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

The FAA is proposing a $3.3 million civil penalty against The Hinman Co. of Portage, Michigan, for “conducting hundreds of commercial aircraft operations in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations, including failing to hold the required operator certificate for the flights being performed.” The flights were flown by the company’s Hincojet LLC subsidiary, which operated a Beechjet 400A and Hawker 900XP in timeshare arrangements. The Hinman Co. is a commercial real estate management company.

 


The FAA explained that Hincojet flew 850 flights where it charged timeshare owners in its two jets for more than the allowable amount to cover expenses allowed in Part 91. The allowable expenses include the cost for “fuel, oil, lubricants, and other additives, and an additional charge equal to 100 percent of the costs for fuel, oil, lubricants, and other additives used for each flight.” Because it charged too much, the FAA alleged, “the company “was required to conduct such flights in accordance with regulations applicable to commercial operations.”

 


The FAA also claimed that “Hinman double-billed timeshare clients for various legs of trips.” In one case on Sept. 30, 2015, the company billed the client for a trip and another client for a different trip, both on the same aircraft on the same day. “The FAA alleges the aircraft was incapable of conducting all of those flights in a single day.”

 


According to the FAA, “The FAA alleges that because it was charging more than the expenses allowed under Part&nbsp;91, Hinman should have been operating these flights under Part 135, which applies to commercial operations. As a result, Hinman failed to meet the FAA’s Part 135 requirements for record keeping, including pilot records and load manifests, for each flight. The company also had no Part 135 training program in place, and the pilots operating the flights were not authorized to conduct the flights under Part 135, the FAA alleges.

 


The Hinman Co. did not respond to AIN’s questions by press time. The company has 30 days from issuance of the FAA civil penalty proposal to respond to the FAA.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

FAA Alleges Illegal Charters by Hincojet

The FAA claims that The Hinman Co.'s flight operation Hincojet billed more than the allowable amount for Part 91 flights in its aircraft.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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.

Shuster was unable to get the concept passed while still in Congress

Former Rep. Shuster Pushes ATC Privatization Concept

Duffy served in Congress from 2011 to 2019

Former Rep. Duffy Selected for Transportation Secretary

AmyWilder

Operators push for simpler fatigue-management rules

Canada’s Flight and Duty Time Regulations under Scrutiny

Thune formerly chaired the Commerce Committee and is well versed in aviation issues

Thune Move to Senate Majority Leader Draws Bizav Praise

Hanneke Weitering

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.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Inflight refueling aircraft slated for first autonomous flight in 2025

USAF Approves Merlin's Airworthiness Plan for Autonomous KC-135

Tax issues among first anticipated on Capitol Hill's plate next year

Washington To See New Aviation Leaders in Next Congress

Tariffs, Schedule F, sustainability, audits all possible changes

New White House Sets Stage for New Aviation Policy

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

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

More In Regulations and Government