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

Asset management company Fundamental Advisors made its first investment in the helicopter business with the acquisition of HeloAir. The Richmond, Virginia-based helicopter operator specializes in pipeline and powerline patrol, charter, aerial filming, fire suppression, and external load operations.&nbsp;HeloAir was founded in 1993 and patrols more than 50,000 miles of pipelines and 10,000 miles of powerlines every year and has overseen 750,000 acres of controlled fire burn.
The purchase supports Fundamental’s plans “to invest behind businesses supporting public safety missions that protect critical national infrastructure, with a focus on cutting-edge companies leveraging helicopters and aerial firefighting services to monitor the electrical grid and gas pipelines for utility customers,” according to the company. Founder and president Whit Baldwin retained a stake in HeloAir, and he and the management team will continue in their leadership roles.
“Whit and his team have built a best-in-class business providing necessary infrastructure monitoring services for communities across the Mid-Atlantic, and this partnership underscores our strategy of supporting businesses with experienced management teams in markets where we see opportunity to provide public purpose-driven solutions,” said Ryan Keane, senior managing director at Fundamental.
“We look forward to working closely with the HeloAir team to expand the capabilities of its existing fleet, while also pursuing complementary acquisitions of other best-in-class regional operators to establish an enterprise-grade platform in an otherwise fragmented market.”

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

Fundamental Advisors Shifts Investment Strategy with HeloAir Acquisition

Purchase marks company’s first investment in utility helicopter segment

HeloAir patrols more than 50,000 miles of pipelines and 10,000 miles of powerlines every year and has overseen 750,000 acres of controlled fire burn.

Fundamental Advisors Acquires Utility Operator HeloAir

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

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.

In this article

Bell 206 Series

Bell 407 Series

Bell

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U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

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

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