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

Fractional share and aircraft management company Corporate Eagle has established an employee-owned stock ownership plan (ESOP) and is now 100% employee-owned. Based at Oakland County International Airport in Pontiac, Michigan, Corporate Eagle was founded in 1982 and claims being the first company to operate under FAA Part 91K fractional share regulations.
Corporate Eagle’s more than 100 fractional and management customers have access to VIP facilities, housed in a campus with 57,000 sq ft of hangar space, 9,000 sq ft of office and VIP facilities, and 8,000 sq ft of space for support. The company has its own jet fuel storage of 40,000 gallons.
With a fleet of 17 Hawker 900XPs and Dassault Falcon 2000s, Corporate Eagle employs more than 100 people. The company’s leaders have been researching, planning, and executing the ESOP for the past three years. Each employee receives shares of stock within the ESOP every year.
Company founder Rick Nini does not plan to participate in the ESOP but will transition to retirement during the next four years. “After decades of success in the business aviation industry and forging meaningful relationships and business partners across Southeast Michigan, I am personally incredibly proud with this ownership transition to our long-term leadership team members and a very sophisticated group of employees for which the guardianship of our company will be especially important,” he said.

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

Corporate Eagle Fractional and Management Provider Now 100% Employee-owned

Transition to employee ownership took three years

Corporate Eagle's leaders have been researching, planning, and executing the ESOP for the past three years, and employees receive shares of stock every year.

Corporate Eagle Now 100% Employee-owned

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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.

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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.

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

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