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

Cirrus Aircraft held a grand opening of its new innovation center at the company’s Duluth (Minnesota) International Airport headquarters on Tuesday. More than 300 people work at the innovation center, and Cirrus is hiring more technicians and engineers to work at the facility.
Comprising a 189,000-sq-ft building on a 39-acre campus, the innovation center supports Cirrus’ current products and services and is designed to facilitate exploration of future product developments.
The center includes a new integration test lab, a larger materials and processes lab, an upgraded advanced design and development lab, environmental equipment and testing capabilities, and more floor space for development and testing, according to Cirrus.
“These new facilities and capabilities enable our engineers, technicians, and researchers to more rapidly design, develop, and certify our next generation of Cirrus products in a connected, synergetic environment,” said Ken Harness, senior v-p of product development. &nbsp;
“The innovation center is an incredible company milestone that supports the future development and endeavors of Cirrus Aircraft product development,” said CEO Zean Nielsen. He highlighted Cirrus’ continuing investments in the Duluth campus and the city. “We have worked closely with our partners to renovate the building and hire more engineers and technicians to join the new facility in Duluth,” he said.

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.

Cirrus Opens Headquarters Innovation Center in Duluth

New facility enables further product development activity

The innovation center supports Cirrus’ current products and services while exploring future product developments.


Cirrus Opens Headquarters Innovation Center

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

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.

OEM increased its midsize bizjet deliveries by 86% year over year in the first six months

Embraer’s Praetor Deliveries Take Off in 1H2025

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.

Cirrus Aircraft will invest $13M to expand the facility by 30,000 sq ft

Cirrus Expands Grand Forks Manufacturing Facility

Charles Alcock

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 about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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.

SEDC Energy and ACI Groupe plan to take equity stakes in the French start-up

VoltAero Finds Backers for Malaysian Production of Cassio Aircraft

Hanneke Weitering

Rival eVTOL developer Joby recently began flying its four-seat air taxi in Dubai

Archer Flies Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Prototype in Abu Dhabi

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Deal signed in the same week EHang sells 50 autonomous eVTOLs to a Chinese customer

Eve Signs Agreement with eVTOL Air Taxi Partners in Costa Rica

Charlotte Bailey

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.

NBAA-BACE 2023

In this article

Cirrus Aircraft

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VoltAero Finds Backers for Malaysian Production of Cassio Aircraft

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