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

Ahead of a looming mandate for new regulatory standards from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for private aircraft operators, TAG Aviation has announced it is offering a compliance solution, which it will be discussing with EBACE showgoers at its booth (Y044). Part-NCC, when it goes into effect in late August, will essentially mandate that all private operators of larger aircraft adhere to the same basic standards as commercial air operators, requiring the creation of an operations manual, along with the submission of a compliance declaration to their national aviation authority accepting responsibility, accountability and liability for their operation under the new regulations.

 


“On August 25&nbsp;this year, all non-commercial [privately operated] complex aircraft, where the beneficial owner or operator has its principal place of business or residence in any EASA member state, will have to comply with Part-NCC,” explained TAG Europe president Graham Williamson. The regulations will apply to all operators or owners of aircraft that fall within specified weight and size guidelines; more than 5,700 kg (12,566 pounds) for fixed wing or more than 3,175 kg (7,000 pounds) for rotorcraft. Operators of complex (more than 19 seats and/or certified for operation by two pilots, and/or more than one jet or turboprop engine for fixed wing, and seating for nine and/or certified for operation by two pilots for helicopters) aircraft registered in a state other than an EASA member state but having their principal place of business (i.e. operator is established or residing) in an EASA state will also be affected by the new rule.

 


According to Williamson, TAG has developed a custom-tailored program that will release the private operator from the complexity and personal liability of the new regulations while maintaining the flexibility of the operation. Among the services on offer is the provision of organizational structure, operating procedures and manuals, the incorporation of the operation into TAG’s safety management system, provision of required compliance monitoring functions, supervision of crew training and records, aircraft and equipment auditing, including minimum equipage, maintenance of continuing airworthiness standards, supervision and support for current personnel and the establishment of responsibility.

 


Under the program, “TAG will sign the declaration and take over the responsibility and accountability for the operation on behalf of the owner,” Williamson told AIN, noting the operation could continue to retain and employ its own crew. Under the approved TAG private operations manual, requirements existing flight crewmembers will only be required to complete a single annual recurrent training event in a simulator.&nbsp;Customers will be offered the opportunity to integrate their crew into the company’s training program at one of its dedicated facilities or they can continue to use their current training provider pending approval and audit from TAG.

 


While operators are permitted also&nbsp;to&nbsp;retain their current suppliers for dispatch, insurance and hangarage, under the program TAG will audit and supervise all third-party suppliers for quality and value on behalf of the client, and on request can perform Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (Camo) services for the aircraft or enter into a third-party agreement with the customer’s existing Camo.

 


“The TAG solution will allow an owner or operator to transition to Part-NCC with no disruption or change to the day-to-day operation,” said Williamson, adding that owners can be assured their aircraft is being operated to the highest safety and airworthiness standards and will meet any and all regulatory standards according to European law.

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