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

Shortly after Nighthawk Flight Systems unveiled the Guardian cockpit display and avionics system at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the company announced that Comp Air is the launch aircraft manufacturer for the system. Comp Air’s piston- and turbine-powered 6.2 experimental airplane will be equipped with the Guardian avionics large-format touchscreen display and Nest computing center.
Nighthawk’s first display measures 11.6 inches and connects to the Nest with a single cable. The Nest can be installed anywhere in the aircraft and is expandable by adding “blades” that enable easily upgradeable avionics functionality such as mission computer, air data/attitude heading reference system, and smart input/output to existing avionics. These include autopilot, GPS, radios, navigation receivers, ADS-B In, and other functions. Nighthawk will also offer blades with its own avionics capabilities.
“We developed Guardian to give general aviation aircraft an affordable system with all the functions and features of advanced glass systems, but better,” said Nighthawk Flight Systems CEO Paul Martin. “We provide a much lighter, more affordable system with the best, most realistic synthetic vision on the market.”
Guardian is “up to 50% lighter than current, equal-capability avionics systems,” according to the company. The avionics’ synthetic vision system offers high-resolution 3D imagery “that provides high detail that dramatically improves definition and situational awareness,” merging obstacle, flight environment, traffic, weather, terrain, and satellite imagery.

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

Nighthawk’s New Cockpit Display Picked for Comp Air 6.2 Experimental Airplane

Large, high-resolution touchscreen displays are driven by a remotely mounted computing center

Comp Air’s piston- & turbine-powered 6.2 experimental airplane will be equipped with Guardian avionics large-format touchscreen display & Nest computing center.

Nighthawk’s New Cockpit Display Picked for Comp Air 6.2

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.

More than 31 approaches at 25 airports added to new database

Garmin and Hughes Partner on Guided Visual Approaches

Newest version adds comfort and flexibility features

Lightspeed Improves Headset Comfort with Zulu 4 Headset

Approaches are less cluttered and depicted more intuitively

ForeFlight Integrates Maps with Dynamic Procedures

New feature pushes flight data directly to service providers

Garmin PlaneSync Adds Automatic Flight Log Sharing

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

EAA AirVenture 2025

More In Avionics

Garmin and Hughes Partner on Guided Visual Approaches

More than 31 approaches at 25 airports added to new database

Lightspeed Improves Headset Comfort with Zulu 4 Headset

Newest version adds comfort and flexibility features

ForeFlight Integrates Maps with Dynamic Procedures

Approaches are less cluttered and depicted more intuitively

Garmin PlaneSync Adds Automatic Flight Log Sharing

New feature pushes flight data directly to service providers

Honeywell FMS Guided Visual Approaches Add Capability

New airports and integrations give pilots more options for mitigating risk

WMI Acquires Cloud Instrumentation Firm SPEC

Acquisition enhances WMI’s airborne atmospheric research capabilities

SkyDrive Picks Stirling Dynamics To Supply eVTOL Pilot Control Sticks

Stirling will make custom active control inceptors for the fly-by-wire aircraft

Garmin GTN 750Xi Navigators Now FAA Datalink-capable

Properly equipped aircraft can now access departure clearances and push-to-load messages

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN