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

Fractional ownership aircraft provider Volato’s flight hours in the first three months dipped slightly quarter-over-quarter, according to key performance indicators the company released this morning. Volato is the largest HondaJet fleet operator in the U.S., and its 26 light jets flew nearly 3,000 hours in the first three months of 2024, down from more than 3,500 hours in fourth-quarter 2023.
Of that amount, however, the percentage of hours considered “empty” or non-occupied declined quarter-over-quarter from 37.9 percent to 35.1 percent, denoting improved fleet efficiency.
In the first quarter, the usage mix was split evenly between ownership and program/ad hoc charter, and its blended yield—the average occupied price per hour across all the company’s usage types—remained strong at more than $5,300 per hour.
“We continue to focus on growing our flight hours and optimizing our demand mix to achieve a higher blended score and lower empty percentage,” said company CFO Mark Heinen. “We are pleased the blended yield remained strong despite the impact of winter weather and fewer peak calendar days in Q1.”
On Monday, Volato’s executives celebrated the company’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange by ringing the closing bell. It became a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-12-04/after-spac-merger-fractional-jet-provider-volato-goes">publicly traded</a> company via a SPAC merger in December.

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

Fractional Operator Volato Releases First-quarter Metrics

Despite a dip in flight hours, the company's hourly price remained strong

Fractional ownership aircraft provider Volato’s flight hours dipped slightly in Q1 according to key performance indicators the company released this morning.

Frax Operator Volato Releases First-quarter Metrics

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.

ACS Shanghai and Hong Kong offices enjoying best year

ACS Sees Surge in Greater China Charter Business

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

Complex will cater directly to NetJets and Executive Jet management clients

Signature, NetJets Team On Vegas Private Terminal

Sarah Rose

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.

Broker says it's a "dynamic year" for business aviation

Boutsen: Preowned Aircraft Availability, Transactions Up

“I couldn’t be prouder," said president David Stanley

Vista America Celebrates Milestone First Year

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.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

Charter brokers and aircraft operators assembled in the Czech capital Prague

Fraud and Cybersecurity Top Air Charter Forum Agenda

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The charter broker facilitated the rapid transport of more than 70 electricians to Florida

Chapman Freeborn Aids Hurricane Milton Recovery

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Entry-level pricing now starts at $220,000 for a 1/16 share in the single turboprop

SkyShare Reduces Rates for PC-12 Fractional Owners

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

In this article

Volato

More In Charter & Fractional