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

Texas’ San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has inaugurated its new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility for general aviation. The airport was approved as a U.S. entry port in 2009, and the facility has been in the works since 2012. Last year, CBP processed more than 22,000 international GA passengers and more than 4,200 general aviation aircraft at the airport’s temporary facility.

 


“We’ve seen as many as 83 general aviation flights in a single day,” said CBP port director Lois Hunter. “This is in addition to the workload that continues in the commercial environment at SAT."

 


In an effort to expedite construction of the new 5,000 square foot facility across the airfield from commercial operations, the city negotiated a public/private partnership with San Antonio-based aircraft design and modification specialist Innova Aerospace, which invested nearly $3 million to design and build the facility, while the city’s aviation department constructed the apron and taxiway improvements to provide airside access to the building.

 


To accommodate Global Entry members, the location offers a pair of kiosks to process trusted travelers. The project, located on the north side of the airport, represents an overall investment of approximately $6 million.

 


“CBP is happy to partner with the San Antonio International Airport on this facility, which will accommodate the growing private and general aircraft industry here,” noted Judson Murdock II, CBP’s director of field operations. “This is a great example of public-private partnership as the winners are not only the employees who will staff this facility, not only the city that will reap economic dividends from this investment, but also&nbsp;travelers who chose to land here will have a better travel experience because of the technology invested.”

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.

New CBP Facility Opens at San Antonio International

The Texas gateway sees more than 20,000 international GA passengers a year.

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

FAA Poised To Release Beyond Visual Line of Sight Proposal 

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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