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 a graduation ceremony this morning in Red Oak, Texas, Bombardier honored the first batch of apprentices to complete a vocational training program it developed with Texas State Technical College (TSTC). Launched in 2019, the two-year Bombardier Aerospace Apprenticeship program (BAAP), which carries U.S. Department&nbsp;of Labor accreditation, offers students the opportunity to enter the aerospace sector with no specific prerequisites.

 


Using TSTC facilities, the airframer and college provide them with no-cost, expert instruction, including industry-tailored modules, the use of tools and equipment, and financial support. The coursework is a blend of practical and on-the-job training mixed with in-class instruction. Topics include health, safety, and quality best practices, aircraft drawing and specification comprehension, manufacturing standards, and regulatory compliance in aircraft assembly.

 


Today’s 10 graduates will now be offered full-time employment at Bombardier’s Red Oak facility as aircraft assemblers or aerostructures apprentices working on the Global 7500 wing, which is manufactured there. Currently, 80 students are in the training pipeline, and Bombardier and TSTC plan to recruit another 50 over the next two years.

 


“I am thrilled to celebrate the successful graduation of the men and women in the BAAP program, who will now transition forward in new careers at Bombardier, helping to ramp up the development of [the] Global 7500 program,” said Paul Sislian, the OEM’s executive v-p of operations and operational excellence. “The accomplishments of these talented individuals aptly underscore the importance of fueling the aerospace pipeline in our Red Oak facility, bringing world-class training opportunities and cementing Bombardier as a key pillar of the community.”

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Bombardier Greets First Apprentice Program Graduates

This morning, Bombardier honored the first batch of apprentices to complete a vocational training program it developed with Texas State Technical College.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

Four-decade career in aviation journalism culminated in leading AIN’s editorial team

AIN Editor-in-chief Matt Thurber To Retire in October

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.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

Pilatus PC-7 MKX Basic Trainer Makes First Flight

Matt Thurber

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.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

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

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

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.

More In Training and Workforce

AIN Editor-in-chief Matt Thurber To Retire in October

Four-decade career in aviation journalism culminated in leading AIN’s editorial team

Pilatus PC-7 MKX Basic Trainer Makes First Flight

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track

People in Aviation —September 2026

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher, Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN