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
Aircraft
Bombardier Partners with Grob on Composite Learjet
In October, after announcing that it planned to offer a next-generation Learjet for the midsize jet market, Bombardier said that it considered the new Lear
Aircraft
Adam Aircraft Revises Production, Spending Plans
Adam Aircraft today announced “a revision to the company’s overall production plan.” The result is a “strategic adjustment” necessary to achieve two key ob
Etirc Aviation Injects $100M+ into Eclipse
Eclipse Aviation president and CEO Vern Raburn announced yesterday that Etirc Aviation is deepening its partnership with Eclipse with an equity investment
Regulations and Government
Contractors Arrested for DOD Fueling Conspiracy
On Sunday, authorities arrested Christopher Cartwright and Paul Wilkinson in New York City,
Charter & Fractional
Sentient Buys The Air Group
On Friday, Sentient Jet Holdings completed its acquisition of Van Nuys, Calif.-based charter/management firm The Air Group.
FBOs
Contract Fueler Best AeroNet No Longer in Business
Best AeroNet, a business aviation contract fueling company that was launched in the 1980s, is no longer in business, having saddled FBOs through which it s
FBOs
Castle & Cooke Aviation: California company slowly builds U.S. chain
Castle & Cooke Aviation burst onto the FBO scene at the NBAA Convention with the purchase of two FBOs, the former Circle Rainbow facility at Honolulu I
FBOs
Avfuel signs up more FBOs
Executive Beechcraft’s three Kansas City area FBOs (owned by BBA Aviation) have joined Avfuel’s dealer network and will offer Avtrip reward points and cont
FBOs
Texas airport reopens
The runway resurfacing project at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney, Texas, is complete, and operations resumed there on November 30.
FBOs
FAA testing incursion warnings
Pilots flying to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and San Diego Lindbergh Field might notice unusual runway status lights that warn of possible conf
FBOs
Ranger Jet ready for business
After transferring its FBO operations to Atlantic Aviation, Ranger Jet Center at Orlando/Kissimmee Gateway Airport began building its new business center w
FBOs
Salina's new hangar progressing
Growth at Salina Airport in Kansas has been so rapid that the airport is running out of hangar and office space for businesses that want to move to the air
FBOs
Encore buys eighth FBO
FBO chain Encore acquired Million Air Cleveland at Burke Lakefront Airport early last month.
FBOs
All hangars full at Houston airport
Houston Executive Airport has leased all available new T-hangars, some even before they have been built.
FBOs
TFR to blanket Superbowl
In an effort to protect National Football League Super Bowl XLII patrons and players from the possibility of a terrorist strike, government authorities pla
Rotorcraft
Small design changes focus of seminar
Rotorcraft design has reached a plateau and advancements are taking place in incremental steps rather than as major breakthroughs.
Engines
Honda breaks ground on new engine plant
Honda Aero held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new engine plant in Burlington, N.C., on November 28.
Aircraft
OEMs prepare for first flights this year
There are many new jets and a few new turboprops on designers’ drawing boards, but the volume of new aircraft making it to the entry-into-service point rem
Regulations and Government
New landing requirement considered
Still concerned about landing overrun accidents, the FAA published a new Advisory Circular (91-79) on November 6 to advise pilots and operators about how t
Aircraft
Adam A700 on track for certification this year
Adam Aircraft is getting closer to the major milestone of FAA certification of the A700 very light jet and last month reported receiving its first Type Ins
FBOs
DAE finds buyer for Landmark FBO chain
Encore FBO and private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner on November 22 entered a joint definitive agreement to acquire Landmark Aviation’s FBOs from Dubai Ae
Charter & Fractional
Pogo Jet Reveals Deployment Details
In a December 13 amendment to Pogo Jet’s S-1 registration statement for its initial public stock offering, the company provided more information about its
FBOs
Encore, GTCR Get a Landmark Deal
Encore FBO and private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner announced late yesterday that they entered a joint definitive agreement to acquire Landmark Aviation’
FBOs
Cutter PHX offers new amenities
Cutter Aviation celebrated the opening of the new crew lounge and flight-planning/business center at its FBO at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
FBOs
FBO Profile: Maguire Aviation
Up-and-coming FBO company Maguire Aviation is now the largest leaseholder at Van Nuys Airport in Southern California, having bought the former Million Air
FBOs
Avitat Boca gets new owner
Hamid Hashemi’s LAH Aviation Holdings purchased Avitat Boca Raton from Muvico Theaters on October 30.
FBOs
Signature adds FBO in Florida
In addition to buying Carolina Air Center on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island in September, Signature Flight Support has also purchased Marathon Flight
