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
First Production HondaJet Takes To The Skies
First flight of the first production HondaJet is another step toward entry into service early next year. ###Channels###BA
Obama Nominates Hart To NTSB Chairmanship
Newly nominated NTSB chairman has long background in aviation safety.
Regulations and Government
Senator Inhofe Outlines New Pilot’s Bill of Rights
Pilots would enjoy more protections from the FAA under a new Pilot’s Bill of Rights
Kathleen Blouin Retires after 22 Years at NBAA
NBAA’s senior vice president of conventions and forums will continue to serve as a consultant after retiring. ###Channels###P
Gama Aviation Opens New FBO Lounge at Sharjah
Gama Aviation’s new FBO at Sharjah International Airport getting good reviews from pilots and passengers.
California Highway Patrol Chooses GippsAero GA8 Airvan
West Coast Aircraft Sales sells a GippsAero GA8 to the California Highway Patrol.
Rockwell Collins and Kobev Team For Fans Training
Pilots who need to learn how to operate new Fans and CPDLC features can use a new training system in their own aircraft.
Pilot Report: Daher-Socata TBM 900
Owner-pilots are the biggest market for the speedy Daher-Socata TBM 900 single-engine turboprop.
SMO Airport Officials Accused of Conflict of Interest
The legal wrangling over the proposed closure of California’s Santa Monica Airport continues.
Mobile FliteDeck Pro for Windows 8 Released
The new program from Jeppesen offers worldwide navigation charts on Microsoft’s Surface 2 tablets, and allows split-screen dual application usage.
California Aviation Hall of Fame Honors Initial Class
A group of local luminaries is chosen for enshrinement in the Golden State’s newly launched aviation pantheon.
Charter & Fractional
Air Charter Operator Loses $220K in Flight Scam
Customer booked a trip from California to Utah and then to Arizona, claiming to be traveling with a well known rap music artist.
FltPlan Releases Go App For Android Devices
App delivers most of the website’s functionality and additional features such as geo-referenced approach and taxi charts and a moving map.
Regulations and Government
SMO Airport Charter Amendment Heading to Fall Ballot
Group delivers signatures to the Santa Monica city clerk for a charter amendment requiring voter approval for any plans to redevelop the city’s airport.
Aircell Eliminating Unlimited Gogo Biz Data Plans
Change prompted by the rapid growth in data usage.
SMO Airport Charter Amendment Heading to Fall Ballot
Group delivers signatures to the Santa Monica city clerk for a charter amendment requiring voter approval for any plans to redevelop the city’s airport.
Aircell Eliminating Unlimited Gogo Biz Data Plans
Change prompted by the rapid growth in data usage.
Aircell Eliminating Unlimited Rate Plan for Gogo Biz Service
Starting next month, unlimited service contracts will not be an option, but current users will be grandfathered in through the end of 2016.
Maintenance and Modifications
Clay Lacy Donates Two Jets To Van Nuys A&P School
The donated aircraft are a 1968 Learjet 24 (N664CL, S/N 167) and a 1979 Gulfstream II-SP (N264CL, S/N 227).
ADS-B OUT LOA Mandatory In Some Countries
In some countries that have implemented ADS-B OUT equipment requirements, a letter of authorization will be mandatory for business jet operators.
Aircraft
In The Works: Mallard Aircraft Turbine Mallard
Company hopes to have the aircraft in production next year.
Charter & Fractional
Fresh Jets Software Facilitates Executive Charter
Fresh Jets aims to introduce new travelers to charter flying with its new software platform for charter operators and corporate travel departments.
Sharing Economy Attracts New Business To General Aviation
The high-technology sharing economy business model is bringing new investment in general aviation companies.
Airports
Emissions Limits Are Santa Monica’s Latest Effort to Curtail SMO Flying
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is attempting to legislate limits on emissions from aircraft engines as a way of cutting traffic at Santa Monica Airport.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aviation Alliance: 421, GIII Reman Programs Still Alive
Some people, such as former Cessna CEO Jack Pelton, and partners are no longer associated with the Alliance, and a new source of funding had to be found.
Aircraft
Global 7000 Mockup Is Bizav’s Biggest
The largest-even business jet fuselage mockup arrived at EBACE for its official unveiling.
In First Day, Pilatus Racks Up Orders for 75 PC-24s
U.S. fractional-share Pilatus PC-12 operator PlaneSense placed an order for six PC-24s.
