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

NBAA has released an updated version of its Federal Excise Taxes Guide: Details on Air Transportation and Fuel Taxes. Last published in 2005 as the NBAA Federal Excise Tax Handbook, the new guide includes areas that have seen changes–such as the application of FET on fractional aircraft ownership operations; IRS legal interpretations regarding aircraft service and pilot service agreements; and reimbursement under the “Schwab re-interpretation,” based upon the latest information from the IRS, and other sources.
Complex topics including percentage tax on domestic travel possession, domestic segment fees, head taxes on international transportation, command and control, available exemptions and charter broker obligations are broken down into plain language, and the book also outlines FET applicability on air cargo-only operations. “Both FAR Part 91 and 135 operators deal with federal excise taxes on a daily basis, making this guide a key resource for member companies,” said Scott O’Brien, the association’s senior manager of finance and policy. “NBAA is pleased to provide this significantly improved guide to our members, and the Association is grateful to the volunteers on NBAA’s tax committee who developed and reviewed this publication.” It is available to all NBAA members through download at <a href="http://www.nbaa.org/fet">www.nbaa.org/fet</a>.

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

NBAA Releases Updated Excise Tax Guide

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Gordon Gilbert

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.

Takes effect April 1, 2026, and applies to non-commercial aircraft

Wash. State Legislators Approve 10% Aircraft Luxury Tax

Matt Thurber

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.

Majority of aviation funding would bolster air traffic control system

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Revenue from every sale is dedicated to support medical flights

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

NBAA Convention News 2013

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