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
FBOs
FBO Profile: Trip-planning firm eyes market outside the U.S.
It might seem as if Universal Weather & Aviation doesn’t belong in a profile of FBO chains, but the aircraft handling and weather information company does
FBOs
Davis Flight adds Avfuel
Davis Flight Support, which purchased the former Woodland Aviation FBO at Yolo County Airport in Woodland, Calif., has signed on as an Avfuel dealer.
FBOs
Livermore Air Center wins RFP
The city of Livermore, Calif., is preparing to give up its exclusive fueling operation at Livermore Municipal Airport, having awarded a contract to Livermo
SheltAir opens another FBO
Growing East Coast FBO chain SheltAir Aviation ervices opened a new FBO–the chain’s fifth N.Y.
FBOs
Investment group buys Wester Aircraft
The owners of Boise, Idaho-based Western Aircraft sold 100 percent of the company stock to investment group Berkley Aviation Investors.
FBOs
Cutter opens new PHX hangars
A new 50,500-sq-ft hangar complex opened at Cutter Aviation’s Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) FBO.
FBOs
Avantair expands its FBO network to California
Fractional share operator Avantair opened its second FBO, in Camarillo, Calif., on August 6.
FBOs
Wisconsin Airport extends runway
Wisconsin’s New Richmond Regional Airport extended its runway by 1,500 feet–to 5,500 feet–in mid-June and added a new 18,000-sq-ft FBO terminal.
FBOs
New Orleans Lakefront tower reopens
Two years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, the FAA control tower has reopened.
FBOs
Who will buy Landmark FBOs?
Following the sale of Landmark Aviation to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise on August 1, the company’s entire Aviation Airport Services Division is officially fo
FBOs
Signature Flight Support BOS: Green facility greets New England visitors
Boston Logan International Airport finally has an FBO befitting the gateway to New England, after the June 21 grand opening of Signature Flight Support’s n
FBOs
TSA issues fuel farm guidance
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends that airport and FBO operators read its new guidance document, “Enhanced Fuel Farm/Fuel Storage
FBOs
A real FBO for Plymouth?
Plymouth Airport in Massachusetts has never had a true FBO, but recent runway expansions, the new ILS serving 4,300-foot Runway 6 and the airport’s willing
FBOs
Universal Weather keeps Irving aloft
When 23-year-old Barrington Irving needed flight handling and fuel sourcing for his 26,800-mile flight around the world, Universal Weather & Aviation c
FBOs
Million Air Expands to Arizona
Premier Air president Ash Vij and vice president Rita Vij are building a new Million Air FBO franchise at Tucson International Airport.
FBOs
Globalair V2.0 now online
Airport information resource Globalair.com’s Version 2.0 release includes new features, such as weather information, new search capabilities and fresher, m
FBOs
Irving reopens Gander FBO
On July 12 Irving Aviation celebrated the grand reopening of its Gander, Newfoundland FBO, a 5,000-sq-ft facility built to replace the original FBO termina
FBOs
Santa Monica Airport dodges monitoring mandate
A proposal to require California’s Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) to measure jet taxi and idle times during a one-year period is dead, according to t
FBOs
Air 51's first FBO slated for Lexington
On July 18, FBO developer Air 51 broke ground on a new FBO at Lexington, Kentucky’s Blue Grass Airport.
FBOs
Geneva AirPark gets go-ahead
Geneva AirPark, a private hangar/ office development at Switzerland’s Geneva International Airport, received official building approval, according to devel
Aircraft
In The Works: Embraer Phenom 100
Embraer is getting closer to flying its Phenom 100 VLJ, having rolled out the first prototype on June 16 from the company’s headquarters in São José dos Ca
Aircraft
In The Works: Epic Victory
Epic has notched another first flight, this time for the Victory single-engine jet, which took off on July 6 from Roberts Field in Redmond, Ore.
In The Works: Honda Aircraft HondaJet
As preparations continue for the construction of Honda Aircraft’s new world headquarters building in Greensboro, N.C., Honda engineers are refining the air
Hawker Beechcraft focuses on support
Bill Brown, Hawker Beech-craft’s new president for global customer support, has all the right credentials for his new job, which he started at the end of M
Aircraft
Construction begins for Honda Aircraft HQ
On June 27, Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino and local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new world headquarters a
Aircraft
Eclipse Flying single-engine jet
Eclipse Aviation surprised the crowds assembled for the opening of this year’s EAA AirVenture show with a new four-place single-engine Eclipse Concept Jet
Accidents
Maintenance faulted in 2005 Chalk’s crash
The crash of a Chalk’s Ocean Airways Grumman G-73T Turbo Mallard on Dec.
FBOs
Liberty Air still coming to Savannah
The planned Liberty Air Ventures FBO at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) has encountered some site delays, according to president and CEO M
