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
Airports
White Sands Regional Airport adds solar power system
The trend of airports adding solar power systems is growing in the southwest U.S., which sees more sunny days each year than other parts of the country.
Training and Workforce
De-icing: Online options for icing training
Two new online icing education courses were released this winter, one from King Schools and the other by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air S
Safety
NTSB: ‘ice bridging’ is a myth
Pilots should “activate boots as soon as the airplane enters icing conditions,” according to a safety alert released in December by the NTSB.
Maintenance and Modifications
Sabreliner Delivers 100th On-Time, On-Budget C-21A
Since Sabreliner performed the first C-21A Learjet Phase 16 inspection for the U.S.
Maintenance and Modifications
Eurocopter Planning Aberdeen Helo Service Center
Taking advantage of the busy oil and gas industry operations centered around Aberdeen, Scotlan
Maintenance and Modifications
Duncan Aviation Adjusting to Drop in Demand
Reductions in flying hours and cancellations of new aircraft orders have prompted Duncan Aviat
Accidents
De-icing: NTSB: 'ice bridging' is a myth
Pilots should “activate boots as soon as the airplane enters icing conditions,” according to a safety alert released in December by the NTSB.
Charter & Fractional
Private Equity Injection To Buoy JetDirect Aviation
By the end of next month, JetDirect Aviation expects to close a deal with a private-equity firm “with significant private aviation experience” that will se
Regulations and Government
TSA Gets Another Earful in Burbank over LASP Proposal
At the fourth of five public meetings held by the Transportation Security Administration to hear comments from the public about the proposed Large Aircraft
Schedulers & dispatchers conference
At meetings like this year’s Schedulers & Dispatchers conference, the state of the economy is on everyone’s minds.
Aircraft
Embraer Lineage 1000 Gets Its Papers
The FAA, EASA and Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency last month granted type certification to the Lineage 1000, the business jet version of the E190 f
Regulations and Government
Comments due this month on LASP
The February 27 deadline for the public to submit comments about the Transportation Security Administration’s proposal to regulate general aviation operati
Maintenance and Modifications
NTSB Judge Dismisses A&P/IA Emergency Revocation
The NTSB’s chief administrative law judge dismissed an FAA emergency order of revocation of a New Jersey A&P’s mechanic certificate, Inspection Authori
Maintenance and Modifications
AIG, Flying Boat Sue Grumman, Frakes for Mx Defects
Flying Boat, also known as Chalk’s Ocean Airways, and insurance giant AIG are suing Northrop Grumman and Frakes Aviation following the fatal crash of a Cha
Security
Schedulers & Dispatchers Numbers Down, Energy Up
NBAA’s 20th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, held in Long Beach, Calif., last week, attracted fewer attendees and exhibitors than last year’
Charter & Fractional
Citing Recession, Flight Options Furloughs More Pilots
In a letter sent to all pilots and flight attendants last Wednesday, Flight Options vice president of flight operations Bob Tyler announced furloughs that
Maintenance and Modifications
Despite Economy, Tech Demand Remains High
Aviation jobs listing service JSFirm reported record postings for aviation professionals last year, with more than 4,000 company members, 60,000 individual
Maintenance and Modifications
FAA Revises Carbon Brake De-icer Fluid SAIB
The FAA has issued a revision of Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin NM-08-27 to more accurately reflect information developed by the SAE G-12F cata
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA Grants 145 Approval to Aerospace Welding Minneapolis
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted Part 145 approval to Aerospace Welding Minneapolis, based in Eagan, Minn.
Maintenance and Modifications
BBA Relocates Phoenix Regional Turbine Center
Dallas Airmotive, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company, has moved its Phoenix regional turbine center from Scottsdale Airpark to a new f
Aircraft
Eclipse Aviation Auction Takes Place Tomorrow
The public auction for the assets of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by the bankruptcy court’s selection of the winner on Fri
Maintenance and Modifications
Revised AMT Training Award Program Launches Soon
The FAA’s new online aviation maintenance technician (AMT) awards program should be available shortly on the FAA Safety Team Web site.
Maintenance and Modifications
AirCare Expands Into EMS Equipment Mx Market
AirCare Solutions Group, which provides emergency training, products and services to business aviation and airline operators, purchased Majestic Aerotech,
Maintenance and Modifications
Cabin Innovations Formed from Yankee Pacific Merger
Yankee Pacific Aerospace has merged two of its holdings–Executive Aircraft Completions (EAC) and Cabin Innovations–into a single division called Cabin Inno
Maintenance and Modifications
AAR Hires FAA Maintenance Division Chief David Cann
David Cann, the FAA’s former chief of the Flight Standards Service’s aircraft maintenance division, is now vice president of regulatory compliance for airc
Maintenance and Modifications
HBS Opens in Mesa, Closing VNY Service Center
Hawker Beechcraft Services will become the second major business jet OEM service center to leave California when it closes its Van Nuys Airport facility on
Piper Delaying Second Phase of Financial Incentives
Piper Aircraft has notified local Indian River County and Florida state authorities that it is
Avionics
Honeywell offers low-cost handheld GPS
Except for some early models, Honeywell’s Bendix/King division hasn’t in recent years focused on the market for GPS handheld navigators.
FBOs
Conglomerate’s FBOs retain their individuality
Jeffrey Ross is at the helm of an unusual conglomeration of FBOs, a quasi-chain of 12 facilities that retain their original brand names instead of adopting
