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

Avtopia has officially launched its online aviation community, “to bring aviation together in one trusted space.” Founded by business aviation veterans Doug and Caterina Taylor, the first service for the new “professional aviation community platform” is Avtopia AOG, and Part 91 and 135 operators of more than 125 aircraft have already signed up. The Avtopia app is available for iOS and Android devices.
There is no charge for Avtopia users—both operators and service providers. Revenues will be generated by advertising, according to Caterina Taylor. “It’s been a long time coming,” she told AIN, with the team going through many iterations before settling on the current platform.
Initially, the plan was to provide a similar service to Angie’s List for business aviation because finding services online often didn’t work, Taylor explained. “It’s so fragmented, and we’re all in our own little silos. We don’t accomplish as much as we could if we were all together.” Conferences and conventions are useful, she added, “but nobody knows what the other is doing, and we’re not using our collective voice.”
At the same time, older aviators are leaving the industry, and all that tribal knowledge isn’t being passed down effectively. Bringing newer pilots and mechanics together, especially for a generation raised on smartphones and apps, isn’t easy. “We want to take some of that tribal knowledge and put it in one place,” Taylor said, and this is one of the key goals for Avtopia.
Another is to provide a place where participants can share their experiences by providing candid comments about service providers.
The AOG service emerged from discussions with potential Avtopia users. “We know that [other providers] are doing that,” she said, “but not everybody wants to pay $2,000 a year per aircraft to connect to service providers that are also paying. And [these companies] are also involved with the whole process and invoicing. We wanted to do it in a way where the goal was to connect people—the service provider and the operator—and we don’t want to be in the middle of it or charge everybody. We want that energy and connection to drive reviews and social interaction and developing the community.”
“Avtopia is exactly the kind of platform aviation needs right now,” said Robert Roig, president of SoCal Jets. “Our industry runs on relationships, trust, and fast access to the right people at the right time. The AOG component is especially valuable because when an aircraft is down, time matters. Having one aviation-native place to find resources, make connections, and get support can make a meaningful difference for operators and the people they serve.”
“Avtopia was built on a simple belief: aviation is stronger together,” said co-founder and CEO Doug Taylor. “The future of this community will be shaped by the people who participate in it. Every connection, every conversation, every review, and every success story contribute to a stronger aviation ecosystem.”

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