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
FBOs
Improvements continue at alternate Austin Airport
Pilots seeking an alternative to busy and expensive Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas might want to try Bird’s Nest Airport, 12 miles northea
FBOs
Arcadia Aviation adds Second FBO to its stable
Arcadia Aviation, which is developing corporate aviation hangar facilities at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB) in Martinsburg, W.Va., has acqui
FBOs
Results Are In: Top FBOs Selected by AIN Readers
In the official results of the 2008 AIN FBO Survey for the Americas,
Airports
FAA Ups Legal Ante Against Santa Monica Airport
In its ongoing battle with the Santa Monica City Council, which is trying to figure out a way to restrict jet operations at California’s Santa Monica Airpo
Aircraft
In The Works: Aviation Technology Group Javelin
The twin-engine military-style ATG Javelin might yet survive.
Aircraft
In The Works: Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 750
The Hawker 750 is now entering service, following FAA certification in February, and thus drops off the In The Works list.
Aircraft
In The Works: Adam Aircraft A700
Adam Aircraft’s suspension of operations on February 11 was followed by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing on February 15, which means the company will be liqui
Aircraft
In The Works: Freight Feeder Aircraft FF5000
Freight Feeder Aircraft supplier Metalcraft Technologies restarted production of detail parts for the FF5000 fuselage in February.
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna 850 Citation Columbus
Cessna is adopting “hybrid” fly-by-wire technology to actuate the flight controls on the Citation Columbus, formerly known as the Large Cabin Concept jet.
PrivatAir U.S. division sold to Gama Holdings
Farnborough, UK-based business aircraft operations company Gama Holdings purchased PrivatAir Inc., the U.S.
FBOs
Aviation Industry Expo
The Aviation Industry Expo took on a new flavor this year, with the AMTSociety providing the maintenance-related content and joining the National Air Trans
FBO Survey 2008
It seems that not a week goes by without an FBO company announcing either the acquisition of more FBOs or a one-FBO company buying half a dozen more FBOs t
Safety
AD noncompliance yields penalty for Southwest
After conducting an internal investigation, last month Southwest Airlines leaders switched from defending the airline’s maintenance practices to suspending
Safety
Air charter safety draws a crowd at forum
The charter industry is shifting to a new way of thinking about safety.
Questions linger after Adam collapse
Among the bits of information flowing from the February 15 bankruptcy of Adam Aircraft Industries is a petition filed by Adam attorney Frances Cetrulo and
Aircraft
Cessna warms to fly-by-wire for Columbus, but system is a hybrid
Whenever a manufacturer develops a new airplane, engineers have the opportunity to incorporate new technology into the design.
Safety
FAA ‘Willing to Accept’ $10.2 Million from Southwest
The FAA sent a letter to Southwest Airlines on Thursday, notifying the carrier that because some Southwest Boeing 737s were flown while not in compliance w
Aircraft
In The Works: SSBJ
The prospect of designing a supersonic business jet that meets market requirements and environmental noise constraints at a price that will attract buyers
Aircraft
In The Works: Hawker Beechcraft King Air C90GTi
The FAA awarded certification to the King Air C90GTi on January 28, and Hawker Beechcraft has begun deliveries, so it’s time to remove the turboprop twin f
Aircraft
In The Works: Eviation EV-20
The latest iteration of what was the Visionaire Vantage single-engine jet still has a pulse, although progress has slowed considerably.
Aircraft
Cessna Columbus To Employ Fly-by-wire Technology
Cessna announced today that the Citation Columbus 850 large-cabin business jet will employ “hybrid” fly-by-wire technology for the flight controls, using a
Aircraft
In The Works: Grob Aerospace SPn
Grob has delayed certification of its all-composite SPn utility jet from the first quarter until the fourth quarter of this year.
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna 850 Citation Columbus (née Large Cabin Concept)
Cessna’s newest project, first unveiled as a concept airplane at NBAA 2006 and dubbed the Large Cabin jet, is now the biggest jet in the company’s lineup a
FBOs
Record-breaking FBO Consolidation Continues
The completion on Monday of Encore FBO’s $436 million purchase of the Landmark Aviation FBO and charter business from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise caps a ser
Charter & Fractional
PrivatAir U.S. Division Sold to Gama Holdings
Farnborough, UK-based business aircraft operations company Gama Holdings purchased PrivatAir Inc., the U.S.
Maintenance and Modifications
Sheikh Ahmed gets supply chain Asia visionary award
Supply Chain Asia, a 12,000-member supply chain organization promoting the development of Asia’s supply chain and logistics sector, has awarded HH Sheikh A
FBOs
FBO Profile: Houma Jet Center
“Houma Airport is a gem of an aviation facility that has not ever been fully exploited from a general aviation standpoint,” said Duke Williams, co-owner of
FBOs
Kaz buys Attractions Jet Center
A new company called Kaz Aviation launched its FBO expansion plan with the purchase for $2.3 million of all the assets of Attractions Jet Center at Kissimm
FBOs
Sunborne adds APA leasehold
Airport property development company SunBorne signed a long-term lease with Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority for another 69 acres adjoining SunBorn
