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

Fourteen industry associations, including aviation, automotive, boating, and satellite groups, sent a <a href="https://www.gpsalliance.org/_files/ugd/d6737a_042c7aef99194db9a05b03887c3ed25f.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;asking the Department of Defense and Department of Transportation to fix the GPS jamming and spoofing situation. Signatories include AEA, AOPA, ALPA, A4A, Aviation Spectrum Resources, GAMA, National Agricultural Aviation Association, NBAA, and others.
The letter doesn’t ask for developing a backup for GPS but focuses on fixing problems inherent to GPS. “The nation’s trust in GPS has been well-placed since it entered service in 1993,” the letter explained. “GPS has never experienced an outage. The U.S. Space Force does an outstanding job ensuring the overall GPS system operates consistently at a 99.99% availability rate. The latest generation of GPS satellites deliver exceptional capabilities to users.
“Yet, programmatic challenges have continued: the GPS ground station upgrade, known as OCX, started in 2010 and is not operational. OCX cannot yet monitor the health and integrity of new, modern signals designed for aviation nor control next generation GPS IIIF satellites. Counter-spoofing signal-authentication technologies are not included in the program plan. These capabilities are necessary for modern signals to become operational and available to integrate into aviation-certified GPS receivers and for increased resiliency to jamming and spoofing. Furthermore, nine of the 32 on-orbit GPS satellites, which have long outlived their expected useful service lives, are ‘single string,’ with one system or subsystem failure away from being nonoperational. Older satellites should be replaced expeditiously to eliminate these vulnerabilities and upgrade the full constellation and ground station to the state of the art…We must preserve the nation’s trust in GPS and should expeditiously do so.”
“GPS technology has long been essential, not just for business aviation, but more broadly, for the nation's economy, transportation, defense, and other critical&nbsp;functions," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Jamming, spoofing, and other intentional disruptions to GPS pose a serious threat to safety, security, and reliability. NBAA joins with the other organizations in partnering with the GPS Innovation Alliance to urge government&nbsp;leaders to work together on upgrades, investments, and other approaches for hardening the technology from interference by nefarious&nbsp;actors.”

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Associations Ask DOD, DOT to Fix the Ongoing GPS Jamming and Spoofing Situation

Many industries rely heavily on vulnerable Global Positioning System navigation signals

“GPS technology has long been essential, not just for business aviation, but more broadly, for the nation's economy, transportation, defense, and other critical functions," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. 

Associations Ask DOD, DOT for GPS Jamming/Spoofing Fix

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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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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 about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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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