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

The California business executive who piloted the drone that <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-02-03/bizav-steps-la-wildfire-fight">collided</a> with a firebomber battling the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year has been sentenced to prison, home confinement, and more than $150,000 in fines and restitution.&nbsp;
Peter Tripp Akemann, a resident of L.A. suburb Culver City, pled guilty back in January to one count of unsafe operation of an uncrewed aircraft. He was at the controls of the DJI Mini 3 Pro drone that, on January 9, was struck by a Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” water bomber sent from Canada to assist in fighting the conflagration that threatened the city. Akemann launched the drone from the roof of a parking structure and flew it more than 1.5 miles toward the fires until he lost sight of it.
The ensuing collision punched a six-inch-wide hole in the leading edge of the fire bomber’s left wing and caused internal structural damage. While StandardAero’s aerostructures team at its Van Nuys Airport facility repaired&nbsp;the twin-engine amphibious aircraft, it was out of the fight for at least three days.
Akemann was sentenced to 14 days in federal prison, followed by 30 days of home detention. In addition to repaying the Government of Quebec for aircraft repairs, he must also complete 150 hours of community service in support of local wildlife relief efforts resulting from the fires.

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.

Drone Pilot Who Crashed into L.A. Fire Bomber in January Sentenced

He will receive prison time and be required to pay for the airplane’s repair

The pilot of a drone that collided with a fire bomber over Los Angeles in January was sentenced to prison, community service, and fines.

Drone Pilot Who Crashed into L.A. Fire Bomber Sentenced

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

Demolished after previous term, pad could return larger

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Gordon Gilbert

The new process involves a two-step authorization

New APIS Rules for Bizav Start in Mexico

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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.

The FAA is seeking input and options from industry partners

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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.

Fentanyl use on the rise

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Joby, Archer, and Beta responded to a request for proposals

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News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

More In Regulations and Government

Mar-a-Lago Proposes 60-foot Helipad Upgrade

Demolished after previous term, pad could return larger

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The search for a successor is underway

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