A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;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&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;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&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;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.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Curt Epstein

Vancouver, Wa.-based Onboard Systems International is displaying its new non-rotating cargo hook system for the Bell 204, 205, 212 and 412 at Heli-Expo 2015. The suspension system features stainless steel tension straps rather than the cables used on other non-rotating cargo systems, as well as the company’s Talon MC Keeperless Cargo Hook.
“We’ve had a number of customer requests for a non-rotating hook for these Bell aircraft over the years,” noted company sales and marketing vice president Karsten Lemmon. “These new cargo hook systems are designed specifically for operators whose external load missions require non-rotating loads such as back-burning, fertilizer spreading and firefighting, to name a few.”
The new systems, designed to reduce ongoing maintenance expenses and lifetime cost, will be available in two configurations: with or without an integrated onboard weighing system that allows the pilot to instantly know the cargo weight. The company expects to receive FAA certification in mid-2015, with Transport Canada and EASA approval to follow. Show attendees can view the system at the company’s booth, and register for a chance to win a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet computer.

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

Onboard Systems Debuts New Non-Rotating Cargo Hook

The new kit will fit a variety of Bell helicopters and is on track for summer certification.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Pilots need to know to pull collective to eliminate so-called collective bounce

FAA Concerned About Bell 206L Vertical Vibrations

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.

Systems will streamline operations, reduce downtime, and improve reliability 

Alpine Helicopters Picks Camp’s Mx and Inventory Tools

Kerry Lynch

Company posted a $3.5 million net loss

Blade Air Mobility Losses Ease as Pax Revenues Leap

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.

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.

Order intake in the quarter was up 15.6%

Helicopter Deliveries at Leonardo Soften but Orders Jump

Ceremony included delivery of two Subaru Bell 412EPXs

Bell Celebrates 6,000th Helicopter Made in Mirabel

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Training includes flights in simulator and in the real AS350B3e helicopter

Loft Dynamics VR Sim Approved for Type Rating Program

Super Puma can drop more than four tonnes of water at a time

Greece Buying Airbus H215s for Firefighting Operations

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.

HAI Heli-Expo 2015

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