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

Texas-based FAA Part 145 repair station DAS Aviation has signed on as major sponsor for <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-02-17/foundation-formed-restore-first-delivered-learjet">Classic Lear Jet Foundation</a>, the non-profit group that is working to return the first production Lear Jet to <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-02-06/restoration-commences-first-production-lear-jet">flight</a>.
DAS—which specializes in airframe structural repairs, sheet metal fabrication, component overhaul and repair, and composite structures—joins the list of aviation companies donating goods and services for the restoration of Lear 23-003 that is taking place at the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-09-09/bombardier-provides-base-learjet-restoration-project">Bombardier complex</a> in Wichita. "This partnership is an exciting opportunity to honor the past while contributing to the preservation of this iconic aircraft," said Mike Ward, DAS’ v-p of commercial and government sales and product line development.
Since work began early this year, the volunteer group—which includes former Lear Jet employees who worked on the company’s assembly line—has made progress. Volunteers continue to disassemble the airplane in preparation for de-painting, interior foam removal, and detailed structural and component inspections.
Last month the brakes were removed from the main landing gear. This proved challenging since the units were rusted together after 23-003 spent years sitting outside on the ramp of Florida’s Bartow Executive Airport where they were submerged in water several times due to hurricane rains.
Workers also removed the six-decade-old wiring from the cockpit and cabin, all of which will be replaced. The group anticipates the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-09-05/bringing-lear-003-back-flight">restoration</a> could take as long as five years.

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.

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The group working to restore the first production Lear Jet to flight status gained another major sponsor.

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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.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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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.

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