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

Peg Billson, formerly president of BBA Aviation Legacy Support, has been promoted to president and CEO of the company’s recently organized BBA Aviation Aftermarket Services division. The aftermarket services division includes subsidiaries Ontic, Dallas Airmotive, Premier Turbines, H+S Aviation, International Turbine Service, W.H. Barrett Turbine Engine Company, International Governor Services and APPH. The company’s Dallas Airmotive subsidiary has announced a restructuring of its U.S. sales organization. Senior sales director Jim Blasingame, who formerly handled sales for Rolls-Royce engine services and company fleet accounts, will now handle the company’s major accounts, OEM relationships, and sales support. Jeff Turner, most recently sales director for Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada programs, was appointed territorial director for the Western U.S., while Jeff Dunn, regional engine manager for Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada products, was named territorial director for the Central U.S. Randy Sasser, previously regional engine manager for Honeywell products, was promoted to territorial director for the Southeast. Former regional engine manager for Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada products Mike Frazier was appointed territorial director for the Northeast U.S. Mark Russo, who had been sales director for the Honeywell program, will take the position of program director for APU products.
Gulfstream has promoted Dan Nale, most recently v-p of advanced aircraft programs, to the position of senior v-p of programs, engineering and test. He succeeds Pres Henne, who announced his retirement. The Savannah airframer also promoted Danny Wilson from senior manager of supply chain surveillance to director of supplier performance and development. 
David Haslett, most recently managing director of Sportech Racing, was named new COO of fractional provider Avantair.
Aspen Avionics co-founder Peter Lyons has moved to a new job as president of Avionyx, an engineering services provider headquartered in Costa Rica.
David Allen, has returned to his position as CEO of international aircraft detailing and services provider The Allen Groupe, following an absence due to health issues.
Dean Athans has been named president of the Engine Alliance, the 50-50 joint venture of GE Aviation and Pratt &amp; Whitney. He succeeds Mary Ellen Jones, who is returning to a senior leadership position at Pratt &amp; Whitney. 
XOJet has promoted Bradley Stewart from president to CEO. He replaces Blair LaCorte, who will remain a member of the San Francisco-based private aviation provider’sboard of directors.
Ted Farid, most recently Hawker Beechcraft’s senior v-p for international sales and new business development, was appointed v-p of sales for the Asia-Pacific region. 
Signature Flight Support has promoted Geoff Heck from Midwest regional v-p to senior v-p of sales and marketing.
Todd Baumgartner, most recently NetJets senior v-p of fuel and FBO relations, has been named senior v-p at FBO network operator Ross Aviation.
James Funk, formerly general manager of operations for Bombardier’s Learjet 85 program, was appointed v-p of operations for Piper Aircraft. 
Cirrus Aircraft has made several changes to its executive staff. Tom Arnold, previously director of North American sales, has been promoted to v-p of aircraft sales, while Adam Hahn was named regional director for Europe. Rick Hollander, most recently the Minnesota-based manufacturer’s executive director of supply chain, was promoted to v-p of manufacturing and supply chain; Gary Poelma, previously director of sustaining engineering, was tapped as v-p of customer service and support.
Turboprop performance specialist Blackhawk Modifications has appointed David Gee as v-p of engineering. The Waco, Texas-based company also named Craig Smith as manager of its newly formed aircraft sales department.
Simon McNamara has been promoted from deputy director general of the European Regions Airline Association to director general. He succeeds Mike Ambrose, who retired.
Landmark Aviation has promoted Charlie Ferraro from general manager of the company’s San Diego location to regional v-p for the Western U.S.
Central European business jet operator Grossmann Jet Service has promoted Lada Ouhrabkova from flight operations and training manager deputy to COO.
Sanford, Fla.-based aviation services provider StarPort has named Roscoe Armstrong as COO.
West Star Aviation has hired Len Liotta, most recently v-p of sales and business development for Excelaire, as northeast regional sales manager. He succeeds David Elam, who will now support the Southeast territory. 
Jared Fox, most recently v-p of charter sales at Corporate Jets, and Andrew Haupricht, formerly a sales consultant with NetJets, have joined TWC Aviation’s private jet charter services group as directors of business development.
FlightSafety International has named David Rushton as commercial marketing manager for visual simulation systems. Previously he was v-p of business development with VDC.
Florida-based FBO operator Sheltair has created a new sales division and promoted two people to key positions within it. Karen Kroeppel, previously the company’s special projects manager, was named regional sales manager for the Northeast, while Joan Kuntz, most recently Sheltair’s director of properties at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and Pompano Beach Airpark, was tapped as Southeast regional sales manager.
Cutter Aviation has named Genaro Sanchez as its new director of marketing and communications. 
Richard Wolfskeil, previously AOG manager with Mjets, has joined Hongkong Jet as director of technical services.
Fractional aircraft ownership provider Executive AirShare has promoted Quinn Hamon from chief pilot to director of safety. The Kansas City-based company also named Ryan Isaacs, previously its base manager for the Dallas/Fort Worth area, as assistant chief pilot.
Qatar-based flight services provider Rizon Jet has appointed Capt. Siddharth Bhardwaj as its new director of flight operations.
Engine maintenance program provider JSSI has named Rogerio Muller, previously business sales manager for Global Master, as its new director of business development for South America. Ian Vickers, most recently engineering manager with Oceansky Engineering, has joined the Chicago-based company as a technical services representative.
Private aviation consultancy Bloom Business Jets has added two new staff members. Daniel Herrera, previously director of aviation at Motorola Mobility, has joined the firm to lead the charter aircraft services business, while sales and marketing veteran James Stahl was tapped to lead the company’s salesefforts.
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) has named George Kelemen, senior director of external affairs for the American Cancer Society, senior v-p of government and political affairs. 
Awards &amp; Honors
Women in Aviation International announced the latest inductees into its International Pioneer Hall of Fame, which honors women who have made significant contributions as record setters, pioneers or innovators. Special consideration is given to individuals or groups who have helped other women be successful in aviation or opened doors of opportunity for other women. AIN contributor Mary Frances Silitch was the first woman editor of a national mainstream aviation magazine when she was named editor-in-chief of Private Pilot magazine. Having begun her magazine career at Mademoiselle magazine in 1963, Silitch moved on to Flying, Air Progress, Professional Pilot and AOPA Pilot. She has flown 250 types of aircraft and logged more than 5,000 hours in the cockpit. Lt. Col. Karen Tribbett Brannen was the U.S. Marine Corps’ first female strike fighter pilot, earning her gold wings in 1997. In addition to serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Reserves, she currently works as a demonstration pilot for Gulfstream. They will be honored at WAI’s 24th Annual International Conference this month in Nashville, Tenn. 
Final Flights
Brian Hellings, 57, president of Boeing Business Jet completions specialist Greenpoint Aerospace, died January 21 in Seattle after a battle with cancer. In 1974 he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a mechanic on the T-38 Talon and later on the A-10 Warthog. He left the military in 1981 and was hired by Boeing as a logistics analyst. He was soon promoted to director level and retired from the company in 2010 as deputy director for derivative airplanes, executive transport after 28 years of service. Hellings joined Greenpoint shortly thereafter as president.

People in Aviation: March 2013

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