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

The FAA has issued a special notice, warning aircraft operators of a jet-A contamination problem that it believes stemmed from a Nebraska FBO. While the agency is still looking into the scope of the problem, it noted that effects have included blockages in fuel filters, nozzles and tanks. These have resulted in engine flameouts and other erratic performance issues. The FAA is advising all operators to closely follow fuel sampling protocols and report any discovery of contamination or erratic engine operation to their flight standards district office or nearest FAA facility.

 


According to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), two Air Force aircraft that refueled at Tac Air's FBO at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on November 18 were forced to make emergency landings after their departure. As a result DLA has suspended fueling of government aircraft there until further notice. A source familiar with the situation reported that a pair of Learjets also experienced difficulties after refueling there later in the month.

 


“TAC Air is currently investigating the situation surrounding jet fuel quality in Omaha with more results to come,” noted Tad Perryman, TAC Air’s vice president of marketing. “Jet fuel [without additive] was tested [to ASTM D1655 specifications] at both the distribution terminal and FBO trucks and has passed." He said TAC Air is cooperating with DLA in its further investigation into the situation and expects the DLA ban to be lifted as soon as the investigation concludes.

 


In a later statement, the FAA said it believes there is substantial evidence indicating the contamination is isolated to general aviation and military aircraft that uplifted fuel at Eppley between November 18 and 20.&nbsp;It is continuing to investigate and will provide further information via Notam.

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

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The problem was noted by operators who refueled in Omaha, Nebraska in the week before Thanksgiving.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

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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.

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

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

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.

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