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

Freeman Holdings Group, the largest franchisee within the Million Air FBO Network, has acquired an ownership interest in California-based aviation services provider ACI Jet. The latter company’s founder, William Borgsmiller, will remain in control of ACI's three FBOs—at John Wayne-Orange County (KSNA), San Luis County Regional (KSBP), and Paso Robles Municipal&nbsp;(KPRB) airports, all of which will retain the ACI name for now.

 


Earlier this year, ACI&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-04-05/aci-opens-new-digs-san-luis-obispo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1634830490087000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG-yx_Z5567IIze3kWK2AEmiCIWlw" href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-04-05/aci-opens-new-digs-san-luis-obispo" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" target="_blank">completed construction on a new $20 million FBO</a>&nbsp;at KSBP, and a major project is&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-09-17/new-sna-lease-hand-aci-plans-85m-project&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1634830490087000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF28VeOXUhmmbkAelfWOqlnmzSntA" href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-09-17/new-sna-lease-hand-aci-plans-85m-project" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" target="_blank">planned for KSNA</a>&nbsp;where ACI has operated since 2017 and recently received a new 35-year lease.

 


Freeman currently operates 14 FBOs, with a dozen under the Million Air label, at locations such as Orlando, Florida; Yuma, Arizona; Medford, Oregon; and Syracuse, New York. This move will bolster Freeman’s California presence, which includes facilities at March Air Reserve Base (KRIV) in Riverside, and Southern California Logistics Airport (KVCV) in Victorville.

 


“With our 35 years of operational and commercial development background, we are confident we can augment ACI’s potential by incorporating Million Air’s industry-recognized customer service and facility standards to the ACI group of FBOs,” said Freeman Group CEO Scott Freeman. "All additional FBOs will combine to provide a huge choice of destinations to our customers."

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

Million Air Franchisee Acquires ACI Jet Stake

The largest franchisee within the Million Air FBO Network has acquired an ownership stake in California-based aviation services provider ACI Jet.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

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.

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