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

SmartSky Networks next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network provides an unmatched connected experience inflight for both cabin and crew.

SmartSky’s predictive weather data suite is adding weather information from Meandair, which will allow dispatchers, FBOs, airports, and ground operations to access rapidly updated forecast information worldwide via SmartSky’s Skytelligence data exchange. Meandair’s weather products will receive near-real-time data from flying aircraft, which includes aircraft equipped with SmartSky’s air-to-ground connectivity system.
The Meandair Nowcasting Weather Engine combines information from flying aircraft, satellites, ground stations, and radar to develop “a comprehensive snapshot of the atmospheric column.” Using its meteorology expertise, artificial intelligence, and algorithms, Meandair creates 4D datasets, spot forecasts, and graphical weather information every 15 minutes. The resulting weather information includes cloud structure at altitudes, synthetic precipitation radar, active thunderstorm detection, turbulence predictions, and aviation METAR and TAF reports.&nbsp;
“Meandair provides invaluable flight condition awareness for aviation," said Sean Reilly, SmartSky v-p of digital solutions and air transport. "SmartSky’s next-generation network enables [flight crew] to have real-time access to predictive weather and adjust their flight path, potentially avoiding turbulence and the required AOG time following a turbulence event. Adding Meandair’s global capabilities also allows us to provide extended predictive services to our predictive weather customers as they prepare to leave [the continental U.S.] and cross into international destinations. This can mean increased safety and sustainability with reduced costs.”

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Meandair and SmartSky Partner on Weather Information Delivery

Partnership will deliver faster weather forecasting information

Meandair’s weather products will receive near real-time data from flying aircraft, which includes aircraft equipped with SmartSky’s air-to-ground connectivity system.

Meandair, SmartSky Partner on Weather Info Delivery

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

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.

Flight deck security continues to be an issue and doesn’t seem to acknowledge safety concerns

AINsight: Will Secondary Doors Be a Flying Jail Cell?

Amy Wilder

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.

Risk stacking and human error dominate Nimbl’s 2024 analysis

Procedural Lapses Lead Nimbl’s Bizav Safety Report

Gordon Gilbert

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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.

One loss-of-control incident involved a Pilatus PC-24 bizjet

UK Reports Zero Turbine Bizav Accidents in 2024

Jessica Reed

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.

Langewiesche was a professional pilot who wrote for The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times Magazine

Aviation Writer William Langewiesche Dies at 70

Reopened corridors remain high-risk and heavily congested

Middle East Airspace Closes Amid Israel-Iran Airstrikes

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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

Zones and helicopter flight paths have been moved to mitigate risks of traffic conflicts

FAA Revises Helicopter Routes Near Reagan National

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

Laser strikes can cause temporary or permanent eye injury to pilots

AINsight: Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Aircraft Laser Strikes

Charles Alcock

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.

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.

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SmartSky Networks

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