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 several high-profile incidents where <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-05-27/def-contamination-downs-two-citations">business aircraft had their fuel systems contaminated</a> with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), aviation fuel handling and testing equipment provider Gammon Technical Products (GTP) is now distributing a field test kit for the detection of DEF in fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII). Developed by fuel testing equipment manufacturer Emcee Electronics, the new DEFKIT can detect DEF contamination concentrations in FSII as low as 2 percent.

 


According to GTP, the test requires no special training or instruments and is recommended after each refilling of the FSII reservoir on aviation refueling equipment.

 


Both DEF and FSII are colorless liquids and the former has been mistaken for the latter with <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-24/close-call-falcon-def-contaminated-fuel">near-catastrophic results</a>. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-24/close-call-falcon-def-contaminated-fuel">I</a>n the event of a failed DEFKIT test, GTP notes that the reservoir, the entire additive injection system, and refueling equipment downstream of the injection point must be considered contaminated. Also in this case, aircraft fueled with additive, at least since the reservoir was last filled, should be considered not flight worthy, notified, and grounded until it can be determined that they are safe to fly.

 


“DEF contamination is 100 percent preventable with the proper training and controls in place,” said Michael France, managing director for safety and training for NATA, which is working with its members to bring awareness of this new kit. “The DEFKIT…adds an extra layer of protection to ensure we don’t experience another contamination event.”

 


NATA currently offers a <a href="https://www.nata.aero/assets/Site_18/files/DEF/OBP%2036%20-%20DEF%20Handling%20and%20Contamination%20Prevention.pdf">free operational guide</a> for DEF Handling and Contamination Prevention through its Safety 1st program, and a spokesperson told AIN the organization has not modified its operational best practices or training to include the use of the test kit, but added it will work through its Safety Committee to assess future changes to its training and programs.

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

DEF Field Test Kit Now Available for Aircraft Fuelers

After several incidents where business aircraft had their fuel systems contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid, a new field test kit is now available.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Avgas set a new peak for the past six months

Aviation Fuel Pricing Continues Upward Trend

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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.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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

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.

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U.S. still relies on imported oil from Middle East for jet fuel

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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.

All fuel types showed increases versus March

U.S. Aviation Fuel Prices Rise across the Board

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

EASA and Eurocontrol are considering measures to save aircraft fuel 

Safety Guidance May Prompt Shift in Fuel Tankering Rules

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

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.

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