Curt Epstein
Senior Editor

A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined AIN in 2007, Curt came to the publication from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s  Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.

Before joining AIN, Curt worked with Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Latest from Curt Epstein

Aircraft

Viking Air Hands Over First New Twin Otter 400

Canada’s Viking Air today at the Farnborough airshow handed over its first new Twin Otter 400 to launch customer Zimex Aviation.
Regulations and Government

FAA: Aircraft Re-registration To Begin This Fall

The FAA yesterday issued its final ruling mandating the re-registration of all U.S.

CAE blends computer modeling, simulators for better integration

While best known for its comprehensive aviation training courses and its lineup of flight simulation devices, CAE has moved further upstream into the aircr
Aircraft

New-build Twin Otter will pull oil-field duty

Canada’s Viking Air celebrates a major milestone here this afternoon when it hands over its first new Twin Otter 400 to launch customer Zimex Aviation.
Safety

Turboprop Accidents Rise, Bizjet Rate Stabilizes

As business aircraft flight hours have increased over the last year, so too have turboprop accidents, according to first-half statistics released by Boca R
Accidents

Factual Reports - Tire Damage Eyed in Runway Excursion

The Mexican-registered twinjet was substantially damaged when it departed the runway on takeoff from Eagle County Regional Airport en route to Chihuahua, M
Accidents

Factual Reports - French King Air Makes Gear-up Landing

Following an electrical system anomaly, the French-registered turboprop twin, operated by Air Alizé, sustained substantial damage after making a successful
Accidents

Factual Reports - TBM Crashes After Loss of Control on Landing

The single-engine turboprop was destroyed but its ATP-certified pilot was unharmed when it departed the runway after touchdown at Montgomery County Airpark
Accidents

Factual Reports - Pilot Forgets to Lower Turboprop's Gear

The pilot told investigators that after takeoff he experienced a primary trim failure but continued to his destination airport using secondary trim.
Accidents

Final Reports - Citation II and Tractor Collided on Runway

The NTSB has ruled that the air traffic controller’s failure to monitor the runway environment properly caused the accident between the landing Citation II
Accidents

Final Reports - Turbine Blade Failure Blamed in Fatal Crash

Loss of engine power during landing approach due to a fatigue fracture in a power turbine blade caused the fatal helicopter crash, according to the Board.
Accidents

Final Reports - Pilot Failed to Deploy Landing Gear Manually

The pilot’s failure to follow the proper manual landing-gear extension procedure caused the gear-up landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the Ki
Accidents

Preliminary Reports - Sovereign Pummeled by Turbulence

The CitationAir Sovereign was substantially damaged after an encounter with turbulence during cruise flight.
Accidents

Preliminary Reports - Socata Damaged After Power-Off Landing

The pilot made an emergency landing after the turboprop single suffered engine and instrument failure during a Part 91 flight from San Luis Obispo Airport
Accidents

Preliminary Reports - CRJ Lands Without Nosegear

At the conclusion of an uneventful Part 121 flight from San Francisco to Ontario, the crew attempted to lower the landing gear.
Accidents

Preliminary Report - Flight In Poor Weather Claims Helicopter

The helicopter was destroyed and the commercial pilot and one passenger killed when it crashed following inadvertent flight into IMC.
Accidents

Preliminary Report - CHALLENGER DAMAGED DURING DE-ICING

Bombardier BD-100-1A10, Wheeling, Ill., Feb.

People in Aviation

Rod Holter has joined Hawker Beechcraft as v-p and general manager for aircraft manufacturing.
Regulations and Government

FAA Considering Boost to GA Airport Funding

A shakeup in the methods by which federal funds are allocated to GA airports through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) could soon be in the works.
Airports

HPN honors operators for noise abatement

As part of its good-neighbor program, Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., presented its annual Spirit of Noise Abatement awards at an e
Airports

Budget Tightening Causes Airport Project Concerns

Another casualty of the economic downturn could be funding for necessary airport infrastructure projects, according to Kathryn Solee, director of operation

NBAA Regional Forum Draws A Crowd at Teterboro

The business aviation forum held on June 10 at Teterboro Airport was NBAA’s largest and most successful regional exhibition to date, according to the organ
Regulations and Government

Aircraft Re-registration Implementation Anticipated

The final ruling in the FAA’s plan to require the re-registration of all U.S.-registered aircraft is expected within the next few weeks, pending the signat

New Study Ranks Safety of 33 EU-approved Airlines

Air Ranking International, a Geneva-based consultancy firm, has just released its inaugural safety ranking of commercial airlines.
ATC

New ATC Runway Clearances Take Effect June 30

As of June 30, pilots can expect to receive different runway crossing clearances from ATC,
Environment

First Algae-powered Airplane Takes To the Skies

EADS flew the first aircraft powered solely by algae-based biofuel today at the ILA Airshow in
Accidents

Final Report: Pilot Decision at Fault in Learjet Runway Excursion

Bombardier Learjet 45XR, Telluride, Colo., Jan.
Accidents

Final Report: Landing Difficulty Blamed in Fatal Meridian Crash

Piper PA-46-500TP, San Antonio, Texas, Jan.
Accidents

Final Report: Hydraulic Failure, Pilot Error Caused Mayhem at FXE

Sabreliner NA-265-80, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Feb.

FSI to offer maintenance training with Cessna and P&WC

Adding to its portfolio of OEM maintenance training partnerships, FlightSafety International announced it will be teaming with Cessna and Pratt & Whitn