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

The FAA has received more than 2,000 comments about its proposed policy regarding the non-aeronautical use of airport hangars. In response to the flood of comments and extension requests from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and others, the FAA extended until October 6 the comment period for the <a href="http://www.cfmediaview.com/lp1.aspx?v=8_85550881_3108_6">proposal</a>, which states that hangars are to be used only for storage or maintenance of aircraft. Some of the comments chastised the agency for its misdirection or micro-management, while others congratulated the FAA for challenging situations they have encountered at their own airports.


Ever since the publication of a 1999 GAO report regarding the need for oversight and enforcement on unauthorized land use at general aviation airports, the FAA has been conducting inspections at 18 airports a year, frequently encountering hangars packed with non-aviation items such as cars, boats and furniture, along with some hangar tenants who were found to be operating commercial businesses unrelated to aviation.


Even the building of an aircraft might not be construed as aeronautical use under the FAA’s new interpretation, defining as non-aeronautic use anything short of final assembly of an aircraft to the point that it can be taxied. AOPA and EAA have urged the agency to broaden its definition to include the entire aircraft construction process, rather than just final assembly.

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.

FAA Gets an Earful about New Hangar-use Policy

Agency received more than 1,000 comments about its proposed policy regarding the non-aeronautical use of airport hangars.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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

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.

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.

PRD ushers in a new era of efficiency and a new bureaucracy

The Double-edged Sword of the Pilot Records Database

Charles Alcock

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.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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NBAA, Collins Aerospace End APIS Service Agreement

Alternative services and declining participation led to the change

NATA CS Buys Compliance and Safety Management Rival

The combined platform promises new advancements in AI and automation

Energy Reserves and Pilot Training For eVTOLs Addressed in FAA's SFAR Rules

Developers of "powered-lift" aircraft are digesting what the details mean for their eVTOL business plans

Joby Discusses eVTOL Rules with International Aviation Safety Agencies

Officials from the UK, Japan, and Australia are being hosted at the company's California HQ this week

Rolland Vincent Associates Joins IBAC Partnership Group

Consultancy will work to support bizav growth

Charter Safety Group Adopts Document Management System

Air Charter Safety Foundation wants to encourage members to digitize documents

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