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

TBO Extension, which provides FAA-certified engine life extension solutions for business aircraft, is expecting FAA authorization to expand its engine-life extension supplemental type certificate (STC) to include the Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada (P&amp;WC) PW530A and PW535A engines, which power the Cessna Citation Bravo and Encore, respectively.
The Atlantic Jet Partners subsidiary’s STC modification for the P&amp;WC JT15D—which powers several legacy Citations, along with the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP—has been installed on more than 200 engines as a cost-effective alternative to OEM overhaul. It has added more than 2,000 hours of flight service life per engine and significantly reduced ownership costs.
Under the traditional overhaul model, operators can expect costs up to $4 million and as much as 9 months of downtime, TBO Extension noted. Under its program, the price is reduced to between $1 million and $1.5 million for both engines, including hot section inspection, and that can be accomplished in approximately six weeks.
With the STC expansion, Citation Bravo and Encore operators will now be able to extend their engine life by up to 2,500 hours through the same approach, according to the company.
“For more than a decade, we’ve shown JT15D operators there’s a smarter FAA-certified alternative to the traditional overhaul cycle,” said Jim Clifford, the company’s v-p of product development. “With the new PW530/535 STC, we’re extending that same proven advantage to Citation Bravo and Encore operators: lower costs, faster turnaround, and increased asset value.”
For operators who commit by November 1 and place their deposit by December 1, TBO Extension is offering reduced pricing and priority installation slots ahead of the FAA STC approval, which is anticipated in early 2026.

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.

TBO Extension To Include Cessna Citation Bravo and Encore Engines

Company is offering incentives ahead of its anticipated Q1 STC approval

TBO Extension looks to extend its engine STC to more Citation models.

TBO Extension To Include Citation Bravo, Encore Engines

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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.

Three global warehouses maintain inventory of about 150,000 parts

Parts Flying Out of Massive Textron Aviation Warehouse

Kerry Lynch

West Star is authorized Embraer Legacy/Praetor overhaul facility

West Star Growing Authorizations, Facilities, Team

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Projects help customers improve efficiency and safety

 Alpine Aerotech STCs EFIS for Bells, Bear Paw for H145

Charles Alcock

Hangar complex at Subic Bay International Airport will increase business jet support 

ACTSI Starts Work on Expanded Philippines MRO Facility

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Upgrades include carbon fiber inlet cowl inner barrel

QTA Upgrading AB Jets’ Challenger Thrust Reversers

The network offers swift response times for AOG and remote maintenance needs

Crew Chiefs Launches Worldwide Mx Response Network

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

MRO center at Melbourne Orlando International Airport officially opened this week

Dassault Opens Falcon MRO Facility in Florida

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

NBAA-BACE 2025

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