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

In the 2017 AIN Product Support Survey, readers of this magazine again rated Embraer tops in the combined overall average ratings of newer and older business aircraft, with the same 8.4 rating the company received last year. Gulfstream, which for many years held the top rating, saw a 0.1 improvement in its rating for large-cabin jets over last year, to 8.3 and second place.
In a move up for Bombardier, the company’s Globals climbed 0.2 to achieve an 8.1 rating, tied for third place with Dassault and up from the Globals’ fourth place last year. Last year Dassault tied for second place with Gulfstream’s large-cabin and midsize jets.
Gulfstream’s midsize jets also saw an improvement this year, up 0.1 to 8.0, although down from last year’s second place to fourth place.&nbsp;
Bombardier’s Challenger series netted fifth place with a 7.9 rating, down from last year’s 8.1 and third place. The company’s Learjet series ranked in seventh place with a 7.7 rating, down from last year’s 7.8, and just behind Textron Aviation’s Citations at sixth place and with a 0.1 drop to 7.8.
Textron Aviation’s Premier/Beechjet/Hawker 400 series saw an improvement this year, up 0.1 to 7.5, followed by the company’s Hawker jets, which received the same 6.9 rating as last year.
The turboprops arena this year saw a slight drop for perennial favorite and first-placer Mitsubishi and its out-of-production MU-2 series, to 9.2 from 9.3. Both Pilatus Aircraft’s PC-12s and Textron Aviation’s King Airs climbed in the rankings this year, with a strong jump for the PC-12 series to 8.2 (the same second place as last year) from 7.6, and a 0.1 climb for the King Airs.
The rotorcraft OEMs didn’t change their order this year, but three had changes in ratings, with the most significant Leonardo’s climb to 7.0 this year from 6.3 last year, the highest jump for any OEM. Leonardo remains in third place, but hot on the heels of second-place Airbus Helicopters’ 7.1 (down 0.1) and first-placer Bell Helicopter at 7.2 (down 0.3).

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Product Support Survey Part 1: Aircraft

Embraer and Mitsubishi retain the tops spots in their respective categories.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 7500 Come to Life

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft 

Jennifer Leach English

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Aircraft

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 7500 Come to Life

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

AMSL Starts Untethered Flight Tests with Vertiia eVTOL Aircraft

Australian start-up is developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

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