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.

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Curt Epstein

Air Rescue Systems (ARS) has launched ARS 2.0, an enhanced training program designed to equip helicopter rescue teams with the most up-to-date techniques, technology and mission critical skills.
Announced this week at Verticon in Dallas, the Vita Inclinata subsidiary is debuting the new program, which integrates real-world scenarios. Led by Mike Martin, ARS’s new v-p of training, the expanded curriculum emphasizes high-stakes decision making and hands-on instruction featuring the company’s field-tested equipment and expertise.
The program is customizable, making it suitable for a wide range of customer experiences, from the established rescue team looking for advanced training to newcomers seeking foundational information.
“We’re not just improving training, we’re revolutionizing how rescue systems prepare for real-world missions,” said ARS president Bob Cockell. “This program ensures that every helicopter crewmember, from pilots to hoist operators, is equipped with the skills and knowledge to execute rescues with greater precision, speed, and safety in their own aircraft.”
This year’s Verticon also marks the trade show debut of the company’s Air Reach Seat, which is being demonstrated at ARS’ booth. It is a work platform designed to improve safety, comfort, and efficiency for power linemen working from helicopters.
Built from stainless steel and aircraft aluminum, the seat eliminates the loss of circulation and fatigue normally associated with traditional harnesses while providing increased maneuverability for linemen and stability for pilots.
The company is also demonstrating the Vita rescue hoist, which features an advanced load stabilization system to prevent swing, spin, and rotation during lift operations. In addition, it is showing the Pelican R.E.D., a rapid extraction device suitable for water, high-angle, and aerial hoist rescues.
“ARS and Vita Inclinata are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in helicopter rescue operations,” explained Matt Christiansen, Vita’s executive v-p of aerospace sales. “With ARS 2.0 and our lineup of advanced rescue solutions, we are delivering the training and technology needed to elevate mission success and improve safety across the industry.”

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