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.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

Gulfstream has appointed two new production vice presidents. Greg Collett, previously director of new product development and manufacturing operations, has been promoted to v-p of initial phase operations, while Austin Shontz, most recently v-p of Savannah operations and final phase engineering, was named v-p of final phase operations. The airframer also promoted Bill Colleran to director of technical information services. Previously he was senior site manager for contractor logistics support (CLS) at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla. Tony Swift, a member of the company’s CLS in Belgium, was named field service representative. The Savannah-Ga.-based company also named Robert Glasscock and Mitchell Cannon organizational designation authorization administrators.
Hawker Beechcraft has named two new executives: Heidi McNary, previously chief operating officer and executive v-p of sales and marketing for DeCrane Aerospace, was chosen as v-p and chief technical officer, while Scott Plumb, most recently chief commercial officer and a board member at VistaJet Aviation Services, was tapped as v-p of Hawker jet sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The airframer also announced the resignation of company director Nigel Wright, who left to join the staff of Canada’s Prime Minister.
Michael McConnell, most recently president and general manager of Eclipse Aviation’s customer division, has been named president of Seattle-based aftermarket equipment designer Raisbeck Engineering. MD Helicopters has named Gregory Gauer, most recently interim general manager at aviation component manufacturer APPH, as v-p of supply chain.
Fractional provider Executive AirShare has named David Jones, previously with Nexus Aviation, as regional v-p for operations and business development. He will also hold the title of regional v-p with the company’s charter and management subsidiary, Executive Flight Services.
Circor Aerospace Products Group has promoted Michael Dill from group continuous improvement director to v-p of business development and strategy. 
Piper Aircraft has named Enrico Evers, previously a sales manager with Piper Germany, as director of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Linda Holmes, formerly senior director of client services at Solairus Aviation, has been promoted to v-p of client services at the aviation services provider. The San Francisco-based company also named former TAG Aviation Holding CEO Roger McMullin to its board of directors.
German business jet provider DC Aviation has promoted Michael Kuhn from CFO to CEO and head of operations. 
Wichita-based Mid-Continent Instruments has promoted Cindy Highbarger from CFO to v-p of internal operations.
Greenwich AeroGroup has appointed Jeff Mihalic as senior v-p of fixed-wing maintenance, repair and overhaul. The company also announced the retirement of Allen Hoyt, president of its Western Aircraft maintenance subsidiary.
Mary Miller, most recently v-p of customer relations with BBA Aviation, was named v-p of industry and government affairsfor the company’s U.S. operations, while Elias Hashem was named regional engine manager for North Africa. Cheryl Galloway and James Huntoon have joined BBA ­engine repair and overhaul subsidiary Dallas Airmotive as regional engine managers. 
Montreal-based Innotech Aviation has appointed Dave Barker, most recently sales manager at Aerospace Concepts, as manager of its central U.S. sales division.
John Mason, most recently with Orion Jet Center at Opa Locka, Fla., has been named director of FBO services at Banyan Air Service’s Fort Lauderdale facility.
Heli-One, the maintenance, repair and overhaul division of CHC Helicopter, has appointed Richard Grainger, most recently v-p at Airborne Energy Solutions, global ­director of safety and quality.

People in Aviation

Gulfstream has appointed two new production vice presidents.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN