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

More than 70 exhibitors are expected at this year’s FlightSimExpo, which is billed as “North America’s enthusiast flight simulation conference and trade show.” The expo is being held June 23 to 25, with opening-day product announcements and seminars at the DoubleTree Houston Hobby Airport. That will be followed by&nbsp;exhibits and seminars on June 24 and 25 at the Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Airport in Houston.
The growth of FlightSimExpo, which has hosted more than 3,500 attendees at events in Las Vegas, Orlando, and San Diego since 2018, parallels how at-home simulation has embraced both hobbyists and pilots who use “study level” desktop simulators for training and proficiency. Low-cost but powerful simulators that run on desktop computers and even tablets are increasingly able to replicate actual flight dynamics, avionics, and scenery, giving users an ultra-realistic experience. New companies have launched to take desktop simulation into the realm of regulatory approval—for example, RealSimGear, which offers relatively low-cost simulators approved as basic aviation training devices.
“At-home flight simulation, which can be as simple as a laptop and a joystick [equipment-wise], is widely recognized as an inexpensive yet effective training supplement for student and rated pilots,” according to the FlightSimExpo organizers.
Visitors to the Expo are encouraged to try the simulators and equipment on display, which includes a variety of aircraft types and even some fully replicated complex flight decks.
To learn more about how people use their home setups, FlightSimExpo partner Flight Simulation Association is running a <a href="https://bit.ly/HomeFlightSim">survey</a> on the impact of home-based flight simulators on real-world flight training.&nbsp;

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

FlightSimExpo Celebrating At-home Simulation in June in Houston

FlightSimExpo expects more than 70 exhibitors at this year's event, to be held in Houston at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

FlightSimExpo Celebrating At-home Simulation

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

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.

The Retention Stool Has Four Legs: What Flight Departments Get Wrong about Keeping Talent

Across three separate CALS sessions, flight department leaders worked through the same hard questions about earning trust, leading individuals, and holding the line.

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