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

Pilots will finally be able to use pinch-to-zoom gestures on Garmin’s GTN series navigators when a new software update becomes available in August. The free update also adds Garmin’s Telligence Voice Command and integration with the new <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2016-07-19/garmin-shrinks-flight-stream-510-multimedia-card">Flight Stream 510</a>, which enables wireless database transfers.&nbsp;

 


The Telligence feature requires installation of a separate push-to-command button and also requires the GMA 35/GMA 350 audio panel. Telligence allows pilots to issue voice commands—more than 300 are available—to complete tasks that normally would require a touchscreen or knob input on the GTN.

 


Commands include asking the GTN to “tune destination tower,” and the tower frequency is then automatically loaded into the standby position. Even if the next hand-off frequency isn’t known, the pilot can simply ask “tune nearest center” and the standby field will then be set to the closest center frequency that might be expected to be the next hand-off. Other typical commands include “create waypoint” to create a user waypoint at the current location; “show distance” to pop up a window with the distance based on flight plan information; or “say distance to destination” for a verbal readout of that distance.&nbsp;Garmin is demonstrating the Telligence features next week at the 2016 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.

 


“With features like Telligence Voice Command, pilots will feel as though they have a virtual copilot sitting in the seat next to them as the GTN completes tasks via spoken commands,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin v-p of aviation sales and marketing. “These features and more help pilots keep their eyes out of the cockpit by providing a more intuitive, natural user interface that assists them in completing the most important task—flying the aircraft.”

 


The GTN software upgrade adds other features, including making radios available before engine start, adding a flight track vector, optional clearing of all stored flight plans and waypoints, and pilot-selectable SafeTaxi diagram hot spot descriptions. European operators gain the ability to display visual reporting points on the moving map.

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

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The free Garmin GTN software upgrade is available in August and adds a number of new features to the GTN series navigators.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

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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.

EAA AirVenture 2016

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