“Back in the Saddle” was the theme for the recent Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Trade Show & Convention held this week in Dallas. And indeed that was what it felt like, probably not just for me but the 1,500 or so people who attended. The event was held at the Hilton Anatole, which has facilities ideally suited to a relatively small show.
This was the first in-person event I’ve attended since the coronavirus pandemic began. My last big event was the Singapore Airshow in February 2020, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have been wearing masks much sooner and on that trip. I’m embarrassed to admit that at the time I pooh-poohed those who were smart enough to wear masks, including a doctor (major clue!) sitting next to me on one of my flights. The Singapore show was, understandably, sparsely attended.
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.
More In Avionics
