Matt Thurber
Editor-in-Chief

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&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.

Latest from Matt Thurber

Charter & Fractional

Broker ONEflight Pauses Charter Sales Activity

Jet card buyers might not have any recompense for their investments
ONEflight International
Training and Workforce

Pathfinder Places Loft H125 VR Simulator in Anchorage

With 360-viewing, the device gives pilots a realistic picture of the outside world
Pathfinder Aviation Airbus AStar helicopter
Rotorcraft

Louisiana Rotor Pathway Advances Rotorcraft Careers

Program started with Utah and North Dakota
Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma helicopter
Charter & Fractional

Court Denies Review Petition for Nicholas Air Pilot Case

Complaint centered on raising issues in briefs to preserve them
Regulations and Government

GAO: FAA Progressing on ATC Reform, but Needs Better Schedule

GAO report criticized implementation of new air traffic control system
GAO report airport tower
Aircraft

Honda Aircraft Finishes Echelon Wing, Delays 1st Flight

Final assembly of the first jet will take place early next year
Honda Aircraft team and the Echelon wing
Charter & Fractional

NZ CAA Approves Navair for Unlimited Charter Access

Previous limits made it difficult to book flights across the Tasman Sea, which lies between Australia and New Zealand
Navair
Accidents

District Court Rejects Appeal of GARA-related Lawsuit

Plaintiffs argued that police aircraft are exempt from GARA statute of repose
Helicopter accident flight path
Rotorcraft

Avincis Orders Five McDermott 214ST Utility Helicopters

Medium twin-engine rotorcraft will supplement European firefighting operations
Artist's impression of Avincis' McDermott 214ST helicopters
Aircraft

FAA Grants Special Airworthiness Certificate for eFlyer

Bye Aerospace’s prototype is ready for flight testing
Rod Zastrow, Bye Aerospace CEO
Cabin Interior and Electronics

OpsGroup Details New Starlink Regional Service Maps

SpaceX has doubled price of service for unlimited worldwide coverage
Starlink regional service North America
Charter & Fractional

ATI Jet Lawsuit Alleges Hourly Service Plan Setbacks

Lack of rental engines is a focus of the complaint
ATI Jet/Jetvia Learjet 60
Training and Workforce

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?
business jet from rear
Avionics

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers
Nighthawk Flight Systems avionics
Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation
Panel session at Global Aerospace Summit
Training and Workforce

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers
Aircraft mechanic numbers from the FAA
Engines

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application
Avionics

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference
Roundtable September 2026
Maintenance and Modifications

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location
Epic E1000GX taxiing
Rotorcraft

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view
Aviation Specialties Unlimited E3 PANO night vision goggles
Avionics

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications
A drone and helicopter avoid each other
Avionics

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

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

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure
Damaged tail boom due to vertical hop
Training and Workforce

Rohloff New Textron Aviation CEO as Ron Draper Retires

Draper to stay until the end of the year to smooth the transition
Ron Draper, Textron Aviation president and CEO
Avionics

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system
Klatt Works oxygen-mask head-up display for smoke emergencies
Training and Workforce

Kawasaki To Deploy 1st Asia-Pac Loft H145 VR Simulator

Virtual-reality device allows pilots and crew to practice realistic emergency scenarios
Loft Dynamics VR Multi-Pilot Simulator
Maintenance and Modifications

StandardAero’s Van Nuys Base Adds Mx for Global Jets

Bombardier capabilities add to long-standing Gulfstream services in California
StandardAero Van Nuys, California
Accidents

NTSB Releases Docket Info on Philly Learjet Accident

Investigators focus on somatogravic illusion and pitch-trim setting
Learjet accident Philadelphia
Cabin Interior and Electronics

FlightPath3D and Gogo Extend Bizav Partnership

Flight-tracking service is available for display on passengers' devices
FlightPath3D flight-tracking display
Avionics

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports
KPWK approach