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

Universal Aviation’s FBO at Mexico’s Toluca International Airport (MMTO) is the latest to earn Stage 2 accreditation under the IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). The voluntary audit-based program was <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-05-22/ibac-unveils-best-practices-fbos-ground-handlers">established</a> more than a decade ago, and the first companies progressed to Stage 2 of the three-tiered initiative in <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-05-11/ibac-issues-first-stage-two-bah-approvals">2017</a>.
Universal—in partnership with local provider Avemex—has had a long <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-03-07/universal-completes-toluca-fbo-renovation">presence</a> at MMTO, and this latest achievement marks the maturity of the location’s safety management systems.
“Progressing to IS-BAH Stage 2 is an important milestone for Universal Aviation Mexico, and a testament to the discipline and professionalism of the Toluca FBO team,” said Universal Aviation CEO Adolfo Aragón. “This achievement reflects how strong local execution, supported by consistent global standards, helps embed safety into daily operations and decision-making.”
Universal Aviation Mexico first earned IS-BAH accreditation in 2023.&nbsp;Its Stage 2 accreditation will be valid through November 2027, at which point the company can undergo auditing for Stage 3.

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

Universal Aviation’s Toluca Mexico FBO Scores IS-BAH Stage 2

The company now has its sights set on Stage 3

Universal Aviation’s FBO in Toluca, Mexico, has taken another step in its safety standard journey.


Universal Aviation Toluca Scores IS-BAH Stage 2

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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