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

Global aviation services provider Spirit Avionics (Booth No. C11248) recently reached a sales milestone when its global parts support division surpassed $10 million in sales in less than a year, a rate that equates to a 60-percent increase over the previous year’s tally. “This growing segment of our business is just another example of how Spirit Avionics is evolving into a world-class aviation services provider,” said Tony Bailey, the former CEO of Comlux Aviation Services, who was recently named as Spirit’s president. 
While the company offers varied services such as aircraft management and maintenance, its primary focus lies in avionics sales, design and integration. Spirit’s global parts support division distributes, sells and brokers new, overhauled and exchange components through its network of OEMs and vendors. As an authorized Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, Aircell and Garmin service facility, the division also handles component repairs, rentals, spares acquisition and surplus inventory consignment. “I tell people all of the time that we are the best kept secret in the industry, because few people know that we sell and broker aircraft parts on a regular basis,” said Jared Kolman, the division’s manager. “Ironically, our materials system allows us to be consistently less expensive than our competitors without sacrificing schedule or quality.”
In early September, Spirit delivered the sixth Beechcraft King Air 300 that it has modified for the FAA, part of a 17-airplane contract signed in 2010. The program includes engineering and project management as well as new LED lighting, headliners, seats, sidewalls, cabinets and noise-reduction insulation.
The Columbus, Ohio-based company also announced it has added veteran sales professional Corey Schoo as sales representative for Spirit’s services and material support business. “Corey is an entrepreneur who built a business up from the ground that helped businesses survive after national disasters,” said Bailey. “That business introduced him to aviation and a strong network of aviation industry leaders who shared his desire for helping people. His commitment to doing things for the right reasons and his passion for aviation make him a perfect addition to our team of consummate professionals.”

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.

Spirit Avionics Parts Division Surpasses $10 Million in Sales

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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.

Purchase enables company to offer retail aircraft maintenance services in U.S. Southwest

Pinnacle Aviation Buys Mx Provider Aviation One

Work involved major disassembly of the airframe

ExecuJet MRO Completes 120-month Check on Legacy 500 

Extension goes to six years or 4,000 flight hours, whichever is first

Hartzell Lengthens Warranty on Props for Raisbeck King Airs

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

The addition will support Flightstar’s MRO growth

Illinois MRO/FBO Flightstar Expands with New Hangar

Combines component repair and overhaul and parts services companies

Jet Parts, DAS Aviation Merger To Improve Efficiency

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.

Installation supports ISR and law enforcement missions

SEA Adds Mission Console and Sensor Mount for Caravan

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 simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

NBAA Convention News 2013

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Pinnacle Aviation Buys Mx Provider Aviation One

Purchase enables company to offer retail aircraft maintenance services in U.S. Southwest

ExecuJet MRO Completes 120-month Check on Legacy 500

Work involved major disassembly of the airframe

Hartzell Lengthens Warranty on Props for Raisbeck King Airs

Extension goes to six years or 4,000 flight hours, whichever is first

Illinois MRO/FBO Flightstar Expands with New Hangar

The addition will support Flightstar’s MRO growth

Jet Parts, DAS Aviation Merger To Improve Efficiency

Combines component repair and overhaul and parts services companies

SEA Adds Mission Console and Sensor Mount for Caravan

Installation supports ISR and law enforcement missions

Gulfstream Steps Up Investment in Customer Support

New customer support leader Lor Izzard is building on earlier improvements

Back on the Plate, Pre-buys Still Face Post-covid Challenges

Industry experts caution on the need for a full pre-buy and one that is carefully laid out

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