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

Industry insurance provider Global Aerospace is previewing the latest improvements to its SM4 Aviation Safety Program&nbsp;at NBAA’s annual convention. Since 2010, the company (Booth C9230) has committed more than $5 million in support of the program&nbsp;to help its clients achieve higher levels of safety in their operations. The 2020 edition's focus will be on&nbsp;business aviation's talent shortage&nbsp;and the challenges in attracting, mentoring, and retaining professionals who can safely manage, maintain, service, and fly business aircraft.

 


To be launched in January, the program will include an online safety learning management system (LMS), which will be provided free to the company’s U.S.-based general aviation policyholders. It will include customized training courses to help support future talent by improving their understanding of safety management and professional performance, and by promoting their continuous improvement.

 


“The addition of customized online training courses developed in cooperation with our SM4 partners will provide a training roadmap to advance personal and professional development for new and existing employees,” said Marilena Sharpell, the company’s senior vice president for underwriting and operations executive. “Studies have shown the more you invest in your employees, the more engaged they are, and the more likely it is that they will stay.” She added the LMS offering was created specifically to address its clients' needs to attract and retain talent.

 


For Global’s Elite-level clients, the 2020 SM4 program will provide an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to&nbsp;their flight operations to establish their greatest areas of need. Once needs are determined, customers will be presented customized service offerings from one or more of the SM4 partners. “As Elite-level flight departments advance, we recognize that off-the-shelf benefits are a thing of the past,” explained Sharpell. “These clients need more targeted, customized benefits as they strive to achieve higher levels of operational safety.”

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Global Aerospace Unveils 2020 SM4 Safety Program

The insurance provider's latest upgrades to the program include an online safety learning managnement system.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

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.

Augmented reality glasses let pilots see vital flight information during smoke events

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Jessica Reed

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

Clark is senior quality control and technical representative at Phillips 66 Aviation

Keith Clark Chosen for Bizav Meritorious Service Award

Amy Wilder

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.

 Runway lights reportedly alerted pilots before ATC canceled takeoff clearance

Bizjet Incursion Triggers Air France Rejected Takeoff

Analysis based on operator submissions during 2025

Crew Recency Tops Flight Risk List in Nimbl Report

Kerry Lynch

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.

Jan. 29, 2025 midair at KDCA has led the Lilleys on safety quest

Lilleys See Safety Bill Progress, Need for Further Action

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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FAA wants to assess maturity rather than prescribe design of SMS programs

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Safety culture comes into focus

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