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

Aviation industry software provider&nbsp;X-1 made a major move this week with the purchase of&nbsp;private&nbsp;aviation industry&nbsp;consultancy&nbsp;FBO Partners&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-10-17/hangar-management-systems-aim-improve-fbo-operations">HangarIT</a>&nbsp;hangar management product.&nbsp;Announced&nbsp;yesterday at NBAA’s Schedulers &amp; Dispatchers Conference in Cleveland, the acquisition further develops X-1’s&nbsp;platform across aviation operations, infrastructure, and real estate.
Through the addition of FBO Partners, X-1 expands into advisory capabilities, bringing&nbsp;expertise&nbsp;in transaction support, operational strategy, and market insight across the FBO and airport arena, while the inclusion of&nbsp;HangarIT&nbsp;strengthens its capabilities in aviation real estate and infrastructure data. As part of this transition,&nbsp;HangarIT&nbsp;will be rebranded as X-1 Property, establishing it as a purpose-built solution for managing aviation real estate, hangars, and infrastructure within the broader X-1 ecosystem.
“HangarIT &amp; FBO Partners extends the X-1 platform into a critical part of the aviation ecosystem that has historically operated in silos,” said X-1 CEO Jim Wiley. “By bringing together operations, data, and real estate insight, we’re laying the groundwork for a more connected and efficient aviation environment.”&nbsp;
In a move to further strengthen its aviation real estate capabilities, X-1 will also collaborate with BA Group, which brings deep expertise in aviation real estate advisory and development, along with Aviation Property Network (APN), its aviation real estate&nbsp;marketplace.
X-1 believes that as aircraft continue to grow in size and capability, aviation infrastructure is under increasing pressure. The company noted that, as airports and FBO operators face space constraints and evolving tenant demands, there is a growing need for better data and decision-making tools. In response to these challenges, it is establishing an integrated platform leveraging its existing X-1FBO operational workflows, X-1 Property for aviation real estate management, and the APN marketplace, with continued development and integration planned throughout 2026.&nbsp;

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

X-1 Expands Platform Integration Via Acquisitions and Partnership 

The company is transitioning into aviation real estate and infrastructure management

Aviation business software provider X-1 is branching into aviation real estate and infrastructure management with a major purchase and strategic collaboration.

X-1 Expands with Acquisitions and Strategic Partnership 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

New Southern Sky Aviation facility enhances international travel at KPQL

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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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.

NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers 2026

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