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

Greene Tweed believes it has solved one of the biggest hurdles in the widespread adoption of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): gasket and seal leakage. This problem arises due to the lack of aromatic compounds in neat SAF, which are necessary in legacy aircraft fuel systems for the proper function of synthetic rubber (nitrile) gaskets and seals in preventing leakage.
“Since there may be nitrile seals in both the legacy aircraft fuel systems (and in the refueling systems) that have been exposed to aromatic-containing jet fuel, any ‘drop-in’ SAF will still need to be blended with aromatic containing fuels,” said Ronald Campbell, senior technical advisor for Pennsylvania-based materials developer Greene Tweed.
According to the company, a recent study proves its elastomer seals made from FKM—a fluorinated, carbon-based synthetic rubber first developed in the 1950s for its ability to withstand high temperatures—could address that situation.&nbsp;Testing protocol simulated extreme aerospace environments, with temperatures up to 248 degrees F (120 degrees C) and prolonged exposure to SAF, both neat and blended.
“All three of our FKM compounds show consistent and acceptable swell and hardness change in the three straight 100% [SAF] fuels tested,” Campbell told AIN, citing the results of a recent test study. “Our findings therefore suggest that these compounds—and FKM compounds in general—do not require the fuel to contain an aromatic content.”

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

Greene Tweed Says New Seals and Gaskets Are Impervious to SAF

Nitrile seals can leak when exposed to 100% SAF

A Pennsylvania company has developed a product that could help ease the acceptance of pure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), when supplies permit.

Company Says New Seals, Gaskets Are Impervious to SAF

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Sarah Rose

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.

Deal expands metal forging capabilities

Pursuit Aerospace Forges Ahead with Larson Forgings

Kerry Lynch

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.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

TJ200 will open possibility in defense and commercial unmanned systems where high performance is required

PBS Unveils Most Powerful Engine Yet for UAS

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Daher, Safran, Collins, and Ascendance announce alliance in Paris

French Partners Plan Hybrid-electric Genav Aircraft

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

EWIS arrives at Collins Aerospace’s facility in Solihull, UK

GKN Delivers Wiring Harness for Hybrid-propulsion Consortium

Five-year extension runs through 2029

GKN Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Renew Agreement

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

More In Engines

Pursuit Aerospace Forges Ahead with Larson Forgings

Deal expands metal forging capabilities

PBS Unveils Most Powerful Engine Yet for UAS

TJ200 will open possibility in defense and commercial unmanned systems where high performance is required

French Partners Plan Hybrid-electric Genav Aircraft

Daher, Safran, Collins, and Ascendance announce alliance in Paris

GKN Delivers Wiring Harness for Hybrid-propulsion Consortium

EWIS arrives at Collins Aerospace’s facility in Solihull, UK

GKN Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Renew Agreement

Five-year extension runs through 2029

MagniX Offers Increased Energy Density Battery Cells

Batteries will have an energy density of 400 Watt hours per kilograms

ATR and Pratt & Whitney Canada Partner on NextGen Engines

Plans could include new turboprops for ATR'S Evo concept

GKN Joins ICEFlight Hydrogen Power Initiative

Company adds hydrogen power knowledge to the Netherlands-based initiative

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