Curt Epstein
Business Aviation Services Editor

A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined AIN in 2007, Curt came to the publication 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 AIN sister publication 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  Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.

Before joining AIN, Curt worked with 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.

Latest from Curt Epstein

Airports

Air Culinaire Expands London Locations

Air Culinaire—Universal Weather and Aviation's catering arm—has announced major upgrades to its London-area facilities.
Air Culinaire catering kitchen line in London
FBOs

FlightServ Opens Permanent FBO in Trenton

FlightServ, which has served the private aviation market at New Jersey's Trenton Mercer Airport since 2017, has debuted its $30 million FBO.
FlightServ's new FBO at Trenton Mercer Airport
Aircraft

Advanced Air To Provide Scheduled Service to Las Cruces

LA-based aircraft operator Advanced Air has received a contract to provide regularly scheduled air service to New Mexico's second largest city.
Advanced Air King Air 350 in flight over the Southwest U.S.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Florida Bank Establishes Business Aircraft Lending Unit

Florida-based Cogent Bank's new aircraft lending unit looks to focus on the state's high level of private aviation activity.
Cogent Bank building
FBOs

Meridian Hayward Joins the Avfuel Network

Meridian's West Coast FBO at Hayward Executive Airport in California has joined the Avfuel branded dealer network.
Meridian Hangar at Hayward Executive Airport with fuel truck and business jet parked in front
Maintenance and Modifications

PWI Receives PMA Approval for LED King Air Door Light

PWI's LED entry door light for the King Air 200 and 300 series, offers longer life and lower energy draw than the incandescent bulb it replaces.
PWI LED entry door light bulb for the King Air 200 and 300 series
FBOs

FBO Fairbanks Sets Up Shop in The Last Frontier

With little more than a year of existence under its belt, FBO Fairbanks provides service to private, commercial, and military customers.
Article image

Luxaviation Partners with Vietnam Operator

Luxaviation has established an initial partnership with Vietnam-based Thien Minh Group, one of Asia's largest all-inclusive travel services providers.
Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen and Chris Farwell, Thien Minh Group deputy director general and CFO signing mutual cooperation agreement
Environment

IRS Issues SAF Blender's Tax Credit Guidance

Following the establishment of a sustainable aviation fuel blender's tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the IRS has issued guidance.
World Energy Sustainable Fuel Plant in Paramount, California

WingX: Bizav Use Dips in December

Global business aviation usage declined in the first half of December compared with last year, according to statistics from WingX Advance.
airport ramp with business jets
FBOs

Wichita Jabara Airport Now Has Two FBO Options

Clemens Aviation has received permission to begin fuel sales to transient aircraft at Wichita Col. James Jabara Airport.
Clemens Aviation at Col. James Jabara Airport in Wichita
Environment

Hill Aircraft To Be First Georgia FBO To Offer SAF

Hill Aircraft, an FBO at Altanta's Fulton County Executive Airport, will be the first in Georgia to offer sustainable aviation fuel.
Hill Aircraft FBO at Atlanta's Fulton County Executive Airport
Engines

Gulfstream G650 Flies on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Savannah-based Gulfstream flew one of its G650s last week with its Rolls-Royce BR725 engines powered by 100 percent SAF.
Gulfstream G650 and fuel tanker on airport ramp in front of Gulfstream hangar
Airports

Perot Field Name Change Officially Recognized

Fort Worth Alliance Airport is officially known by the FAA as Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport after a ceremony last week.
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW)
Regulations and Government

Florida County Ends Decades-long Jet Ban at KLNA

Following a court verdict in support of the FAA, Florida's Palm Beach County has dropped its longstanding jet ban at Palm Beach County Park Airport.
Aerial view of Palm Beach County Park Airport (KLNA)
Safety

Aspen Airport Establishes Genav Safety Task Force

After scores of general avaition accidents over the past several decades, Colorado's Aspen/Pitkin County Airport has established a safety task force.
Crashed Hawker 800XP at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport
Environment

LanzaJet Announces Milestone in SAF Plant Construction

Sustainable fuel technology pioneer LanzaJet is nearing completion of its Georgia facility which will bring SAF production to the U.S. East Coast.
LanzaJet's new SAF production facility in Soperton, Georgia
Regulations and Government

Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Piloting without License

Despite having his pilots license pulled by the FAA, a Massachusetts man continued to fly a helicopter, earning himself a prison sentence.
Antonio Santonastaso piloting a Robinson R22 helicopter from unapproved landing zone in his back yard

Airbus Survey Predicts Higher Corporate Bizav Usage in 2023

A recent survey by Airbus among corporate aircraft using companies predicts higher usage in 2023.
Partial view of Gulfstream business jet on airport ramp
Aircraft

Elvis's Jet Hits the Auction Block Again

A Lockheed Jetstar, one of two once owned by the late Elvis Presley, will feature in an auction in January.
Lockheed JetStar once owned by Elvis Presley parked on overgrown airport ramp in the New Mexico desert
Environment

Industry Orgs Query IRS Over SAF Production Incentives

With two major SAF production tax incentive programs on the horizon, NBAA and other aviation stakeholders are seeking IRS guidance and assurance.
Lab at World Energy SAF production facilty
Environment

Azzera To Launch Sustainability Solutions Platform in 2023

Azzera will introduce its SaaS business aviation sustainability solutions platform by mid 2023.
Business jet landing at airport
Finance, Taxes, Insurance

New Lender Joins Business Jet Leasing Finance Arena

Hyperion Aviation has launched an aircraft funding platform focusing on leased business jets and cargo aircraft.
business jets parked on airport ramp
FBOs

Sheltair Moves Into the Lone Star State

Florida-based Sheltair has established its second FBO west of the Mississippi with its purchase of U.S. Jet Center in Denton, Texas.
Sheltair facility at Denton Enterprise Airport
FBOs

Universal Aviation To Manage Dominican Republic GAT

Universal Aviation, has begun managing the general aviation terminal at Santo Domingo's La Isabella/Higuero Airport in the Dominican Republic.
General Aviation Terminal at Santo Domingo's La Isabela/Higuero Airport
FBOs

Skyservice to Open Napa, California FBO

Canada-based FBO operator SkyService will continue its U.S. expansion with the establishment of an FBO at California's Napa County Airport.
aerial view of Napa County Airport

Argus: Global Bizav Flight Activity Dipped in November

North American business aviation activity declined by 6.5 percent last month compared to a year ago.
Side view of business jet from wing to engine

World Fuel Sees Strong Middle East Bizav Activity

While normally closely related, Middle Eastern business aviation activity levels have surpassed Europe this year according to World Fuel Services.
Harrods

Flashback: As distressed Detroit drops its jets, bizav ponders the fallout

We look back at some memorable events and coverage from AIN's half-century-old archives.
Article image
Environment

SAF Curiousity Grows in the Middle East

Despite the region's long involvement with petroleum, World Fuel is fielding queries from Middle Eastern customers regarding sustainable aviation fuel.
Man fueling