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.

Matt Thurber

Latest from Matt Thurber

Training and Workforce

How To Be a Safe Helicopter Pilot

There's more to being safe than simply not crashing, and here we learn how from helicopter experts.
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Safety

Craig Erickson: managing safety for a large fleet operator

Craig Erickson, safety program manager for Solairus Aviation, explains how his company's safety philosophy helps Solairus be successful.
Avionics

Garmin Resolves GFC 500 Runaway Trim Issue

Pending the latest fix, owners of aircraft affected by the potential Garmin GFC 500 runaway trim issue had to disable elevator pitch trim systems.
Trim wheel on Garmin GFC 500 being adjusted by pilot
Safety

FAA Revises 5G AD Based on New Information

In its analysis of 5G cellphone network interference, the FAA found about 100 incidents where aircraft avionics were affected.
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Maintenance and Modifications

FAA Approves IS&S Autothrottle for G1000 King Airs

Owners and operators of King Airs equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics can now add IS&S's ThrustSense autothrottle system.
Innovative Solutions & Support ThrustSense autothrottle in Beechcraft King Air Garmin G1000 avionics
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Satcom Direct Begins Plane Simple Ka-band Tests on G550

Satcom Direct's Ka-band antenna has been approved for use under an aircraft-specific supplemental type certificate on the Gulfstream 550.
Satcom Direct Ka-band antenna for satellite communications Inmarsat
Safety

TEST: Flying It My Way or the Highway

How many pilots does it take to change a lightbulb?
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Aircraft

TEST: The fastest business jet in the world makes public debut

Why did Nakatomi Corporation decide to get into the airplane manufacturing business?
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Cabin Interior and Electronics

OneWeb Satellite Launch Deploys 40 More Satellites

A SpaceX launch on December 8 inserted 40 satellites into low-earth orbit for the OneWeb satcom constellation.
OneWeb launch of satellites on SpaceX rocket
Aircraft

Daher Delivers First TBM 960 in Switzerland

The first Daher TBM 960 to be registered in Switzerland was delivered to Paolo Buzzi, who previously owned a TBM 930.
Paolo Buzzi and Pierre Alain Chevallaz with Daher TBM 960 airplane
Avionics

Safety Notice Issued on Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot

A problem with Garmin's GFC 500 autopilot when equipped with auto trim may cause an uncommanded trim runaway when the autopilot is first engaged.
Garmin's GFC 500 autopilot
Training and Workforce

EAA Young Eagles On Track after Covid

More than 49,000 young people received free introductory aircraft rides this year as part of the EAA's Young Eagles program.
EAA Member pilot and youth in Piper Cub airplane for Young Eagles program flight
Engines

Fadec Alliance Tapped for Sustainable Engine Program

The Fadec Alliance joint venture will develop engine controls for the CFM International RISE turbine engine demonstrator program.
Fadec Alliance LEAP engine controller
Aircraft

Boom Supersonic Outlines Its Own Engine Design

Taking on a huge risk to the Overture supersonic airliner program, Boom Supersonic has elected to design and build its own turbine engine.
Boom Supersonic Symphony turbine engine
Safety

Boeing Addresses Jeppesen 'Cybersecurity Incident'

In a Form 8-K, Boeing acknowledged that a cybersecurity incident affected its Jeppesen subsidiary and said that safety was not compromised.
Aerial view of Boeing Corporate offices in northern Virginia
Aircraft

Dornier Seawings To Enter Middle East Market

Dornier Seawings and Gulf Enterprises aim to develop the Middle East market for the Seastar amphibious airplane.
Dornier Seawings model
FBOs

DC Aviation Opening Nice FBO with G-OPS

The new DC Aviation FBO at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport will feature a lounge designed by Collin + Radoske.
Karim Berrandou, CEO of G-OPS and Michael Kuhn, CEO of DC Aviation
Aircraft

Business Aircraft Flight Activity in MENA Peaked after Pandemic

The MENA region, while small in terms of worldwide business aviation traffic, has seen significant business aviation growth since 2019.
WingX managing director Richard Koe
Aircraft

Tupan Unveils Turbine-powered Cargo UAV

Tupan Aircraft's unmanned cargo UAV family combines turbine and electric power to deliver high performance.
Tupan Aircraft
Maintenance and Modifications

Jet Aviation Adds Heavy 777 Maintenance in Basel

Jet Aviation's new heavy maintenance approval for the Boeing 777 expands its capabilities in Basel, Switzerland.
Jet Aviation, Basel, Switzerland
Maintenance and Modifications

Tamarack Aero Targets Airliners for Winglet Mods

Active winglets could lower Airbus A320 fuel burn by 10 to 15 percent, according to Tamarack Aerospace.
Tamarack founder and CEO Nick Guida
Cabin Interior and Electronics

Stellar Blu To Provide Satcom Direct Service

Stellar Blu's satcom system for the OneWeb network is being certified on Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer executive airliners.
Boeing 777 Stellar Blu Solutions connectivity
Safety

Prime Jet Integrates Mx Analysis, Surveillance with SMS

Prime Jet has access to more information on safety and maintenance issues by integrating its CASS with Wyvern's QSMS program.
Landing gear on business jet
Aircraft

Pilot Report: Daher Kodiak 900

The new Kodiak 900 is the 100's bigger but more elegant brother, and both have their own niche in the marketplace.
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Safety

What We’re Reading: 'Fly the Friggin’ Airplane!'

Pilot and raconteur Patrick Gordon reminisces about his early flying adventures and the lessons he has learned.
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Safety

Jeppesen, NBAA Coordinate on Cyber Response

Jeppesen services are coming back online following a "cyber incident" that began on November 2.
Safety

NTSB’s Graham Calls for More SMS Participation

The NTSB's Most Wanted List for aviation continues to advocate for establishment of safety management systems and flight data monitoring.
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Training and Workforce

Tony Kern Calls Out Aviation on Sexual Harassment

Business aviation could solve its worker shortage by making the industry a safe place for female employees, according to Tony Kern.
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Safety

Jeppesen Planning, Chart Products Suffer ‘Technical Issues’

Reports suggest that Boeing's Jeppesen unit is suffering from a ransomware attack, although this has not yet been confirmed by Boeing.
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Safety

P-FOQA Offers Lower-cost Safety Analysis

CloudAhoy's pilot-focused FOQA program enables almost any aircraft to access vital safety information.
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