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

Industry insurance specialist Global Aerospace has announced a new partnership with flight training provider Prevailance Aerospace to create a unique series of Unusual Attitude Training services for Global’s customers as part of its SM4 Aviation Safety Program. Through the agreement, as part of their benefits, all of Global’s policy holders are eligible for two hours of complimentary unusual attitude academic refresher training and one hour of airborne unusual attitude training in an Extra 330LX aerobatic aircraft, based at Chesapeake (Virginia) Regional Airport.

 


In addition to that, Global’s Vista Elite qualified customers can also receive three hours of dedicated upset prevention and recovery (UPRT) flight training, three hours of airborne UPRT training (available as an FAA Part 141 or Part 61 course), and a personalized URPT video of the flights with footage shot from the cockpit, wing and tail.

 


Prevailance was founded to address what is currently the primary cause of fatalities in aviation, loss of control in-flight (LOC-I). NBAA, ICAO and the FAA have all made reducing the number of such events a global priority, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) placed mitigating LOC-I on its 2016 “most wanted” list of safety improvements.

 


Through the SM4 program, the two companies will provide Global’s clients with access to UPRT and LOC-I training. “Addressing LOC-I is paramount for every corporate flight department, every aviation safety program, and every pilot,” said Vanessa Christie, Prevailance’s vice president for strategic development. “We appreciate the emphasis that Global Aerospace has placed on incorporating this critical training into its SM4 program.” She added that her company’s training method complements Global’s existing programs with safe, dynamic airborne instruction. “Surprise and startle are very real elements of almost all aviation mishaps, and by conducting airborne training in a safe, controlled, and professional environment, each pilot will learn the required skills and techniques to recover from LOC-I situations in a repeatable and predictable way.”

 


“Global Aerospace recognizes that as our industry evolves, so must the SM4 program,” said Marilena Sharpell, Global’s senior vice president and underwriting and operations executive. “We are pleased to welcome Prevailance Aerospace to the program to help our customers achieve a higher level of flight proficiency through UPRT flight academics, airborne training and additional tools they can use in the future.”

 


Parsippany, N.J.-based Global (Booth 2644) also recently took a star turn on television when it was featured in a September episode of “World’s Greatest!” a cable television program that highlights the best companies, products, places and people in their respective categories. Global Aerospace was formed in 2001 by the merger of British Aviation Insurance Groups and the U.S.-based Associated Aviation Underwriters. It traces its roots, through those two institutions, back to the 1920s.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Global Aerospace To Offer UPRT and LOC-I Benefits

Through its new partnership with Prevailance Aerospace, the insurance provider is enhancing its SM4 Safety Program.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AmyWilder

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.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Influence shapes safety culture in aviation

Michael Graham Talks Safety Culture at Standdown

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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.

Tony Kern brings his A game to the annual safety event

Hypervigilance and the Right Influence

Wichita welcomed attendees to the 28th edition of the Safety Standdown

Bombardier Safety Standdown Promotes Safety Influencers

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Speculation suggests that Boeing might sell aviation chart data provider Jeppesen for $6 billion

Will Boeing Add Jeppesen to Asset-sale Plans?

Kerry Lynch

Montreal airframer will host flight attendant summit in Hong Kong

Bombardier Grows Safety Forums on Success of Standdown

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

Safety investigations launched following close call

NTSB Prelim Details A319/King Air Incursion at KDCA

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

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

How a positive safety culture contributes to an effective SMS 

AINsight: PB&J, SMS, and Safety Culture

Jessica Reed

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

NBAA-BACE 2016

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