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

CRS Jet Spares specializes in supplying all of the parts and components needed to keep business jets flying, but primarily those aircraft that are no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Although this might seem counterproductive in China, where buyers seem to prefer newer aircraft, CRS is seeing plenty of growth in its China and Asia Pacific business.
The company’s 2015 business in that region increased about 13 percent from 2014, said Jack Caloras, CRS vice president of sales and business development. “That was in spite of everything we’ve been hearing about that part of the world. There’s a lot of negativity we’re hearing, especially about new aircraft sales. For us it was about increasing services and our presence. We’re just trying to do more and be more involved with the local community, and this has paid off.”
A long-time exhibitor at ABACE, CRS Jet Spares (Stand H107) works closely with partners located in Asia, including CRS offices at A1 Logistics and Parts in Singapore and a partnership with AFM Aviasi Indonesia in Jakarta. In Singapore, CRS is now stocking inventory to serve Asia-based customers. Both companies, said Caloras, “are partners in parts distribution and also logistics and handling. CRS is more than just parts, we offer solutions. When people fly from other parts of the world, they really need to connect and have a network of trust, and that’s what we try to offer. If they go to these areas, we can really help.” 
In addition to establishing local offices, CRS staffers arrive at 4 a.m. at its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to be available to customers around the globe. “That has been beneficial,” Caloras said. “We found it very successful for the services that we provide, for someone available to speak to live, and not just about AOGs [aircraft on the ground].”
One of the first business jets that CRS served in Asia was a Gulfstream GIV based in China. “We serve a broad group of products,” Caloras said. “CRS tries to be tip-to-tail support. If someone has a GIV or Lear 60 or Challenger 601 or 604, we try to cover every part they need through sales, exchanges, repairs and technical support.” 
CRS is also a distributor for component manufacturers such as Securaplane main ship and emergency batteries and camera and security systems. CRS recently became a distributor for the Crane Aerospace &amp; Electronics SmartStem tire pressure-monitoring system in the business and regional jet market. “That’s going to be a big push for us at ABACE,” he said. Another product line that CRS plans to highlight at ABACE is See/Rescue’s emergency locating devices.

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