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

Biofuel has been an aviation buzzword for many years now, and while the use of sustainable alternative jet fuels (SAJF) has made inroads in commercial aviation, many in business aviation wonder when the tide will reach them. Industry fuel provider Avfuel (Booth&nbsp;2219) believes that day is not far off.

 


“It will become a reality, and we’re well on our way for business aviation to get its day,” said C.R. Sincock, the Michigan-based company’s managing director of business development, adding that it is working on smoothing out the market introduction hurdles of awareness, cost, availability, and logistics. These&nbsp;are standard considerations when introducing any new product, but are magnified when dealing with a product as highly-regulated as aviation fuel. “Working through such complexities, our goal is to release a product that is both safe and cost effective for business aviation customers," he said.

 


The industry took a step towards the adoption of SAJF use in May, when the Business Aviation Guide to the Use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel, a multi-organizational effort, was released at EBACE. The document sought to answer many of the questions FBOs and flight departments were asking about the use of these fuels.

 


Cost of SAJF is another consideration as it currently sells at a higher price than regular jet-A. Avfuel sees the price dropping over the coming years as commercialization increases production. Possible federal and state fuel credit programs could also help counteract the higher price.

 


As far as availability, SAJF is a highly concentrated product that is blended with standard jet-A to produce a drop-in fuel. Yet that concentrate is not yet available in large enough amounts to serve the entire aviation industry. Avfuel signed an off-take agreement recently with SAJF producer Gevo as its exclusive distributor as it ramps up production, but recognizes more sources will be required.

 


The logistics of transporting, storing, and blending SAJF represent other challenges that might limit the supply-chain availability in the early years of market introduction. However, Sincock said&nbsp;the industry is making progress towards bringing SAJF to market for business aviation.

 


“Meetings to form partnerships and discuss strategies for introducing the product into the market are being held on a daily basis,” said Sincock. “Avfuel has a team of experts whose main focus this year has been on securing relationships that will help provide the product in the safest, most cost-effective, and streamlined way possible.”

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

Avfuel Working Toward Biofuel Future for Bizav

While commerical aviation has made forays into the use of sustainable alternative jet fuels, business aviation has lagged behind.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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 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.

Manufacturer says solar power is part of efforts to reduce environmental footprint 

Solar Panels Now Power Gulfstream’s Mesa Service Center

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 commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Green Flyways initiative is considering the potential for MD Aircraft's eViator commuter

Partners Trial Electric Air Services in Norway and Sweden

Charlotte Bailey

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

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.

UK’s ‘Operation Blue Skies’ to redirect commercial traffic in Shanwick airspace

North Atlantic Airspace-Scale Contrail Trial Underway

Emissions reduction indexes will help contrast economics with compliance mandates

Argus Releases Sustainable Aviation Fuel Evaluation Tool

Government-funded consortium to aims to connect remote communities 

Project SEAN Trials Electric Flights For Scotland

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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

Shift could come as the state's tax incentives change

Louisiana Could Supplant California as SAF Leader

New three-year campaign will design, build, and fly wing extension devices

WoT? Experimental Elongated Airbus Wings To Fly Next Year

Cristofer Slotoroff

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.

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