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

Continuing the recent trend of major oil companies scaling back their general aviation commitments, ExxonMobil confirmed to AIN today that it has decided to exit the general aviation fuels business and dissolve its network of Avitat-branded FBOs. The withdrawal affects the brand’s FBOs both within and outside the U.S., and according to a company spokesperson it “reflects the changing business conditions in a highly competitive environment.”
The spokesperson told AIN that the company will continue to provide support in a phased withdrawal as individual FBO contracts expire, and is expected to be completed by the end of next year. Involved in the decision are 25 FBOs in the U.S., as well as 18 international locations.
The news did not come as a surprise to many in the network. “The writing was on the wall and everyone knew it,” said one Avitat operator, who wished to remain anonymous. “It was a little bit of a bomb drop to have done it so quickly without a succession plan in place.”
According to an industry source, the individual FBO locations hope to remain associated as an “elite brand,” and discussions are taking place regarding possibly maintaining the Avitat brand name, as well as deciding on a new fuel supplier. Operators emphasized that service to their customers will not be affected.

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

ExxonMobil Calls It Quits on Avitat-branded FBOs

Continuing the recent trend of major oil companies scaling back their general aviation commitments, ExxonMobil confirmed to AIN today that it has decided t

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

The airport is the main reliever for EAA’s AirVenture

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Amy Wilder

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