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

Fledgling airframer Icon is showing off the first production version of its A5 light sport aircraft this week at EAA AirVenture 2014 in Oshkosh, Wis. Unveiled at the show, engineering serial number 1 (ESN-1), is the first of the company’s aircraft to be built from the production design, using production tooling, methods and components.


“This is one of the most significant milestones to date for Icon. It represents the culmination of years of research, design, engineering and manufacturing dedication by an outstanding team,” said Icon Aircraft founder and CEO Kirk Hawkins. “The A5 is no longer a prototype or concept aircraft; it’s a sophisticated, production-ready, consumer-focused aircraft.”


ESN-1, which took five months to construct, made its first flight earlier this month and will be one of three aircraft used to verify performance ahead of next year’s anticipated certification. The second production prototype is expected to be completed later this fall, while the third aircraft in the test program will also be the first to be delivered to a customer.


To celebrate the completion of its first production aircraft, the manufacturer is auctioning off one the A5’s early production spots, which is scheduled to be delivered in early 2016. The company will donate a portion of the proceeds to Veterans Airlift Command, the nonprofit group that provides free air transport to post-9/11 combat wounded veterans and their families through volunteer aircraft and pilots.


Icon recently announced that it will relocate its engineering facility from Tehachapi, Calif., to a new 140,000-sq-ft manufacturing plant in Vacaville, Calif., beginning operations there early next year. Once at full production, the company expects to be able to produce more than 500 A5s a year.

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.

Icon Unveils First Production A5

Certification for the company’s small amphibian aircraft is expected next year.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

More than 3,300 customers are on the waitlist

Air Touts $1 Billion Backlog for eVTOL Portfolio

Kerry Lynch

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Fractional ownership provider will ultimately have 24 in its fleet, including Global 7500 conversions

NetJets Takes Delivery of Its First Global 8000

Charlotte Bailey

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

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

 ‘New Aura M’ business unit supports dual-role development of regional aircraft 

Aura Aero Targets Defense Sector As Civil Aircraft Progress

200th went to customer in North America

Gulfstream G600 Sets Milestone with 200th Delivery

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

On its second flight, supersonic demonstrator flew for 9 minutes

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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.

Plans included improved aerodynamics and more sensors

Diamond Unveils DA62 Special Missions Upgrade Plans 

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

Updated Valo model features design changes from the VX4 prototype.

Valo eVTOL Moves Closer to Service as Vertical and Bristow Collaborate

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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