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

Aircraft records solution provider Bluetail is demonstrating Auto Research, its AI-powered records research system, at NBAA-BACE 2026. According to Bluetail, the new product helps aircraft operators and maintenance providers reduce research time to a fraction of the time normally needed to gather key information.&nbsp;
Workflows designed for easy Auto Research access include conformities, maintenance-tracking audits, pre-purchase inspections, and record gap analysis. When searching for pertinent records such as airworthiness directives, service bulletins, and component status, the results are automatically linked to the actual record and supporting documentation.&nbsp;
For conformity requirements, “Auto Research takes the conformity checklist and automatically finds the strongest supporting record for each requirement, dramatically reducing the manual hunt through aircraft records,” according to Bluetail.
Auto Research simplifies pre-purchase evaluations by researching information on key inspections, components, and other compliance items to help buyers determine whether an aircraft meets the advertised history and if there are any gaps or inconsistencies. &nbsp;
A record gap analysis can be helpful prior to an audit, checking known requirements against the data “to identify missing or conflicting evidence,” Bluetail explained. This is also useful when selling an aircraft or returning it from a lease, during an annual records review, or just to clean up the records.
“Bluetail is moving aircraft records beyond digital storage and search to actionable aviation intelligence,” the company said, “using AI to transform decades of maintenance records into trusted insights for continuous compliance.”

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.

Bluetail’s AI-driven Auto Research Software Delivers Records Results

System reduces research time while linking to supporting records

Bluetail workflows designed for easy Auto Research access include conformities, maintenance-tracking audits, pre-purchase inspections, and record gap analysis.

Bluetail’s Auto Research Delivers Records Results

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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.

TB30 or TB40 weighs up to 19.4 kg less than the original nicad system

EASA Approves Lithium-ion Main-ship Battery for EC135

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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.

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Kerry Lynch

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Part of a $30 million investment, the facility consolidates company capabilities

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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.

In this article

Bluetail

More In Maintenance and Modifications

EASA Approves Lithium-ion Main-ship Battery for EC135

TB30 or TB40 weighs up to 19.4 kg less than the original nicad system

GPMS Signs Wisk Air for Bell 412 and 407 GXi HUMS

MEMS-based system delivers actionable data to support proactive maintenance

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