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&amp;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.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

The FAA’s plan to require that air traffic controllers receive at least 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours before a midnight shift drew praise from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy and criticism from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which represents U.S. controllers.&nbsp;
“The science around the dangers of fatigue is clear," Homendy said. "The safety of our skies depends on air traffic controllers who are well-trained and well-rested. This move by the FAA to give overworked and overscheduled air traffic controllers proper rest between shifts is the right thing to do.”
The NTSB cited one accident and an incident that highlighted controller fatigue. The controller who cleared Comair Flight 5191 for takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, on Aug. 27, 2006, worked a 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift the day before the accident, then nine hours later worked from 11:30 p.m. until the Comair flight took off on the wrong runway at 6:07 a.m. “The controller stated that his only sleep in the 24 hours before the accident was a two-hour nap the previous afternoon between these two shifts,” according to the NTSB. On March 23, 2011, a controller fell asleep in the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport tower due to “lack of sleep, fatigue resulting from working successive midnight shifts, and air traffic control scheduling practices.”
On April 19, just before announcing the new fatigue rules, the FAA shared a copy of its report and planned changes with NATCA. However, the union pointed out, “[The] FAA has not modeled these changes to determine what unintended consequences they may have to the already strained air traffic control staffing coverage.”
Controller understaffing is a critical issue, and NATCA believes that the application of the new fatigue rules will worsen the staffing situation and lead to more mandatory overtime. “Requiring controllers to work mandatory overtime to fill those holes would increase fatigue and make the new policy nothing more than window dressing,” the union said. “Understaffing currently requires [the] FAA to assign mandatory overtime to controllers, including regular six-day workweeks, which leads to fatigue.”
“The 2024 schedules were negotiated in late 2023 for each of FAA’s 313 air traffic control facilities. Immediate application of this change would disrupt the lives of controllers who rely upon their year-long schedules for work-life responsibilities. We expect that the FAA will meet its bargaining obligations before implementing any changes.”
“We have been calling for action on controller fatigue for more than 18 years,” Homendy said. “I am pleased to see today’s action by [FAA] Administrator [Mike] Whitaker, although much more work remains to be done.”

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

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NATCA expressed concern that the agency is adopting a mandatory controller rest policy but "has not modeled these changes" for unintended consequences. 

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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