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&amp;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.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Jupiter Avionics introduced its wi-Jac wireless headset/intercom adapter at the AEA show. The $995 wi-Jac system consists of two adapters, one that plugs into the aircraft’s headset jack and another that the headset plugs into. No installation is required, and the wi-Jac system not only eliminates tangled wires in the cockpit but also allows crewmembers to exit the aircraft and remain in communication with each other, instead of unplugging the headset and using a handheld radio. 
The wi-Jac uses digital enhanced cordless telecommunications technology on frequencies from 1.8 to 2.4 GHz, similar to portable telephones. Range is thus approximately 300 feet, according to Jupiter president Mitch Stinson, and the wi-Jac doesn’t suffer from side-tone delays or echo cancellation found in Bluetooth systems. 
Jupiter’s ProCS Windows software is used to configure the wi-Jac to the specific headset and intercom system in the aircraft, but wi-Jac will operate without configuration. wi-Jac runs on three rechargeable AAA batteries for about eight hours. For aircraft with dual headset/headphone jacks, Jupiter offers adapter cables, which may also be needed if the intercom adapter jack is not flush with the panel. 
Jupiter also introduced a new line of strong gloveboxes, mounted using four Dzus fasteners. The simple glovebox sells for $199, and for $399 Jupiter makes a glovebox with a USB socket.

Jupiter wi-Jac Makes Headsets Wireless

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