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

MRO provider West Star Aviation has increased the service offerings at its recently expanded Chattanooga facility, with the addition of landing gear repair and overhaul for a variety of airframes.

 


West Star completed the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-11-19/west-star-aviation-celebrates-chattanooga-expansion">major expansion at its Lovell Field location last year</a>, which included a 65,000-sq-ft maintenance facility with 40,000 sq ft of hangar space, and a 45,000-sq-ft paint facility&nbsp;that can accommodate business jets up to an Embraer Lineage 1000.

 


The upgraded facility also includes an accessory and component shop, which allows the company to increase its support for the Embraer Phenom 100 and 300, King Airs, and Learjets (excluding the 40 series), by adding landing gear inspection and repair as well as wheel and battery service.

 


“With the larger facility, we are able to expand our market presence and services to our customers, while continuing our proven success for landing gear repair and overhaul, along with performing any other maintenance requirements at the same time,” noted Steve Goede, the location’s general manager. “With each added capability, we are able to provide our customers the convenience of a one-stop shop.”

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.

West Star Adds Landing Gear Service in Chattanooga

As as result of its major expansion at Lovell Field last year, the company can now offer MRO service for landing gear on certain airframes.

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.

Business jet maker aims to have customers "bring their aircraft home" for servicing

Bombardier's Booming Aftermarket Segment Keeps Expanding

Upgraded aircraft is seeing a $355,000 net value gain

CitationPartners Eagle Program Grows in Value

Charles Alcock

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.

Extended approval covers G450, G550, G650 and Lineage 1000 jets

FAA Clears ExecuJet Haite For Gulfstream and Embraer Checks

Matt Thurber

Company will offer airframe and engine parts from 13 Citations

Business Jets Will End and Extend Life at C&L Aerospace

Specialist technicians can act quickly to help aircraft operators

Aero-Dienst Boosts AOG Support with Dedicated Teams

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

Alliance Aviation Group plans to expand expertise to more aircraft types

Dublin FBO/MRO Receives EASA Part 145 Approval

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

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

Company made its debut at Boeing Field during the Depression era

Galvin Flying Ceases Operations after 94 Years

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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