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

Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Louisiana) is asking U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to explain why the FAA entered into a <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2017-01-29/faa-caves-city-demand-close-santa-monica-airport">settlement agreement</a> with the city of Santa Monica, allowing the city to close the airport in 2028 and shorten the runway in the meantime. The runway shortening, to 3,500 feet from the existing 4,973 feet, would effectively eliminate about 47 percent of jet traffic that currently flies into Santa Monica Airport (SMO).


In his <a href="https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airports/smo/20170314-Abraham-Letter-FAA-Santa-Monica-Airport-Consent-Decree.pdf">letter</a>, dated March 14, Abraham pointed out that “this agreement departs from the long-standing principle that the federal government will preserve airport infrastructure and hold airport sponsors accountable, especially when they have accepted federal money and committed to deed-based obligations to operate an airport in perpetuity.” The city had signed a transfer agreement after World War II in which it agreed to continue operating the airport in perpetuity.&nbsp;


“The agency’s congressionally&nbsp;authorized mission includes ensuring that airports remain safe and efficient while also protecting our entire aviation system,” Abraham wrote. “This agreement not only appears to take the opposite approach, but [also] to be inconsistent with agency and congressional requirements that changes to airport obligations be fully publicized and documented. I would appreciate a thorough explanation of the FAA’s apparent departure from this mission.”


SMO is a vital asset, Abraham explained, as a reliever for Los Angeles International Airport and a critical part of local and state emergency plans. “Further, this deal comes at a time when the president has made clear that the renewal of and investment in infrastructure is a top priority for the administration. Could you provide any analysis that the FAA has utilized or prepared regarding the consequences of its actions, such as negative impact on other airports, area residents, businesses, general aviation, the flying public, and the national aviation system?”


NBAA and five other aviation interests have petitioned the U.S. appeals court to review the legality of the SMO-FAA agreement and also requested a stay against the FAA and an injunction against the city to halt the city’s efforts to shorten the runway, until the appeals court can conduct its review, according to the NBAA.


"We thank Rep. Abraham for calling on the DOT and the FAA to explain the rationale behind this seeming departure from the agencies' own mandate to preserve and protect airports like SMO, as part of our nation's greater aviation infrastructure, and we eagerly await their response," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. "NBAA also shares Rep. Abraham's concerns regarding the implications that this may have for the future of other general aviation airports across the nation.”

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