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

Taos Aviation Services (TAS), in operation for nearly three decades, is the lone FBO at New Mexico Taos Regional Airport (KSKX). The state’s nickname is the Land of Enchantment; appropriately, KSKX’s 8,600-foot and 5,500-foot runways are gateways to year-round outdoor activities ranging from world-class skiing in the winter to summer boating and fishing on the Rio Grande, and hiking in between.
According to TAS general manager Ray Rodriguez, winter is the peak season for the FBO. “We have four ski areas within 45 minutes of here,” he noted. “We’re doing 20 to 25 flights a day pretty consistently all winter long. We’ll get G650s, Globals.” That peak lasts from the beginning of December through the end of March, and Type I and IV deicing is available.
Spring tends to be the quietest season at the FBO due to high winds, which curtail the general aviation traffic, while summer sees steady activity for the resort destination. “We get a lot of people from Texas in general to beat the heat because we are a high mountain desert town,” said Rodriguez. “Fall has been up to a few years ago a slow season for us, but we’ve had a little more consistent business the last few years.”
Aside from those annual seasonal patterns, events in the area can spur aircraft traffic, such as the city’s annual Big Barn Dance Music Festival held this month. On average, the FBO averages a dozen flights a day for the year.
A fixture at KSKX since 1998, the terminal packs a lot into its 1,200 sq ft of space, including a pilot lounge, 20-seat conference room, shower facilities, refreshment bar, and business center. With a staff of eight, TAS is open from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day, with after-hours callout available. Car rental is available through Go Rentals or the FBO’s in-house option.
For aircraft shelter, there is a heated 14,400-sq-ft hangar that can accommodate business jets up to a Gulfstream G450. The company has had internal discussions about building a large hangar capable of housing the latest ultra-long-range private jets, but Rodriguez stated that those plans likely won’t solidify until the airport access road is extended, to make more space available towards the southeastern corner of the field near the end of Runways 04 and 13.
The Phillips 66-branded FBO has a fuel farm with 12,000 gallons of both jet-A and avgas. It is served by two jet refuelers (5,000-gallon and 3,000-gallon) as well as a 1,000-gallon 100LL truck. They pump approximately 200,000 gallons a year, between the general aviation traffic and commercial service from JSX and Contour.
While the airport—which is located just 7 miles from the city—recently broke ground on a new 7,500-sq-ft terminal building, it is uncertain whether the FBO will be relocated there, or if it will be reserved solely for commercial operations. “That’s still up in the air,” Rodriguez told AIN, adding that plans have changed several times. “We’re going to wait until it gets closer to being completed to figure that out.”
Despite the location’s small staff, TAS upholds high standards. “We pride ourselves on our customer service,” said Rodriguez. “We always meet the planes and greet them as soon as they are shut down.” If customers left their car keys with the CSRs, it will be driven out on the ramp to meet them planeside if desired. Indeed, some repeat customers will leave a car at the FBO for long periods, and the staff will look after it. That includes dropping it off and picking it up for maintenance in the owner’s absence. “We do not charge for that service; we do it just to help them out,” Rodriguez explained.
“We’re pretty open to anything and everything as long as they ask us, and if it’s something that we’re able to do, we’ll generally just do it for them.” That positive attitude extends to helping with repairs to private hangars on the field or even customer vehicles. “If we can fix it for them, we will.”

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

Taos Aviation Services: A Gateway to the Land of Enchantment

FBO is a gateway to the southern Rocky Mountains

A gateway to the southern Rocky Mountains, Taos Aviation Services, the FBO at New Mexico Taos Regional Airport, has served the local community since 1998.

FBO Profile: Taos Aviation Services

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

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.

Skyport Aviation supports business aircraft at five U.S. locations

FBO Operator Takes Over Terminal at Mississippi Airport

Amy Wilder

Facility serves business and private aviation in the Ozarks

Springfield-Branson GA Terminal Earns Design Award

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Fewer than 10% of all ground handlers in the program have reached that height

Universal Aviation’s London FBO Earns IS-BAH Stage 3

The global network has more than 110 locations worldwide

Skyservice Seattle Joins Paragon Aviation FBO Network

Facility is expected to be operational by year-end

Jet Access Starts Construction on 2nd Nashville-area Location

After establishing its FBO in 2021, Cunningham Aviation has purchased a rival

Cunningham FBO Consolidates at Arizona’s Falcon Field

Neelam Mathews

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

More In FBOs

FBO Operator Takes Over Terminal at Mississippi Airport

Skyport Aviation supports business aircraft at five U.S. locations

Springfield-Branson GA Terminal Earns Design Award

Facility serves business and private aviation in the Ozarks

Universal Aviation’s London FBO Earns IS-BAH Stage 3

Fewer than 10% of all ground handlers in the program have reached that height

Skyservice Seattle Joins Paragon Aviation FBO Network

The global network has more than 110 locations worldwide

Jet Access Starts Construction on 2nd Nashville-area Location

Facility is expected to be operational by year-end

Cunningham FBO Consolidates at Arizona’s Falcon Field

After establishing its FBO in 2021, Cunningham Aviation has purchased a rival

Second FBO Lands at Delhi International Airport

Indamer MJets also offers MRO services

2026 FIFA World Cup To Draw Aviation Traffic to Mexico

Operators are advised to start planning now for June tournament

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN