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 U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has published a final rule that clarifies—and narrows—the scope of companies required to report beneficial ownership information under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which was part of the broader Anti-Money Laundering Act enacted in 2021.
The law is intended to combat money laundering and other financial crimes by reviewing financial transactions. It initially required certain limited liability companies (LLCs) and other entities to report “ultimate beneficial-owner information,” including name, date of birth, current address, and more, to FinCEN.
According to NBAA, this applied to many entities that own business aircraft under an LLC, which is a common structure to establish leases under which companies may share aircraft. The group raised concerns regarding privacy and the potential exposure of personally identifiable information of business aircraft owners and business aircraft ownership structures.
The final rule mitigates many of the previous privacy and legal concerns by permanently removing beneficial ownership reporting requirements for U.S. companies and U.S. persons. As a result, NBAA noted, domestic entities—including U.S.-formed LLCs, corporations, and other entities commonly used in aircraft ownership structures—are no longer subject to CTA beneficial ownership reporting.
FinCEN also stated that it will address privacy concerns raised by industry stakeholders by removing previously reported ownership information concerning U.S. persons from its database.
Foreign entities registered to do business in the U.S. are still subject to CTA reporting, but that is generally limited to information on foreign beneficial owners. NBAA advised those entities to reach out to their legal and tax advisors for more information and to ensure compliance with the regulation.

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.

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

A revision to the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 has removed some LLC ownership reporting requirements for U.S. companies and U.S. persons.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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.

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.

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Gordon Gilbert

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.

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges 

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

New Rules Would Clarify Business Aviation Operations in Australia

New Rules Would Clarify Bizav Operations in Australia

Agency issuing orders as temporary standards

Transport Canada Moves To More Fully Align with ICAO 

Robert Sancetta

One favorable test after an emergent medical situation may not be enough to satisfy the FAA

AINsight: Explain the Symptoms

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.

More In Regulations and Government

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

New Rules Would Clarify Bizav Operations in Australia

New Rules Would Clarify Business Aviation Operations in Australia

Transport Canada Moves To More Fully Align with ICAO

Agency issuing orders as temporary standards

AINsight: Explain the Symptoms

One favorable test after an emergent medical situation may not be enough to satisfy the FAA

Senate Dems Urge Probe into DHS Purchase of 12 Aircraft

Purchase includes four Gulfstreams and eight Boeings

David Cummins Steps In as TSA Administrator

Tom Chapman additionally was confirmed for another term at NTSB

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