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

Redbird Flight Simulations and two flight training organizations—Aviation Adventures, a flight school with four locations in Virginia, and career pilot training company ATP—will begin testing Redbird’s new Sidekick data-collection device in October. The Sidekick will also be demonstrated at AirVenture Oshkosh, with live telemetry from Michael Goulian’s Extra 330 broadcast on Jumbotron displays near the flight line during his aerobatic performance.

 


The Sidekick is a five-pound portable device that can be carried in the cabin and, with a battery that lasts for eight hours, requires no external power. Sensors in the Sidekick allow it to record flight parameters, including engine start and shutdown times, RPMs, maneuvers flown, number of landings, airframe stresses and g-forces on landing.

 


Many pilots use mobile devices to record flight parameters, which use GPS and ADS-B receivers with built-in sensors to determine position and record information on maneuvers flown, altitude, attitude and so on. The Sidekick takes this process further, with many more sensors onboard, although Redbird has not yet revealed what is inside the device. What makes the Sidekick unique is that it is designed to transmit data that it collects shortly after landing to a base station at the flight school or anywhere on the airport within range of the Sidekick.

 


Jason Brice, Redbird director of technology, explained that the Sidekick transmits data using ordinary consumer device frequencies (not cellular) and that its range is about a mile when transmitting from inside an aircraft. The data is automatically sent over the Internet to servers where it will be assembled and analyzed for presentation to the owner of the Sidekick.

 


The purchase and subscription price for the Sidekick will be similar to current cellphone plans, where the buyer pays for the unit as part of subscription fees, according to Redbird founder Jerry Gregoire. The target for first deliveries is March 1, 2016.

 


There are many possible uses for the Sidekick and the data it captures. A flight school could use the device to keep track of each aircraft and how it has been flown. Evidence of a hard landing or other badly flown maneuvers would be easily accessible. Student pilots and instructors could use the data to debrief after a lesson and learn what needs to be worked on for further improvement. A student who flew a perfect steep turn might want to post the Sidekick evidence on Facebook, Brice speculated. The Sidekick could also help improve maintenance efficiency, keeping track of hours flown so that the flight school or owner could receive an alert when the next maintenance event is due. Sidekick could also send a message to the maintenance shop to pre-order the parts for the upcoming event. Insurance companies might use Sidekick data as a way to fine-tune premiums. An aircraft or engine manufacturer could use the data to see how its products are operated and learn where improvements need to be made. “Sidekick is for anyone who cares what goes on in the airplane,” Brice explained.

 


<h2>ImagineFlight Network</h2>

 


Redbird also announced the formation of the ImagineFlight network, “a professional flight training organization devoted to the development and promotion of quality flight training experiences.” The network was first conceived at Redbird’s annual Migration conference last October, and the company is encouraging flight schools, especially those that feature Redbird products, to discuss the plans and goals for ImagineFlight. This could include not only cooperative marketing, lead generation, and business support tools but also a flight training curriculum to include a simulator-integrated syllabus, instructor guide and pilot study guide. Redbird has developed much of this already at its Skyport flight training laboratory at San Marcos Airport in Texas.

 


“We are excited to bring ImagineFlight into the spotlight at AirVenture,” said Brittney Miculka, ImagineFlight program director. “Redbird understands how to move the flight training industry forward in an innovative and positive way. It is important that we support and work with flight schools to create a successful training environment and a strong future for aviation. We look forward to sharing ideas and hearing from the aviation community about how we can support them as we build and grow ImagineFlight.”

 


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