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 has approved the supplement type certificate (STC) for the installation of the FreeFlight Systems RA-4500 MK II radar altimeter in Airbus AS350 and Bell 407 helicopters. The RA-4500 MK II is 5G-resilient and also meets the FAA’s corresponding alternate methods of compliance for AD 2023-11-07 regarding radio altimeter tolerance in the 5G C-band environment.
As a member of the FreeFlight Terrain series 5G-resilient radar altimeter family, the RA-4500 MK II features “advanced RF filtering to help rotorcraft operators maintain reliable, high-fidelity agl radar altitude performance in today’s changing RF environment,” according to the company.
The installation package includes documentation, STC drawing information, rotorcraft flight manual supplement, and alternate methods of compliance (AMOC) letters.
FreeFlight will support continued upgrades to the RA-4500 MK II as minimum interference-tolerance performance criteria evolve, the company said.
“The 5G era has made radar altimeter performance a front-and-center operational issue for rotorcraft operators, and the RA-4500 MK II reflects that reality,” said FreeFlight Systems president Anthony Rios. “Its all-new digital design provides rotorcraft operators with high-integrity radar altitude performance, including low-level operations and RF-dense environments.”

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

FreeFlight Fields 5G-resilient Radar Altimeters for Bell, Airbus Helicopters

RA-4500 MK II will continue to evolve as performance criteria evolve

The FAA has approved the STC for FreeFlight Systems RA-4500 MK II radar altimeter installations in Airbus AS350 and Bell 407 helicopters.

FreeFlight Fields 5G-resilient Radar Altimeters

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Chad Trautvetter

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.

Company partners with Bell on health monitoring system for light-single helicopter

GPMS HUMS along with Bell Programs

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Honeywell FMS guided visual approach ensures a stabilized flightpath

Easier Arrival Arranged for Landing on Aspen Runway 33

Charlotte Bailey

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Standalone company will cover air transport, business aviation, defense, and space markets

Honeywell Aerospace Spinoff Set for Third Quarter

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Providers add value to data captured from aircraft systems

Aircraft Analysis Services Join FlyGarmin Platform

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.

Small unit installs on the bottom of the aircraft and provides audible advisories

FAA STCs Garmin Height Advisor for Certified Aircraft

Supports market development and flying operations for new products

Garmin Opening Flight Test, Cert Facility in Mesa

Amy Wilder

The update went live on February 3

ForeFlight Adds Tamarack Real-world Performance Modeling

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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.

Verticon 2026

In this article

Bell 407 Series

AS350/H125

FreeFlight Systems

Bell

Airbus Helicopters

More In Avionics