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

Simulator manufacturer Frasca International (Booth 9256) has delivered more than 2,600 simulators since its founding in 1958, and its products are seeing growing use in the helicopter industry. Frasca recently booked an order for a Robinson R44 flight training device (FTD) from a customer in China, and recent contracts include a number of helicopter simulators, one of which is an AS350B that will be delivered to HNZ Group. Here at Heli-Expo, Frasca is sharing its booth with HNZ, and on display is the AS350B FTD and an S-92 cockpit procedures trainer (CPT).

 


Frasca is a vertically integrated simulator manufacturer, with in-house capabilities for “aerodynamics simulation, flight test, data acquisition, visual systems, night-vision goggles simulation, control loading, motion systems, fabrication, electronics design and more,” according to the company.

 


Recent wins for Frasca include China CAAC Level 5 approval for a TruFlite R44/Schweizer S300 convertible FTD, and this is the first Level 5 helicopter simulator delivered and approved in China, Frasca said. The FTD includes a helicopter-specific mission training visual database. The FTD is located at Xilin Fengteng GA’s Guanghang facility in Sichuan Province. The company operates 12 helicopters and provides flight training and business and aeromedical flight services.

 


The AS350B FTD is for HNZ Group of Montreal, Canada, and will be certified to Level 7 and convertible between the analog AS350B2 instrument panel and the AS350B2 and -B3e configuration with the VEMD instrumentation. “This will be the first Level 7 FTC certified in Canada,” according to Frasca, and it will be installed in the Edmonton airport terminal and available for pilot initial and recurrent training, for HNZ pilots and those flying for other Canadian operators.

 


The AS350B FTD is equipped with TruVision visual display, a database that includes the Edmonton area and other specialized training scenarios at locations in Canada, a vibration platform, Graphical Instructor Station and cargo mirror simulation.

 


Other recent simulator deliveries include a Bell 206L Level 7 FTD to Air Evac Lifeteam in O’Fallon, Missouri; a Bell 407 GX full flight simulator to the Bell Helicopter Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas; and a Bell 407 Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainer II to Horizon International Flight Academy in the United Arab Emirates.

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

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

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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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 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.

Agreement extends Tracking+ use across global service network

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Hanneke Weitering

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.

Facility could build up to 12 helicopters annually

Sikorsky Picks Owego, New York, for S-92A+ Production

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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