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.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

February was the first month since November 2013 to see year-over-year declines in business-aviation activity, according to industry data provider Argus, a fact it attributed to the severe weather affecting much of the U.S. over the past several weeks. In its monthly TraqPak business-aircraft-activity report issued yesterday, the company noted an overall decline of 0.4 percent in Part 91, Part 135 and fractional usage from the previous year, despite increases in large-jet usage among Part 91 and Part 135 operations (3.7 and 7.8 percent, respectively), a 7.4-percent rise in fractional small-cabin-jet operations and an 8.4-percent boost in fractional turboprop flying.

 


Compared with January, February saw an overall 4.2-percent decrease in activity, with Part 135 flights down nearly 6 percent from the previous month; Part 91 operations declined by 3.8 percent.

 


For this month, the company’s analysts predict a return to the plus side with an expected 1.4-percent increase in overall flight activity year-over-year.

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.

Argus Sees First Monthly Bizav Decline in 15 Months

The industry data provider believes the brutal winter weather played a greater role in this year's annual decline in business aircraft activity

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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

Dutch start-up aims to bring regional airliner to market in 2030

Cormorant Prepares to Start Testing Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator

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.

Phenom and Praetor backlog now stands at $7.6 billion

Embraer Executive Jets Reaches New Backlog High

Jessica Reed

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.

Aftermarket growth bolsters revenues as manufacturer continues post-strike recovery

Textron Aviation 1Q Jet Deliveries Dip, T-props Surge

Chad Trautvetter

Company hits on all cylinders as it ramps up G700 deliveries and prepares for G800 service entry

Gulfstream Deliveries, Revenues, and Earnings Soar in Q1

Kerry Lynch

G700 has already contributed 80 speed records to Gulfstream’s fleetwide 700 total

G700 Flight Brings Gulfstream Fleet to 700th Speed Record 

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

A preliminary full-scale example of the planned S-A2 model achieved its first tethered flight on March 1 

Supernal Confirms First Flight of eVTOL Tech Demonstrator

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

The electric-powered two-seater has made 15 flights since early December 2024

Aura Aero’s Integral E Electric Aerobatics Model Achieves Inverted Flight

Charlotte Bailey

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.

More In Aircraft