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
Avionics
GTN 650/750Xi Certified for Variety of Helicopters
Slide-in replacement with Garmin's new GTN 650Xi/750Xi units is now available for select helicopter models.
Avionics
FreeFlight Systems Joins ACR Family
ACR Group added NextGen avionics manufacturer FreeFlight Systems to its portfolio.
Avionics
Garmin Pilot Flight Planning Gains New Capabilities
The new features in the Garmin Pilot EFB app help make it more closely match the interface with installed Garmin avionics.
Safety
Vision Jet Fire Mystery Solved
A fire in a Cirrus Vision Jet at Santa Monica Airport in December resulted in issuance of an emergency airworthiness directive.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Airbus Signs Collaboration for Singapore Mobility
Airbus and Singapore's aviation regulator are working together on developing urban air mobility to Singapore.
Engines
3D Printing Provides Part for Pratt & Whitney Engine
Three companies collaborated to create a 3D-printed aero engine part for a Pratt & Whitney turbine engine.
Aircraft
Honda Aircraft Expanding Asia Footprint
There are great opportunities for light jets in China and the rest of Asia, according to Honda Aircraft.
Avionics
VR-Tech Picks Thales FlytX Avionics Suite
A single-touchscreen avionics system, the Thales FlytX suite, will be installed in the Russian VRT500 single-engine helicopter.
Safety
AINsight: Don't Underestimate External Pressure
External pressure is unavoidable-for a host of reasons—and pilots must learn to deal with it.
Rotorcraft
Bell 525 Flight Test Program In Final Stages
Flight testing of the Bell 525 is expected to be completed when the four test helicopters reach 2,000 hours in the next few months.
Avionics
Deliveries of Garmin GFC 600H To Start Soon
Garmin's GFC 600H helicopter flight control system was announced two years ago and is nearly ready for retrofit installations.
Avionics
Portable Hardware for Aviation Apps
The aviation apps landscape is settling into major product and platform choices.
Aircraft
Bell Revamps Nexus as Four-rotor eVTOL
Bell is moving full-speed-ahead on its Nexus electrically powered passenger-carrying urban air mobility vehicle.
Avionics
EIT Avionics Matches FDR with Display Device
EIT's data recorder and Esaid display combine to add more safety to the Robinson R44.
Airports
FMS Constraints Preempt Citation's TEB Approach
A pilot flying a Cessna Citation 560 to Teterboro Airport had to divert to Westchester County Airport due to flight management system limitations.
Rotorcraft
Bell Builds Urban Air Mobility Smart City
Bell is demonstrating how a modern city could adopt urban air mobility vehicles safely and efficiently.
Avionics
Genesys Aerosystems Unveils Digital Radios
New radios from Genesys give customers the option to purchase entire avionics suites from the avionics manufacturer.
Avionics
Avidyne Helios Brings Multifunction FMS to Rotorcraft
The new Helios FMS is designed to replace console-mounted FMS units in legacy rotorcraft.
Aircraft
Falcon Business Jets Here for the Long Haul
The Falcon 6X is making progress in Dassault's various manufacturing facilities.
Avionics
Garmin GI 275 Solves Legacy Panel Problem
Garmin's new GI 275 touchscreen electronic display is designed to replace older mechanical and electric instruments.
Avionics
Stevens Aerospace Gears Up for Citation XLS G5000 Upgrades
Stevens Aerospace and Defense is already working on its second Citation XLS Garmin G5000 flight deck upgrade.
Safety
Ergo Blue App Solves Ship Location Puzzle
Aeronautical Data Systems has released the Ergo Blue app to help improve the outcome in a ditching situation.
Avionics
Garmin Ups Performance with GTN 650/750Xi
Garmin unveiled the newest version of its GTN series of GPS/navcoms.
Rotorcraft
Bell AerOS Shows How Urban Air Mobility Flies
Bell is demonstrating how a smart city of the future could incorporate urban air mobility vehicles running under autonomous control.
Training and Workforce
Flying the Augmented Skies with Red 6
A demonstration flight highlighted Red 6's ability to place interactive, 3D augmented reality virtual assets in the skies.
Aircraft
Muilenburg Resigns from Boeing, New CEO Selected
Boeing is moving ahead with new leadership as the 737 Max grounding continues.
Aircraft
GA Proponents OpenAirplane and FlyOtto Closing
OpenAirplane and FlyOtto, startups designed to simplify access to general aviation and generate more flying activity, closed on December 23.
Avionics
The Future of Avionics Is Now
Touchscreens are the tip of the iceberg as the industry embraces Autoland and head-up displays.
Charter & Fractional
FAA Warns BlackBird, Pilots of Possible Rule Violations
BlackBird Air is pausing its Part 91 offerings following a letter it received from the FAA's Enforcement Division.
