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

Local students from Shanghai Civil Aviation College and other nearby schools have been invited to learn more about business aviation on Thursday at the ABACE Careers in Business Aviation program from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
While senior ABACE leaders will be on hand to introduce the assembled students to various aspects of business aviation, one of the more compelling presentations will likely be from Hong Kong-based Rachel Lo, who is volunteering as an intern with Asia Jet CEO and AsBAA board of governor Mike Walsh. 
“Rachel approached me directly over LinkedIn just last week, and I have to admit she showed a deep passion for aviation and determination from the very first message in her mission to get to ABACE 2016,” said Walsh. “She had studied our business aviation sector for some months though news outlets and online searches in her own time and ultimately is seeking a job/internship to fund finishing her private pilot license and support her mum, having recently lost her father in an accident. A recent graduate from University of Toronto, she moved back to Hong Kong at the start of the year. She is tri-lingual with Cantonese, Mandarin and English.”
Walsh met with Lo to learn more about her interest in business aviation, and then she volunteered to help prepare Asia Jet’s marketing materials for the company’s ABACE exhibit. She also studied the ABACE schedule of events.
“Her ultimate goal,” he continued, “was to get to ABACE 2016 and get involved. When I informed her she could come, but had to work extremely hard, she literally cried with joy. It would be lovely to be able to bottle that up and have more just like her coming into our industry with an equal level of enthusiasm and passion.”
Walsh hopes many of the students attending the Careers in Business Aviation program will be inspired by Lo’s enthusiasm and passion, and that a new group of young future business aviation leaders will begin preparing for future careers in this industry.

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

Enterprising Intern Celebrates Intro to Business Aviation

Rachel Lo’s dedication to learning about business aviation led to an internship at ABACE 2016.

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.

More In Training and Workforce