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 answer to that question might seem blindingly obvious when looking at certain accidents, where pilot training has failed to prevent these accidents from happening. Air France 447 and AirAsia 8501–more stall training; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-06-30/asiana-214-crew-errors-caused-accident-rules-ntsb">Asiana 214</a>–how to land visually in CAVU weather; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2016-01-29/pilot-error-caused-2014-transasia-crash-council-determines">TransAsia Flight 235</a>–how not to shut down the good engine when one engine fails, and stall training; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-01-20/ntsb-notes-icing-issues-phenom-100-crash">Phenom 100</a>, Gaithersburg, Md.–stall training; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-08-07/aaib-reports-uk-phenom-300-accident">Phenom 300</a>, Blackbushe, UK–airspeed control; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-12-22/report-issued-learjet-crash-bahamas">Learjet 35A</a>, Nassau, Bahamas–descent below minimum altitude training; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-09-09/ntsb-faults-pilot-compliance-gust-lock-giv-crash">GIV</a>, Bedford, Mass.–checklist and adherence to procedures training; <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-01-06/challenger-crashes-aspen-windy-conditions">Challenger 601-3R</a>, Aspen, Col.–exceeding tailwind limitations, along with external pressures training.

 


The list goes on and on and does not include the hundreds of light airplane and helicopter accidents that happen every year, in circumstances that never change.

 


Inevitably, these endless and repetitive lists fuel a constant call for more training, and specifically more training in the deficient area that likely had much to do with the cause of the accident. But is more pilot training the answer? Or is something wrong with the way pilots are currently trained? And if so, what should be done?

 


There is no shortage of opinions on this subject, and there are plenty of real-world efforts to improve pilot training. This special report examines the situation and some of the efforts that industry has taken to improve pilot training, as well as how the pilot shortage is affecting flight schools.

 


Whether or not these efforts will lead to improvements in the way pilots are trained is another question, however, because with a looming shortage of pilots, there are doubts about whether increasingly stringent standards will be adhered to. On the other hand, if pilot training isn’t improved, more accidents will happen because more pilots will enter flying careers without a solid foundation of skill. And they won’t become better pilots as they move up the career ladder unless the industry keeps improving pilot training as a career-long process.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Flight Training: What's missing?

Plus, how to address the looming CFI shortage that will only exacerbate the pilot shortage.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

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.

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

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.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

Charles Alcock

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

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support 

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

AIN Staff

In a Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) roundtable on retention, an aviation staffing expert and flight department leaders traded hard-won lessons on money, culture, and knowing who you’re really competing with.

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