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

ItalyFBO—the country’s largest aviation service provider—has added two locations to its network after submitting successful tender bids at Ancona International Airport/Raffaello Sanzio (LIPY) and Milan Bergamo Airport (LIME).
At Bergamo, the company—which had previously provided handling supervision on the airfield—now has an operations office and VIP lounge upstairs in the general aviation terminal (GAT) that opened on April 15, located opposite the main commercial terminal on the other side of the runway. Before this opening, all arriving private aviation flights were handled through the commercial terminal. The GAT—which is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with after-hours callout available—offers dedicated customs, immigration, and security clearance on the ground floor.
On the ramp, it has space for up to 14 ultra-long-range business jets and three bizliners, with the capacity to configure for handling larger widebody airliners.
ItalyFBO was also awarded the handling of all general aviation flights at LIPY, offering private lounge space within the airport’s departure terminal for passengers and crew. Upon aircraft arrival, its staff will escort private passengers and crew through LIPY’s customs and immigration process. The airport has substantial aircraft ramp parking and 1,800 sq m (19,375&nbsp;sq ft) of available hangar space.
The company operates at 39 airports throughout Italy, with FBOs at 12 locations. Its facilities in Florence and Pisa have achieved Stage 3 registration under IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH).
“We are thrilled to expand our ItalyFBO network with the addition of these two new facilities,” said Ettore Poggi, the company’s head of marketing and customer relations. “These locations address critical needs for long-term aircraft parking, particularly during Italy’s peak season. Bergamo’s position as a hub is ideal for travelers and operators preparing for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, while Ancona’s proximity to the renowned Ferretti Shipyard enhances its appeal to maritime clients.”

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

ItalyFBO Expands with Two New Locations

The network now includes Ancona and Bergamo

ItalyFBO has added two new locations to its network: Ancona International Airport/Raffaello Sanzio (LIPY) and Milan Bergamo Airport (LIME).

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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.

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