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

In the wake of the multi-organizational release of the Business Aviation Guide to the Use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel&nbsp;at EBACE in May, the industry has announced the next step in the effort to educate general aviation about the fuel this week at NBAA 2018. As part of this, Los Angeles-area Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is hosting an event—"Business Jets Fuel Green: A Step Toward Sustainability"—on January 17 to&nbsp;demonstrate that sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) can become a mainstream, drop-in alternative for today’s turbine-powered private aircraft.

 


On that day, Jet A, blended with SAJF will be available for use by operators&nbsp;from all four of the airport’s FBOs, which have collaborated in this effort. While SAJF has been used by commercial aviation in limited instances, this marks the first time the “green” fuel will be offered retail to general aviation.

 


“Our industry is ready to fly with SAJF today,” said David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, and chair of GAMA’s environment committee, adding that the fuel is a certified alternative to regular Jet A. “It does not impact aircraft performance either in the air or on the ground, and importantly, it does not require any modifications to aircraft.”

 


The event is made possible by a consortium of organizations including the Van Nuys Airport Association, EBAA, GAMA, IBAC, NATA, and NBAA in coordination with Avfuel, Bombardier, Phillips 66, and World Fuel Services. One of the world’s busiest general aviation airports and a hub for business aviation, VNY recorded a record 231,323 movements in 2017.

 


“The global business aviation industry has committed to mitigating and ultimately reducing its carbon emissions through a number of measures, including operational improvements and new technologies,” explained IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “Sustainable aviation fuel is a central technology that will propel us to meet our goals. IBAC comments the initiative at Van Nuys Airport as a solid first step with many more to come as business aviation, always on the cutting edge of technology, takes up such fuels.”

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

VNY To Become First To Offer GA Retail Jet Biofuel

An event scheduled for January 17th in Los Angeles will make the sustainable jet fuel available at all of the airport's FBOs.

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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