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

Atlantic Aviation broke ground late last week on a redevelopment and expansion project on its FBO at Alabama’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (KBHM).&nbsp;The $40 million facility, slated for completion in early 2027, will feature a 7,500-sq-ft terminal with an open concept lobby and reception area, café, conference rooms, crew lounge, and flight-planning area. On the FBO staff side, there will be a training area, offices, and locker rooms.
Once the terminal is completed, the existing 3,500-sq-ft terminal building will be renovated for further use.&nbsp;Three of the facility’s existing hangars also will be retained, while two others will be demolished to make way for a pair of 30,000-sq-ft hangars that can house the latest large-cabin business jets. They will bring the location up to 116,000 sq ft of aircraft shelter space.
Atlantic will also expand its ramp by seven acres with concrete hardstands for large charter aircraft adjacent to private terminal space in one of the new hangars.
With an eye towards sustainability, the mega-chain will use recycled materials throughout the construction and install high-efficiency environmental, lighting, and plumbing systems. The roofs of the new hangars will be equipped for the installation of solar arrays to help offset electricity usage.
“This investment in the expansion of our presence in Birmingham is a result of outstanding collaboration with airport and city leadership,” explained Kurt Schmidt, Atlantic’s s-v-p of operations for the Southeast region. “And while we take great pride in the design of the new facility itself, we are equally as proud of the economic development benefits it will bring to the airport, its users, and the local community.”

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

Atlantic Aviation Starts Birmingham Airport FBO Upgrade

The redevelopment and expansion will take approximately two years

Atlantic Aviation has broken ground on a new FBO facility at Alabama’s Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

Atlantic Aviation Starts Birmingham FBO Upgrade

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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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