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

Speaking yesterday at a joint meeting of the Teterboro Users Group and the Morristown Aviation Group at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen gave an empassioned assessment of the looming threat of ATC privatization and the potential for domination by the airlines. “This is a tough group to trust with the future of the air traffic system,” Bolen said. “Right now our public airspace serves a public purpose. The airlines are trying to seize control of that so they can operate it to serve themselves and their airports."


Past attempts at privatization, including last year’s measure that&nbsp;failed to reach the House floor for a vote, took place in a different political landscape, he noted. The White House has not yet weighed in on the plan, but, Bolen said, “We do know this: the President has put forward what he calls a 'skinny budget,' and that skinny budget talks about privatizing the air traffic control system. We don’t know the details, but we do know the concept.” Bolen added he expects the House and Senate to hold hearings on the ATC issue over the next few months.


“What we are seeing is the airlines and the administration are becoming a lot more aggressive in promoting this,” he warned. In the past, NBAA had urged its members to contact their congressional representatives, but with this change in the dynamic, Bolen requested that the industry members make their case known not only to the highest level officials in their companies, but also to local entities such as mayors, city councils and chambers of commerce. “The airlines have spent tens of millions of dollars on this effort, and we’re still here,” he said. “That’s because people of this community have gotten active and engaged.”

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Bolen Issues Warning Call on ATC Privatization

The NBAA head says this latest attempt to float the privatization scheme may be the most serious yet.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Bipartisan leaders, industry groups back ATC system upgrade plan

Duffy’s U.S. ATC Plan Draws Unified Industry Support

Kerry Lynch

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.

NBAA endorsed the nomination

Senate Commerce Advances Isaacman Nomination for NASA

Gordon Gilbert

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

Allows for a 60-day comment period on rule limiting data disclosure to the public

Comment Period Extended for Concealing Aircraft Owner Data

Chad Trautvetter

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

International air charter operators with a permit can now fly point-to-point domestic flights in Saudi Arabia

Saudi’s GACA Lifts Air Charter Cabotage Restrictions

U.S. agency’s acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau says advanced air mobility is a priority

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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.

Transportation budget reconciliation package also cuts green technology grants

House Panel Approves $12.5 Billion Boost in ATC Funding

Sarah Rose

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.

More In Regulations and Government

Duffy’s U.S. ATC Plan Draws Unified Industry Support

Bipartisan leaders, industry groups back ATC system upgrade plan

Senate Commerce Advances Isaacman Nomination for NASA

NBAA endorsed the nomination

Comment Period Extended for Concealing Aircraft Owner Data

Allows for a 60-day comment period on rule limiting data disclosure to the public

Saudi’s GACA Lifts Air Charter Cabotage Restrictions

International air charter operators with a permit can now fly point-to-point domestic flights in Saudi Arabia

FAA Poised To Release Beyond Visual Line of Sight Proposal

U.S. agency’s acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau says advanced air mobility is a priority

House Panel Approves $12.5 Billion Boost in ATC Funding

Transportation budget reconciliation package also cuts green technology grants

Mexico Customs Tighten Rules for Travelers, Flight Crews

Stricter enforcement affects private aviation crews

House Panel To Consider $15B ATC Boost, SAF Grant Cuts

Transportation and Infrastructure panel to vote on its portion of the wider budget reconciliation bill

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