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 Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was presented with this year’s Collins Aerospace Rescue of the Year Award, which is given to one of the company's Goodrich hoist customers who perform an especially daring helicopter rescue. The Texas DPS was recognized for rescues it carried out during a flood in Junction, Texas, in October 2018.

 


The town had received more than a foot and a half of rain in less than a day, causing the Llano River to breach its banks and flood the surrounding area, including a recreational vehicle campground, overturning trailers and causing people to be swept away or left stranded in trees. DPS 107 crewmembers Cpt. Shawn Stephenson, Lt. Jeff Evans, and Texas Highway Patrol Tech. Sgt Steven Tippett conducted water rescues in an Airbus AS350B3 and saved the lives of four people, including one woman who spent nearly five hours in the river and drifted 23 miles before she was rescued after multiple attempts.

 


“In all my 21 years in law enforcement, including 11 years in the Aviation Operations division, these rescues rank among the most technically difficult ones that I’ve ever seen our crews conduct,” said Texas DPS Maj. Jim Rohrman. “During the flood, the water reached speeds of nearly 30 mph&nbsp;and four residents lost their lives. If not for the quick response, timely decision-making and technical expertise of Stephenson, Evans, and Tippett, it’s likely that number would have been even higher.”

 


Collins (Booth 6333) is one of the leaders in the helicopter hoist industry and the company estimates it has more than 7,000 airborne hoists installed throughout the global fleet on commercial and military platforms.

 


“Collins Aerospace is pleased to recognize Texas DPS with this year’s Rescue of the Year Award,” said Cory VanBuskirk, general manager of Collins’ hoist and winch business. “As in the case of the Llano River flood, we recognize that our hoists play an integral role in the search and rescue operations of our customers, and we are committed to providing them with the industry’s most advanced products to support their life-saving missions.”

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

Texas DPS Earns Collins Rescue Award

Collins Aerospace recognized the Texas Department of Public Safety for rescuing four people during a flood.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

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.

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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.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

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AmyWilder

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.

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

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

HAI Heli-Expo 2020

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ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

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