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

<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-11/republic-jet-center-looks-future-kfrg">Republic Jet Center</a>, one of three service providers at Republic Airport (KFRG) on New York’s Long Island, has changed hands in a deal involving SR Aviation Infrastructure (SRAI)—the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-11-19/major-las-vegas-hangar-complex-changes-hands">recently-launched</a> subsidiary of real estate investment and development firm SomeraRoad that is looking to develop a nationwide network of aircraft hangar complexes—and FBO chain Modern Aviation.
Though SRAI purchased Republic Jet, a full-service FBO and formerly the lone independent service provider on the field, it showed no appetite for entering the FBO arena. Instead, it immediately flipped Republic's FBO assets to Modern, which already operates one of the other two facilities at KFRG. The Republic site features a 2,000-sq-ft main terminal, a 1,500-sq-ft satellite terminal on the north side of the field, and more than 60,000 sq ft of hangar space. While the location’s customer service and line staff were retained, most of Republic’s management was let go as the facility undergoes rebranding.
For SRAI, the real prize was Republic Jet’s more than 50 acres of undeveloped leasehold. While the company declined to provide more specific information at this early stage, it plans a multi-phase hangar development at Metro New York-area KFRG with modern amenities and 28-foot hangar door heights designed to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range private jets, injecting needed capacity into a very tight aviation real estate market.
“Farmingdale represents a significant growth milestone for SRAI and marks the expansion of our national portfolio into one of the country’s most dynamic private aviation markets,” said SRAI president Jonathon Reeser. “This project reflects our commitment to acquiring and developing best-in-class hangar facilities at strategically located airports nationwide. Farmingdale is one of the most important private aviation airports in the New York metro area and represents a pivotal step in SRAI’s continued growth and leadership in the general aviation infrastructure sector.”

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

Hangar Developer Buys and Flips Long Island FBO Republic Jet Center

Modern Aviation acquired facility, its second at KFRG

Republic Jet Center at New York’s Republic Airport will now be managed by Modern Aviation following the sale of the FBO to SR Aviation Infrastructure.

 Long Island FBO Is Sold, and Sold Again

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Company will more than double its footprint at KTRM

Desert Jet Plans Major Expansion at California Airport

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

More In FBOs

Desert Jet Plans Major Expansion at California Airport

Company will more than double its footprint at KTRM

Universal Aviation Tapped for New Saudi GAT in Dammam

$20 million facility is expected to be operational shortly

ICCS Debuts New Flagship FBO in Toluca, Mexico

Toluca is one of the busiest GA gateways in the world

Oklahoma GA Airport Unveils Major Infrastructure Upgrades

The $12 million project added a new terminal, hangar, ramp, and taxiway

APP Jet Center Unveils Renovated Florida FBO

The six-month project resulted in a new, modern terminal

Velocity FBO Network Adds Fifth Location

Brand was founded last year

Signature Aviation Reveals Its Future ‘Vision’

Platform will deliver direct reservation capabilities and more

North Carolina Genav Airport Debuts New Terminal

10,000-sq-ft structure is part of a $6 million development project

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN