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

Maintenance and Modifications

Sharp Technics Tapped as First Korea S-92 Support Center

Company will improve local maintenance turn times and parts supply
Sharp Technics K Republic of Korea
Rotorcraft

PJ Helicopters Orders GPMS Foresight MX HUMS

The HUMS equipment helps the helicopter operator manage its utility fleet
PJ Helicopters
Avionics

StandardAero To Begin StableLight Autopilot Installs

The autopilot is based on Thales' Compact Autopilot System for the Airbus H125
Avionics

Avilution’s XFS Software Achieves First FAA Approval

Product is a replacement for unreliable Eclipse 500 air data computers
Mark Spencer Avilution founder
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

AIN Media Group Acquires Aircraft Valuation Company AircraftPost

Foundation of new data division will propel further growth
Aircraft on display at EBACE 2024
Training and Workforce

Aerocor Adds In-aircraft Premier Type Rating Training

Program aims to help new Premier pilots and develop new instructors
Beechcraft Premier I
Maintenance and Modifications

EASA Approves ExecuJet Middle East for Global 7500 Mx

Dassault-owned facility offers maintenance services on a variety of aircraft types
Bombardier Global 7500 business jet
Accidents

Civil Drone Causes Midair Collision with Super Scooper

Damage to a wing leading edge grounded the CL-415 water bomber
Quebec 1
Training and Workforce

Cirrus Updates Approach App with AR Preflight Training

App now offers more than 50 courses
Cirrus Approach app augmented reality training
Rotorcraft

Skyryse Unveils Cockpit Design for Fly-by-wire R66

Making flying easier and safer is company's goal
Skyryse One cockpit
Aircraft

Dassault Delivers 5 More Falcon Business Jets in 2024

Company's backlog is 79 Falcons, and 2024 orders reached 26
Falcon 6X business jet
Safety

FAA Acknowledges G550 In-flight Object Strike at FL270

A report of engine damage claims a metallic object was involved
G550 midair collision with object
Aircraft

Pilot Report: Pilatus PC-24

The Super Versatile Jet is full of surprises
Pilatus PC-24
Aircraft

Cessna SkyCourier Certified by Transport Canada

Air Bravo purchased the freighter version of the twin-turboprop
Cessna SkyCourier utility airplane
Regulations and Government

FAA and Park Service Ending Canyon de Chelly Air Tours

Protecting tribal lands and practices is a goal of the air tour management plan
Canyon de Chelly National Park
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Volocopter Files for Insolvency, Seeks Financing for eVTOL Aircraft

Company is the second German eVTOL manufacturer to resort to insolvency protection in December
Volocopter's VoloCity eVTOL aircraft.
Safety

UK Mandates Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Light Aircraft

CO poisoning continues to cause fatal accidents and incidents
Light airplane cockpit
Aircraft

Icon Aircraft Moving Some Manufacturing to China

Company president Jason Huang resigns and Lily Hu takes over
Icon A5 amphibious airplane
Regulations and Government

ATC User Fees Are Back on the Political Agenda

Industry offers to work with incoming administration to improve efficiency
San Francisco International Airport air traffic control tower
Aircraft

Cirrus Delivers 600th Vision Jet Since 2016 Market Entry

An average of seven Vision Jets per month were delivered during the first three quarters of this year
600th Cirrus Vision Jet
Training and Workforce

Yawman Arrow Helps Flight Simulator Community Go Mobile

Combines sophisticated controls in a hand-held device
Yawman Arrow flight simulator controller
Rotorcraft

Bahrain Orders Nine Airbus H145 Helicopters for Police

Helicopters will fly for law enforcement and emergency medical operations
Airbus Helicopters H145
Rotorcraft

Robinson Symmetrical Stabilizer Acquires New Approvals

Operators in Argentina, the EU, India, and Japan can now install the empennage kit
R66 improved empennage
Maintenance and Modifications

STC Enables Halon-free Fire Extinguishers for Falcon 7X

Halotron BrX is weight efficient and leaves no residue after application
Halon fire extinguishers
Regulations and Government

FAA Updates ADS-B Privacy ICAO Address Program

Participants' information is no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act requests
FAA Privacy ICAO Address
Airports

Purdue Polytechnic Patenting Runway Status Lights 

ADS-B and computer vision enables system to detect landing and on-runway traffic
Purdue Polytechnic runway status light visualization
Cabin Interior and Electronics

SmartSky $1B Lawsuit Accuses Gogo of Illegal Monopoly

Complaint claims Gogo forced only competitor out of air-to-ground market
SmartSky lite antenna
Avionics

Collins Announces Upgrades to King Air, Hawker Avionics

New features add MultiScan radar and next-gen capabilities
King Air Collins flight deck upgrade
Cabin Interior and Electronics

OneWeb Low-earth-orbit Satcom Set To Launch on January 1

Service provider Gogo has 27 STC packages under development for business aircraft
OneWeb at MEBAA
Aircraft

Royal Jet Expanding Fleet with ACJ320neo Purchase

UAE-based charter operator has previously had an all-Boeing fleet
Royal Jet MEBAA2024