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

J.A. Air Center, one of two FBO providers at Chicago-area Aurora Municipal Airport, is the latest addition to the Air Elite Network. The independent location, which offers an 11,000-sq-ft terminal and 100,000-sq-ft hangar that can house aircraft up to the size of a Gulfstream G650, consistently ranks among the top facilities in the annual AIN FBO Survey.

 


“We’re proud to be the network’s first Chicagoland FBO,” said J.A. Air Center operations manager Randy Fank. “Our facility has direct access to the tollway, with only one stop light between us and downtown Chicago. This location offers operators the most convenient access to the city when compared to DuPage or Chicago Midway Airports.”

 


Amenities at the FBO include a 20,000-sq-ft arrival canopy, gym with shower facility, snooze rooms, and a pilots' lounge with pool table. A partnership with a local auto museum allows for a rotating display of vintage autos in the lobby.

 


For the World Fuel-sponsored Air Elite Network, which was founded in 2011 from the remnants of the Avitat network, this represents its 79th member. Each must meet airport, facility, and service quality standards for acceptance into the network.

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

Air Elite Network Welcomes First Chicago-area FBO

Full service FBO J.A. Air Center at Aurora Municipal Airport is the 79th location to join the World Fuel sponsored network of high quality facilities.

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.

The complex is viewed as the cornerstone of an aviation conglomerate

Major Las Vegas Hangar Complex Changes Hands

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

Projects totaled more than $5 million in infrastructure development

Oklahoma Airport Gets More Hangars, Upgraded Ramp

The facility will lean heavily towards sustainability

Clay Lacy Aviation Starts Construction on New KSNA FBO

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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Major Las Vegas Hangar Complex Changes Hands

The complex is viewed as the cornerstone of an aviation conglomerate

Oklahoma Airport Gets More Hangars, Upgraded Ramp

Projects totaled more than $5 million in infrastructure development

Clay Lacy Aviation Starts Construction on New KSNA FBO

The facility will lean heavily towards sustainability

NATA Panel Examines FBO Preparation for eVTOL Service

OEMs and FBOs talk about how electric aircraft can be accommodated at FBOs

NATA Conference Panel Examines FBO Consolidation

While the big chains take a more selective approach, others remain hungry

Atlantic Aviation Gets Lease Renewal Approval in Aspen

The decision is the latest in a nearly two-year saga at the airport

Clay Lacy Aviation Gets Nod for Sun Valley FBO

Construction is expected to begin next year

Florida FBO Takes Giant Service Provider Chain to Court

The suit claims breach of contract and fraud

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