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

Texas-based flight training provider Thrust Flight has expanded its instructional offerings with the launch of a new aircraft and powerplant (A&amp;P) mechanic school in Conroe, Texas, along with an aircraft dispatcher program at its locations in Addison and Denison.&nbsp;Thrust’s 12-month FAA Part 147 maintenance training program welcomed its first class of A&amp;P students last week at its Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport (KCXO) facility.
Unlike traditional programs that can take as long as 28 months, Thrust’s accelerated model shortens the span to one year through hands-on experience with real aircraft components, one-on-one instruction, and small student groups.
In May, Thrust received FAA approval for its Part 65 aircraft dispatcher certification program, a five-week course that trains students in one of the most crucial and overlooked roles in aviation. It provides instruction on coordinating flight plans, monitoring weather, and ensuring flight crews receive everything they need to conduct safe, compliant operations. An internal Beta class was held this month, with a course scheduled to live in January.
“Aviation doesn’t just rely on pilots; it’s powered by a team of skilled professionals on the ground and behind the scenes,” said company founder and CEO Patrick Arnzen. “Our mission is to open doors across the entire aviation workforce, from the cockpit to the control room to the hangar.”

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Thrust Flight adds A&P, Dispatcher Training

The company previously offered only flight training

Thrust Flight has expanded its course offerings to include more than just flight instruction.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

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.

7000XR Series full-flight simulator features CAE’s Prodigy visual system

Porter Pilots Start Training on CAE’s E195-E2 Simulator

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

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.

15 young people will start the program with a week’s training at London Biggin Hill Airport 

Air Charter Association Launches 2025 Internship Program

Kerry Lynch

Users can search by category, type rating, location, and last name

JSfirm Creates Searchable Airmen Database

Sheryl Barden

Aviation industry needs to think differently to reach future generation of workers

AINsight: We Need To Recruit 2nd Graders and Their Parents

Amy Wilder

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.

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.

Event to include hands-on demos and facility tours

Duncan Open House in Provo To Spotlight Careers

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

New sims expected to be certified Level D by multiple regulatory authorities

Coptersafety Expands Simulator Fleet with H175 and H145

Jessica Reed

 Sheryl Barden to receive NBAA’s  Doswell Award , former GAMA CEO Pete Bunce  multiple awards

People in Aviation, July 2025

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

More In Training and Workforce

Porter Pilots Start Training on CAE’s E195-E2 Simulator

7000XR Series full-flight simulator features CAE’s Prodigy visual system

Air Charter Association Launches 2025 Internship Program

15 young people will start the program with a week’s training at London Biggin Hill Airport

JSfirm Creates Searchable Airmen Database

Users can search by category, type rating, location, and last name

AINsight: We Need To Recruit 2nd Graders and Their Parents

Aviation industry needs to think differently to reach future generation of workers

Duncan Open House in Provo To Spotlight Careers

Event to include hands-on demos and facility tours

Coptersafety Expands Simulator Fleet with H175 and H145

New sims expected to be certified Level D by multiple regulatory authorities

People in Aviation, July 2025

Sheryl Barden to receive NBAA’s Doswell Award , former GAMA CEO Pete Bunce multiple awards

NAA Names Aviation Medical Pioneer for Wright Trophy

Joan Sullivan Garrett is the recipient of the 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

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