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

Aircraft operations in Indiana are about to become more affordable after state legislators approved a slate of aviation tax exemptions and restructurings. The measures, adopted at the urging of the Aircraft Owners &amp; Pilots Association (AOPA) and other aviation groups, remove state sales tax on jet fuel and 100LL avgas and restructure the previously existing excise tax on aviation fuel to a fixed total state tax rate.


Under the new legislation, the net drop for 100LL is 50 cents per gallon and about 30 cents per gallon for jet-A, according to an AOPA spokesman. Both fuels will now have a fixed 10-cent-per-gallon excise tax at the state level. The new tax structure would mean savings per fill-up of more than $100 for a Beech Baron and $220 for a King Air 200.


Also included in the new legislation is a repeal of sales tax on aircraft maintenance and aircraft parts. “Indiana had to respond, as other states have seized on their neighbors’ tax structures to gain competitive advantages for their aviation businesses,” said Bryan Budds, AOPA Great Lakes regional manager. “Indiana repair shops have been unable to compete by attracting out-of-state aircraft for services, and have seen the troubling trend of based aircraft leaving the state to save money.”

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.

Indiana Lowers Aviation Fuel Taxes

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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.

President Trump directed the removal of Brown from the board in May

Former NTSB Vice Chair Brown Sues for Reinstatement

Acquisition will enable MySky to offer state tax information alongside federal information

MySky Acquiring State Tax Guide from JSSI

Amy Wilder

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.

Industry group praises prioritizing safety and workforce support

AIA Endorses FAA Funding in FY2026 Proposal

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.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Department of Commerce taking comments through June 3

NBAA Urges Members To Stress Trade Importance To Gov’t

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

Rep. Nadler has co-sponsored a half-dozen bills in recent years to curb helo ops

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Bar Helicopters in New York City

FAA told to ‘hire, hire, hire’ in its safety workforce

FAA Official: ‘Don't Over-engineer’ SMS

Charles Alcock

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

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

More In Regulations and Government

Former NTSB Vice Chair Brown Sues for Reinstatement

President Trump directed the removal of Brown from the board in May

MySky Acquiring State Tax Guide from JSSI

Acquisition will enable MySky to offer state tax information alongside federal information

AIA Endorses FAA Funding in FY2026 Proposal

Industry group praises prioritizing safety and workforce support

NBAA Urges Members To Stress Trade Importance To Gov’t

Department of Commerce taking comments through June 3

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Bar Helicopters in New York City

Rep. Nadler has co-sponsored a half-dozen bills in recent years to curb helo ops

FAA Official: ‘Don't Over-engineer’ SMS

FAA told to ‘hire, hire, hire’ in its safety workforce

Business Aviation Asserts Role in European Recovery

EBAA says industry still faces discrimination and ‘irrational’ decisions

Business Aviation Customers Feel the RefuelEU Pinch

Out-of-scope operators are being erroneously charged

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