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

Today&nbsp;marks the opening of the RedTail Flight Academy at New York’s Stewart International Airport and the start of training of seven minority youth from underserved communities in the academy’s Part 141 pilot training program. Charter provider Wheels Up is&nbsp;providing two internships every year to its graduates and, during a promotional period, donating $1,000 from new Core membership signups to the academy.

 


The academy honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, and Lt. Col. Enoch Woodhouse, one of the Tuskegee Airmen, was on hand to welcome the inaugural cadets during today’s opening. The program is launching with three female and four male students and hopes to grow the percentage of minority pilots to 4 percent during the next 10 years, from the current 2.5 percent (in military and commercial aviation).

 


The all-volunteer academy was founded by the New York-based Tuskegee Airmen chapter. The training program aims to graduate the cadets in 10 months with a multi-engine commercial pilot license and instrument rating.

 


“We’re thrilled to finally be able to welcome students to the&nbsp;RedTail&nbsp;Flight&nbsp;Academy to help diversify the aviation industry and perpetuate the values of&nbsp;leadership, courage, and perseverance of the original airmen,” said&nbsp;Glen Fraser,&nbsp;director of Lee A. Archer Jr.&nbsp;Red&nbsp;Tail&nbsp;Youth Flying Program. “The opportunity for our graduates to gain firsthand experience through internships at such a great company ensures they continue to learn aviation skills from industry leaders.”

 


“We’re honored to be the first Part 135 provider to partner with the&nbsp;RedTail&nbsp;Flight Academy to help support the next generation of aviation talent,” said Wheels Up COO Thomas Bergeson. “By offering two internships every year to academy graduates, we’re committing to diversifying our employee base and offering positions to underserved communities.”

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

RedTail Flight Academy Opens at Stewart Airport

Wheels Up has partnered with RedTail Flight Academy to offer internships to graduates of the academy's commercial pilot training program.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

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.

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

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.

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

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.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

Charles Alcock

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

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support 

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

AIN Staff

In a Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) roundtable on retention, an aviation staffing expert and flight department leaders traded hard-won lessons on money, culture, and knowing who you’re really competing with.

More In Training and Workforce