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

Robinson Helicopter has added an instructor pilot standardization course to its training menu. The course is designed to help improve R22, R44, and R66 instructors’ aircraft knowledge, basic and advanced flying techniques, safety, and flight proficiency. The course builds on Robinson’s pilot safety course, which was implemented more than 40 years ago.
Graduates of the instructor course will have the opportunity to join Robinson’s approved training provider network. The company plans to add more factory training programs and incentives that will encourage pilots to train with approved instructors.
During the week-long instructor course, participants attend ground school with “deep dives into crucial topics” and spend several hours in flight training. Focus areas include “a significant emphasis on safety and incident-mitigation strategies; the importance of fundamental maneuvers, advanced procedures, and system failure responses, ensuring instructors can effectively train others in both basic and advanced flying techniques; [and] in-depth instruction on Robinson helicopter design equips instructors with a thorough understanding of the aircraft they’ll be teaching others to fly.”
“This new [instructor pilot] course reflects Robinson Helicopter Company’s commitment to safety and excellence in helicopter training,” said Robinson president and CEO David Smith. “An entire generation of pilots has built their careers from their experience training in a Robinson aircraft. This course aims to advance safety and train the next generation for successful careers in aviation.”

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

Robinson Instructors Can Add Skills in Factory Training Class

The week-long course covers important safety topics

Graduates of the instructor course will have the opportunity to join Robinson’s approved training provider network. 

Robinson Instructors Can Add Skills in Factory Class

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany 

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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.

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Hanneke Weitering

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Charles Alcock

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.

European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance 

Vertical Lift Groups Extend Trade Show Partnership

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.

In this article

Robinson R22 Series

Robinson R44 Series

Robinson R66

Robinson Helicopter Company

More In Rotorcraft

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

Vertical Lift Groups Extend Trade Show Partnership

European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance for Future Helicopters

Originally developed for the U.S. military, X2 technology is in search of a new customer.

Bell 505 Makes Asia-Pacific Debut with Aichi Police

Joins fleet of longtime operator of Bell 206s and 412s

Enstrom Delivers 480B to Africa’s Safomar Aviation

Distributor will use the helicopter to introduce customers to its capabilities

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