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

All factors, not just a stylish terminal, should be considered when selecting an FBO, according to aircraft industry sales and design consultancy Altea. “A quick sweep on the internet can be revealing, but this should be followed up by personal contact and recommendations where possible,” said Robin Dunlop, founding partner of the London-based company, which also has offices in Denmark, France, and Canada.
To help operators make informed decisions, Altea has compiled a free <a href="https://altea-aero.com/wp-content/uploads/Choosing-your-FBO-Checklist.pdf">checklist</a> of qualities and practices to look for before selecting an FBO. “Our checklist is designed to help owners look beyond surface-level and make wise decisions based on operational quality, transparency, and long-term value,” Dunlop explained.
Faced with rising operating costs, increased fuel prices, and special-event fees, operators need pricing transparency more than ever, Altea noted. This comes even as service providers face staffing pressures, growing fleet volumes, and increased aircraft size challenges.
Ground operations and aircraft handling remain critical factors in FBO selection. Inefficiencies can lead to delays, missed slots, and higher risk of aircraft damage. Recent incidents—including hangar fires, accidental fire foam discharge, and ground movement collisions—highlight how operational shortcuts can have significant consequences.
Security is another concern. Situations such as a security perimeter breach at an airport, which resulted in aircraft vandalism, demonstrate the potential risk when appropriate measures are not in place.

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

Evaluate FBOs on More Than a Fancy Terminal: Altea

The company says customers should do due diligence prior to picking a service provider

An industry consultancy warns aircraft operators not to judge a book solely by its cover. When it comes to choosing an FBO, it pays to conduct due diligence.

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.

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