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
Nextant 400XTi: A Beechjet Made Modern
Nextant Aerospace stands to remanufacture a significant percentage of the Beechjet/Hawker 400 fleet.
App Makers See Opportunity in Altitude, Oxygen Warnings
New technology in mobile devices may lead to added functionality to help pilots prevent decompression and low-oxygen emergencies.
Avionics
SiriusXM Simplifies iPad Weather Display
Pilots can subscribe to SiriusXM’s weather and radio products using an iPad that wirelessly connects to the new SXAR1 receiver.
Avionics
IntelliAudio Adds Dimensional Sound to PS Engineering Audio Panel
PS Engineering tapped into research conducted by the U.S. Air Force’s Wright Patterson Air Force Laboratory to develop IntelliAudio.
Engines
GE Passport Engine Now Slated To Fly Late This Year
GE’s Passport engine for the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 remains on track for certification next year.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Software Can Help Owners Comply With Complex Tax Laws
Upcoming changes to U.S. tax law could affect how aircraft owners account for depreciation and expensive repairs.
Blocking Aircraft Still Possible
The FAA still offers a way for operators to request that their aircraft be blocked from flight-tracking websites.
Avionics
Product Support Survey 2014 Part 2: Avionics
Garmin remains tops for avionics, Aircell leads for cabin electronics
Aircraft
AirVenture Report: 2014
Hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts celebrated the wonders of aviation at the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show.
Safety
LOA Delays Still Risking Safety, Wasting Fuel
The FAA’s policy of placing Letter of Authorization approvals on the bottom of its priority pile is fueling frustration among bizav operators.
Maintenance and Modifications
2014 Product Support Survey: Part 2 - Avionics
Garmin and Aircell again top the list of avionics manufacturer rankings in AIN’s Avionics Product Support Survey.
European ADS-B Delay Rule Not Expected Until September
The European Commission’s adoption of a rule delaying the implementation mandate for ADS-B OUT equipment is expected in September.
Regulations and Government
Aircraft Tail Blocking Complicated by ADS-B OUT Systems
There currently is no physical means to block reception of mode-S transponder or ADS-B signals by a simple receiver.
Europe Delays ADS-B out Equipment Mandate
Aircraft flying in European airspace have until June 7, 2020, to meet the ADS-B out mandate for retrofits to older aircraft.
Regulations and Government
FAA: Flight-sharing Services Violate Regulations
The FAA’s interpretation is that flight-sharing websites are holding out transportation services, something that private operators cannot do.
Maintenance and Modifications
Maintenance Special Report 2014
Diverse issues are shaping the business aviation maintenance industry.
Charter & Fractional
CitationAir To Cease Flight Operations On October 31
Company stopped selling fractional shares in new aircraft and ceased renewals for current fractional-share customers in February 2012.
Regulations and Government
AIN Seeks Operator Input on FAA Letters of Authorization Delays
One operator has been waiting five months for an LOA after a Falcon changed ownership in April.
Charter & Fractional
Surf Air Plans Massive Fleet Growth, Raises New Funds
Membership airline Surf Air plans to grow much larger with new funding and an order for up to 65 PC-12 NGs.
Charter & Fractional
NetJets China Finishes Charter Certificate Proving Runs
NetJets China has completed the fourth phase in the process to receive its Chinese air operator certificate.
Security Expert Claims Satcom Vulnerable To Hacking
A presentation at the Black Hat USA 2014 conference points out security vulnerabilities in some satcom systems.
AirPooler Puts Ride-sharing System On Hold While Clarifying FAA Standpoint
The AirPooler ride-sharing system is waiting for FAA input before re-opening its service to passengers who want to share expenses on GA flights.
Charter & Fractional
Sentient Jet Celebrating 15th Anniversary
The jet card pioneer has 4,000 jet cardholders and sold 32,000 charter hours last year.
In The Works
Honda’s first production HondaJet flies, Flaris moves its maiden flight back and Evektor receives new funding for the EV-55.
Maintenance and Modifications
Nextant Unveils G90XT Flight Deck
Single-lever power controls are a prominent feature in the G90XT’s new Garmin G1000-based flight deck.
Leading Edge Anti-icing Application Tool Saves Time and Money
A new anti-icing tool from training provider Leading Edge Deicing Specialists equips operators to apply their own anti-icing fluid.
NextGen Fund Money Begins Flowing
The process was easy for one provider and customer.
