Curt Epstein
Business Aviation Services 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
Airports
Chicagoland Airport Authority Earns Budget Award
The DuPage Airport Authority was recognized for its budget-planning and transparency by a national organization of government finance officials.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet Aviation Debuts New Widebody Completions Hangar
Designed to meet increasing demand, the 93,700 sq ft facility can hold two widebody projects at the same time.
Maintenance and Modifications
ExecuJet's Malaysian MRO Gets FAA Approval
The company's 64,000 sq ft location is the largest in the country and provides Bombardier and Gulfstream authorized service.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Gogo's Avance L5 STC'd for Range of Gulfstreams
The 4G cabin connectivity system is now available for installation on the G280, GIV series, GV series, G600 and G650/650ER
FBOs
Texas Airport To Receive New Private Hangar Complex
Western LLC is adding another 100,000 sq ft of hangar space at San Antonio International Airport.
FBOs
North Carolina Airport Gets Second FBO
Koury Aviation long known in the region for aircraft charter services, has now made the jump into FBO operations.
FBOs
Sky Valet Adds Two Major Spanish Destinations
The European FBO operator has won a tender from Spanish airport manager AENA to expand its network to Madrid and Barcelona.
Regulations and Government
FAA Issues New MMEL Relief Process Guidelines
With operators seeking MEL relief for STC components not yet evaluated through the required process, the FAA has issued new guidance.
ATC
Five European ANSPs Join Iris Pilot Program
The Iris program is a partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), led by Inmarsat, to establish secure, high-bandwidth communications over Europe.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Aviation Finance Report 2018
Lenders look to finance the next cycle upturn.
Aircraft
Cutter Accepts 20th HondaJet
The Arizona-based aviation services and sales company is now the world's top dealer of the light jet.
Engines
GE's First Engine Test 747 Is Now a Museum Piece
In service with for 49 years, first as an airliner, then as a flying engine testbed, the four-engine jumbo was the world's oldest active 747.
Florida Airport Hosts Holiday Toy Drive
By donating a new, unwrapped toy "you can make a child feel special during the holidays," notred Boca Raton Airport executive director Clara Bennett.s
Maintenance and Modifications
West Star Aviation Celebrates Chattanooga Expansion
The MRO provider has added more than 100,000 sq ft of space, including a state-of-the-art paint shop to its Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport location.
Airports
GYY Books Out New Hangar Project
The Chicagoland airport has secured aircraft repo specialist Sage-Popovich as a tenant for at least the next decade.
Safety
Early IS-BAO Participants Reach Milestones
The SMS-based voluntary program, launched in 2002, is now seeing its first 15-year participants.
FBOs
APP Properties Adds Hangar Space on Both U.S. Coasts
The FBO operator and aviation real estate firm acquired 95,000 sq ft of hangars at California's Hayward Executive and Virginia's Manassas Regional Airports
FBOs
Singapore Prepares Switch to New GA Terminal at Seletar
After midnight on Sunday, the new Seletar Business Aviation Centre, will be operational.
FBOs
St. Maarten Airport To Expand Genav Terminal
Faced with major reconstruction on its commercial terminal, Princess Juliana International Airport scraps plans for a new GAT.
GAMA: 3Q Deliveries Up, but Billings Decreased
It was good news across the board in terms of aircraft deliveries in the third quarter of the year, but the mix represents fewer expensive aircraft.
Avionics
DC Aviation Becomes Rockwell Collins Authorized Dealer
The move gives Germany's largest aviation services provider access to Rockwell Collins' full line up of cabin and avionics solutions.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aerotex Earns STCs for Bell Cabin Interior Kit
The wall blanket provides thermal insulation and sound reduction at a fraction of the weight of the standard cabin plastics.
FBOs
Louisiana FBO Is Newest Avfuel Dealer
Tubreaux Aviation Services, based at Shreveport Downtown Airport now offers Avfuel contract fuel and Avtrip points.
FBOs
Seattle-area FBO Introduces New Facility
Tacoma Narrows Aviation has added a new terminal and additional hangar to its complex at TIW.
FBOs
Signature Unveils New Nashville FBO
The $15 million facility in Music City is the result of a new 30-year lease with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.
Safety
Wyvern Relocates and Expands Product Scope
Now located in Bedford, Massachusetts, the aviation audit company has increased its staff and extended its programs to new clients.
FBOs
Canadian FBO Acquires Competitor
Saskatchewan-based Kreos Aviation has purchased the Shell AeroCentres at Saskatoon and Regina.
Report: China To Reach 20,000 GA Aircraft by 2035
According to a whilte paper by by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, big transformations are in store for the country's general aviation industry
European Bizav Logs October Increase
The more than 77,000 departures from European airports represents a five percent rise year over year, led by small and midsize jets.
FBOs
California FBO Receives New NATA Award
Sonoma Jet Center is the first recipent of the organization's "Above and Beyond FBO" award, for its community efforts following last year's wildfires.
