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

Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada (Booth 2010) has expanded the commercial rollout of its oil analysis technology, the enginemaker announced at LABACE in Brazil. Following successful customer trials that involved more than 5,000 engines, the OEM said the product, which made its debut this year at EBACE for the PW307A turbofan, will now include multiple models of the venerable PT6A. That engine series powers many single-engine turboprops. The program also covers the PW617 turbofan, which is fitted on the Embraer Phenom 100.

 


According to the manufacturer, the technology can detect tiny traces of metal within engine oil, identifying deterioration of specific components well before a possible event occurs.

 


“Our oil analysis technology gives us high visibility into the health and efficient operation of the engine without intrusive inspections, which is key to maintenance predictability and enhancing aircraft availability,” said Michel Toutant, the company’s vice president of customer service. “When we can identify potential maintenance events at an early stage, they can be addressed proactively, or avoided entirely.” He noted that this can be especially useful for PT6A customers, who often have only one or two aircraft to run their business.

 


Models now covered include the PT6A-114/114A, -67B, and -67P, each with single-engine instrument flight rules (SEIFR) approval for commercial operations. As part of the rollout of the technology, customers with these engines, along with the PW617, will receive customized reports on the health of oil-wetted components after each sample analysis, free for a limited time.

 


The new technology complements P&amp;WC’s Flight Acquistion, Storage and Transmission (FAST) solution, which monitors hundreds of full-flight engine and aircraft performance parameters and transmits the data wirelessly to the customer within 15 minutes of engine shutdown.

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

P&WC Expands Oil Analysis Technology Coverage

The debris-monitoring technology, introduced earlier this year on the PW306A engine, is now offered for the PW617 and many models in the PT6A series.

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.

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

Charles Alcock

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

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

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.

The first hybrid-electric flights above 30,000 feet, as well as the first across the North Atlantic, GE says.

GE Aerospace and Beta Technologies Cross Atlantic in Hybrid-electric Saab 340B Commuter Aircraft

Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

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.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

More In Engines

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

GE Aerospace and Beta Technologies Cross Atlantic in Hybrid-electric Saab 340B Commuter Aircraft

The first hybrid-electric flights above 30,000 feet, as well as the first across the North Atlantic, GE says.

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023

FAA’s Rocheleau Admits Unleaded Avgas Timeline May Slip

Deadline of Dec. 31, 2030 may have to be moved if a suitable fuel isn't available

Sikorsky and Safran Pledge Increased Collaboration

Proposal promises accelerated engine innovation

Canada Could Keep Gripen Engine Work at Home

GE and Magellan sign F414 support agreement

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