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

Lider Aviacão is Brazil’s largest corporate aviation company, with 1,200 employees, a fleet of more than 60 aircraft, and ground handling bases at 15 of the country’s leading airports. This year, the company is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and it is exhibiting once again at LABACE to highlight services that it offers and its partnership with Honda Aircraft as Brazil’s exclusive HondaJet dealer.

 


Earlier this year, the first of the Brazil-registered light jets arrived in-country, and it has already accumulated more than 100 flight hours, surprising its pilots with its high performance, speed, and reduced cabin noise level. “This was my first contact with light jets, and the aircraft has performed well in several locations, whether on long or short runways,” said Captain&nbsp;Alexandre Spessato. He credits the aircraft’s unusual over-the-wing engine mounting for a more comfortable flight experience. “With a lower noise level in the cabin, passengers can rest during a leisurely flight and even hold productive meetings. Our passengers also stated that the reduced noise level allows them to arrive at their destination feeling less tired.”

 


He also appreciates the aircraft’s safety technology. “If [there is a problem with the pressurization system], there will be an alert, if the destination airport was not selected, we get another message,” he explained. “This system monitors the entire flight, which increases ergonomics, reduces workload, and enables management.”

 


The HondaJet can fly from São Paulo to Florianópolis in less than an hour, and to Angra dos Reis in approximately 40 minutes.

 


At this year’s LABACE, the company is exhibiting the new Elite model of the HondaJet at its booth (5113). The Elite began deliveries this month with improvements in range, up 17 percent to 1,437 nm; a 200-plus-pound payload increase; a belted-lavatory option; and improved noise reduction due to a perforated aluminum-honeycomb sandwich engine inlet, which was engineered to cut fan blade noise.

 


The company is also reporting increased activity in its aircraft purchase consulting division Lider Acquisitions. With a market packed with a variety of airplanes and helicopters with different features and capabilities, and sometimes millions of dollars at stake, buyers need analysis that goes beyond personal preferences. Variables such as mission type, passenger and luggage capacity, maintenance value, operating cost and product depreciation must be taken into account to best protect the client’s interests. “Lider boasts 60 years of experience in the aviation market and relationships with the leading manufacturers, aircraft owners, and reputable brokers,” said Phillipe Figueiredo, aircraft sales and acquisitions director. “We are accredited for this type of service since it involves deep technical and economic analysis to assist the clients.” He described a recent situation where a client was looking to purchase a turboprop aircraft, but after understanding their mission profiles and the market conditions, the advisors concluded that a light jet would better serve their needs.

 


On the maintenance side, Lider recently introduced a new mobile “in loco” program, where it will dispatch technicians to service aircraft wherever they may be located, instead of having to transfer the aircraft to a maintenance facility.

 


“Comfort and efficiency are even more valued these days, and that’s the goal for this kind of in loco service,” said Rodrigo Barbosa, director of the company’s executive maintenance unit. “With all the necessary equipment, our specialized team is sent to the base where the aircraft is located, whether in national or international territory, to provide all necessary support in maintenance, with the same level of quality.” A mobile team will include at least a technician and an inspector to ensure the work follows company and manufacturer safety standards. Through the program, Lider has already performed the largest on-site inspection of a Bombardier Global 6000 in the country. It took place in Sorocaba and involved more than 1,000 hours of labor by a team of seven professionals.

Lider Highlights New HondaJet, Services

At LABACE, Brazil's largest general aviation company is showing off the latest HondaJet as well as its aviation consultancy and mobile repair capabilities.

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