Bonding
Testing has reached a stable output of 1.4 Mbps “over a significant period of time.”
Avionics
Touchscreens Clean Up Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck
With fly-by-wire active control sidesticks and touchscreen-controlled avionics, the Symmetry flight deck is clean and uncluttered.
Training and Workforce
Second Civil Test Pilot School Opens in Mojave
The International Flight Test Institute’s first group of students begin their studies in the six-month flying qualities course early next year.
FBOs
California Fuel Companies Settle Leaded Avgas Dispute
The agreement between fuel providers and the Center for Environmental Health requires the fuel distributors to warn residents living near airports.
Charter & Fractional
FAA Letter Implies CVR Required for Twin T-prop 135 Ops
GAMA, NATA and NBAA are meeting with FAA legal counsel to discuss CVR issue raised by letter of interpretation request.
Charter & Fractional
Teamsters Local 1108 Elects New Leaders
IBT 1108 president and principal officer Mat Slinghoff will be replaced on Jan. 1 by newly elected president Efrem Vojta.
Charter & Fractional
Union Drive Under Way for Pilots at TMC
Teamsters Local 1108 is facilitating a union representation vote by pilots at Travel Management Company later this month.
