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

BLR Aerospace has received approval from New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority for its FastFin system for the twin-engine Airbus AS355.&nbsp;The BLR kit—designed to enhance directional control and hover stability—expands on the success of the FastFin system used on the Airbus H125/AS350.
It features an Advanced Tailboom Aerodynamic Cowling, a tailboom strake, and vortex generators. According to the Washington State-based manufacturer, the increase in available right pedal and improved yaw axis management reduces pilot workload and improves performance during precision hover-hold operations, particularly during crosswind conditions. Its products have been endorsed by OEMs such as Airbus Helicopters and Bell.
Announced this week at Verticon in Dallas, this latest certification was achieved in partnership with Skywork Helicopters, one of New Zealand’s leading rotorcraft service providers.
“Skywork has been an instrumental partner on this project,” said BLR president Clay Bringhurst. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with them to bring this certification to fruition and expand the reach of the BLR FastFin to a new platform that provides enhanced capabilities to operators in New Zealand and beyond.”

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.

BLR  Aerospace Gets New Zealand Nod for AS355 FastFin

The approval came in partnership with local MRO Skywork Helicopters

BLR Aerospace has received Kiwi approval for its FastFin modification on the Airbus Helicopters AS355.

BLR Aerospace Gets New Zealand Nod for AS355 FastFin

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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.

Heli-Lynx is now an authorized maintenance provider 

Enstrom Adds to Service Network in Ontario, Canada

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

STC work will be underway for installation on 30 aircraft types of all sizes

Gogo Obtains PMA for Galileo HDX Broadband Antenna

Project includes more than 100,000 sq ft of additional hangar, backshop, and ramp space

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Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Dubai authorized service center will support turbofans for Bombardier Global 7500 jets

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Hanneke Weitering

Modification provides maximum visibility without replacing any doors

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AmyWilder

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.

Verticon 2025

In this article

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Enstrom Adds to Service Network in Ontario, Canada

Heli-Lynx is now an authorized maintenance provider

Gogo Obtains PMA for Galileo HDX Broadband Antenna

STC work will be underway for installation on 30 aircraft types of all sizes

West Star Launches 109,000-sq-ft Expansion in Grand Junction

Project includes more than 100,000 sq ft of additional hangar, backshop, and ramp space

GE Approves ExecuJet MRO To Support Passport Engines

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Swiss Rotor Reveals ‘Smart Pilot View Kit’ for AS350/H125 Helicopters

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