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

Timothy Obitts will end his nearly three-year run as president and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) on September 1. He will be succeeded by past NATA board chair Curt Castagna.

 


A member of NATA’s staff since 2014, Obitts served as its COO, executive v-p of business operations, senior v-p of business, and general counsel before following Gary Dempsey as president&nbsp;in February 2020. In addition to helping his constituency navigate the uncharted waters of the Covid pandemic, he helped initiate the promotion and expansion of sustainable aviation fuels by encouraging the adoption of book-and-claim programs&nbsp;and by providing guidance to FBOs, airports, and other aviation businesses wishing to reduce their environmental impact. Obitts will continue to champion aviation sustainability as chief legal officer for Alder Fuels.

 


In the decade since James Coyne stepped down as head of the organization after 18 years at its helm, NATA has named five successive presidents. This latest transition follows a plan NATA set up several years ago to "leverage the experience and dedication of its members to drive strategy and effect meaningful change in the industry."

 


A six-year NATA board member, Castagna is a business veteran who serves as president and CEO of California-based aviation real estate development and management firm Aeroplex Group Partners. He is the current chair of the Los Angeles County Airport Commission, president of the Van Nuys and Long Beach airport associations, a member of the American Association of Airport Executives, and a private and instrument-rated pilot.

 


“My initial focus will be the advancement of the association’s membership and staff through personal and professional development, collaborative initiatives, and opportunities for increased industry awareness and engagement,” Castagna told AIN. “I am passionate about the aviation business industry and want to do all I can to further NATA’s mission to empower the safety and success of its members.” He also noted that new legislation in evolving areas such as alternative fuels and unleaded aviation gasoline requires constant focus by the organization.

Castagna To Succeed Obitts as NATA Head

NATA president and CEO Timothy Obitts will end his term on September 1. He will be succeeded by NATA board member Curt Castagna.

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