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

Following approvals for airport improvements in the state as part of the Airport Construction Grant Program, the Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission also authorized the first awards given under the recently introduced aircraft and space engine test cell grant program. It includes two grants for Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions, with an initial $2.7 million allocation for a second engine test cell at Kratos subsidiary and turboprop engine maintainer Consolidated Turbine Specialists, located at Bristow Jones Memorial Airport (K3F7).
The second grant of $5.4 million will help fund the creation of three engine test cells to trial newly manufactured engines at a military engine manufacturing facility that also will be located in Bristow.
Included among the airport construction programs are $5.5 million to construct a terminal building and 120-foot-by-80-foot box hangar at South Grand Lake Regional Airport (K1K8); a $3.6 million project at Ada Regional Airport (KADH) to add a parallel taxiway B; $2.3 million to rehabilitate and widen Runway 13/31 at Tulsa Riverside Airport (KRVS); $1.9 million each for Clinton Regional (KCLK) and Tahlequah Municipal (KTQH) airports for hangar construction; and several other pavement or small hangar build projects.
Under the state’s Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) program, an additional $8 million was awarded to fund community hangar construction, including a 15,600-sq-ft hangar and offices at Bartlesville Municipal Airport (KBVO), 12,000-sq-ft hangar at Guymon Municipal Airport (KGUY), and 4,030-sq-ft hangar at Wilburton Municipal Airport (KH05), with construction on most of the projects expected to begin before the end of the year.
“We’re very proud of the progress Oklahoma continues to make in the aerospace and aviation industry,” said Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics executive director Grayson Ardies. “New, innovative grant programs such as the engine test cell program, along with the many pro-growth aviation infrastructure projects approved in July, showcase the forward-thinking mindset of our state’s leadership.”

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

Oklahoma Issues Airport Development Grants

The funds will be used for a variety of projects

Oklahoma’s Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission has just awarded its latest round of airport development grants.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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

The Ajman emirate aims to become a “smart city” by 2030

Skyports Expands UAE Vertiport Plans with Ajman Partnership

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.

The Marriott property is expected to open in 2027

Work Begins on Pennsylvania Airport Hotel

Richard Pedicini

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.

Event size has doubled while hangars are added at a hurried pace

Catarina Aviation Show Grows Alongside Its Host Airport

Matt Thurber

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

The project will add holding, parking, and deicing areas to what is now Taxiway H

Chicago Midway Decommissioning Closed Runway 13L-31R

Charles Alcock

Test operations could begin in Rome during 2026

UrbanV Partners With eVTOL Operator FFG to Develop Vertiport Network

Amy Wilder

Transfer times could reach up to three hours

Cabo Airport Access Slowed by Road Project

Kerry Lynch

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.

Congress issues $3.5 million annually for businesses harmed by certain presidential restrictions

Lawmakers Call on FAA To Pave Way for TFR Reimbursements

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

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