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.

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Matt Thurber

Following the sale of an Airbus H135T3 to Star Air in September, Rotortrade facilitated the delivery of the helicopter from Italy to India in record time. Star Air is the aviation arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group.
Transporting the helicopter to India required coordination with Airbus and India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This included revision of the type certificate and validation of the supplemental type certificate for the Air Ambulance Technology VIP interior that was installed in the H135. Rotortrade was able to accomplish this complex process in six weeks instead of the four months that are normally required.
Rotortrade will engage in further transactions with Ghodawat Enterprises, including collaborating on a remarketing agreement for an Airbus H135P2 that Rotortrade will manage.
“Completing a complex international handover and dual certification in record time is not just a technical win, but a testament to our people,” said Aurélien Blanc, Rotortrade executive director and head of region APAC, Middle East, and Africa.
“This milestone enables us to accelerate our foray into premium charter and corporate aviation,” said Star Air CEO Simran Singh Tiwana, “furthering Star Air’s commitment to delivering world-class air mobility in India.”
Another recent Rotortrade transaction involved delivery of an Airbus AS365N3 to Aman Aviation in India. The helicopter is registered in Cambodia but based in Malaysia, and like the H135 for Star Air, Rotortrade is working with India’s DGCA to finalize import and operational approvals.
Rotortrade was founded in 2012 and is the sole distributor of Leonardo Helicopters, an approved Airbus Helicopters reseller, and a certified preowned partner for Bell, Safran, and Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada.

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