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

St. Croix-based FBO Bohlke International Airways has received FAA Part 145 certification for its repair station, the company announced on Tuesday at NBAA 2016. The family-owned company, established in 1959, also operates a Part 135 charter fleet.

 


“The reason we decided to go this avenue is just that there is a need, and as our fleet has grown, there is just more of a need to have this in the islands,” said company president William “Billy” Bohlke. “I think it's just baby steps first and then we can grow into ourselves over time. The next step will be avionics.”

 


Bohlke is the first in the region to offer maintenance on the Astra/SPX, Cessna 400 series and Citation II. Service is also offered for the G100&nbsp;and King Air 200 series, as well as hot-section maintenance on the ubiquitous P&amp;WC PT6A&nbsp;turboprop.

 


This marks the establishment of a qualified maintenance presence at the most southern and eastern part of the U.S., offering convenient access to aircraft transiting between the mainland U.S. and South America. “This Part 145 repair station can save airplane owners and pilots from flying another 900-plus miles to Florida,” noted Bohlke. “We are proud to open this maintenance facility after many years of working towards this goal.”

 


The facility’s repair staff, which performs all the standby maintenance for the airlines frequenting the island, includes a recipient of the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. It provides AOG service, with outcalls to other islands. The company might capitalize on its new certification by courting fractional operators such as NetJets and Flexjet to be their preferred maintenance provider in the region.

 


Because St. Croix is a U.S. territory, Bohlke’s location can&nbsp;receive spare or replacement parts overnight from the U.S., without the customs and taxation delays encountered on some of the foreign-owned islands, according to company CEO William Bohlke Jr.

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.

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

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