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

Hilton Software, developer of the WingX electronic flight bag (EFB) app, won a $4 million contract with the FAA to support the agency’s Flight Program Operations. “This is a new contract, which now makes us a prime contractor for two government agencies,” said company founder and CEO Hilton Goldstein.&nbsp;

 


Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) signed a five-year contract with Hilton Software to develop the Aero App for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Aero App is a moving-map EFB with worldwide charts and maps, georeferenced approach procedures, FLIP charts, and documents and is based on Hilton’s WingX EFB but designed for government users. Uniquely, Aero App runs on three computing platforms: iOS, Android, and Windows, providing greater flexibility for a variety of users.

 


“This enables our DoD pilots, government foreign partners, and many others to fly paperless,” he said, “and obviously with the benefits of georeferencing, fast cloud-based downloads, and excellent moving map with many useful overlays for military pilots such as aerial refueling routes.”

 


Hilton added, “The purpose of this contract is to ensure that FAA’s Flight Program Operations has the tools they need to safely and accurately analyze and assess new and current instrument approach procedures on the ground and in-flight with regards to terrain, vertical obstructions, missed approach procedures, and other aspects and factors influencing the safety of flight.”

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

Hilton Software Wins New Government Contract

A new $4 million contract with the U.S. government makes Hilton Software a prime contractor for two government agencies.

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.

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

Kerry Lynch

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

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.

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.

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.

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

Charles Alcock

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.

Light jet now approved by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators 

Autoland-equipped Phenom 300EV Gets Trio of Approvals

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Jessica Reed

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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