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

Canada-based MRO and completions specialist Flying Colours has signed an agreement with Conair Group to modify six Q400MR turboprops to support the company's multi-purpose missions.

 


Flying Colours is tasked with engineering, fabricating, installing, and certifying four interchangeable interiors to support passenger, cargo, combi-transport, and medevac missions. In the passenger configuration, the aircraft will accommodate up to 64 people, while the full cargo version will transport up to nine tons of material.&nbsp;The combination cabin will carry 19 passengers and freight, while the medical transport format will support up to six stretchers along with associated medical equipment and clinical staff.

 


“This is the first time that a Q400 has had all these interior types configured for a single fuselage,” said Flying Colours executive vice president Sean Gillespie. “It’s a unique project and we are delighted to have been awarded the contract.”

 


As part of the modifications, the company will integrate a customized Inmarsat Cobham Aviation 700 communication and connectivity system, and will equip each with an upgraded version of Conair’s proprietary fire retardant delivery system, which can be field installed or removed in a matter of hours.

 


The first aircraft will enter Flying Colours’ St. Louis facility next month, with the others to follow over the next several years.

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.

Flying Colours Earns Q400 Conversion Contract

The project includes designing, installing and certifying a system of interchangeable, mission specific cabins for the commercial turboprop twin.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

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.

Facility joins company’s maintenance operations in Norwich and Glasgow

Gama Aviation’s Staverton Base Adds H145 Mx Approval

Jessica Reed

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.

Gill by Teledyne and ADS add product offerings to PJi’s catalog

Pilot John Adds New Suppliers to E-commerce Platform

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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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