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

ForeFlight has added new features for helicopter operators to its iPad/iPhone app and is demonstrating these and other details this week at Heli-Expo (Booth 8625). Among the new capabilities are “advanced weather tools, briefing, filing, custom content, and powerful hazard awareness features,” according to the company. ForeFlight is also giving away a Sentry portable ADS-B In receiver each day at the show.

 


Flight operations can create custom content containing important information and share mission-critical files with flight crews using ForeFlight’s Documents and Files system. Documents can be organized in Cloud Documents, and they are then accessible by iPad and iPhone users. In the Flights section of ForeFlight, files can be attached, viewed, and annotated “to keep all resources related to a flight in a single, easily accessible location,” according to ForeFlight.

 


With custom content, pilots can click on a heliport or waypoint associated with the information to view, for example, a landing zone database that can include PDFs containing images and text. ForeFlight said this feature is ideal for firefighting, mountain flying, law enforcement, disaster relief, search and rescue, survey work, and other missions. Additional custom content can include georeferenced procedure plates, static raster charts, and vector maps.

 


The 3D Preview and 3D Airports features in ForeFlight allow pilots to preview a route in the app, helping to visualize runway and obstacle lighting and obstacles. Profile View has been enhanced and includes terrain, obstacles, airspace, and forecast weather layers.

 


Search-and-rescue missions, survey flights, and other types of operations can benefit from ForeFlight’s ground track and breadcrumb features. Users can also add markers on a route for later sharing and perusal. Address databases for U.S. states are downloadable so they can be accessed without a connection to the internet.

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

ForeFlight Enhances Features for Helicopter Pilots

Helicopter operators have access to many new features available in the ForeFlight moving-map app. 

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.

More In Rotorcraft

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

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

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

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

Vertical Lift Groups Extend Trade Show Partnership

European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance for Future Helicopters

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

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