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.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Curt Epstein

Texas-based Black Forest Ventures, the parent company of the Galaxy FBO chain and aircraft charter management provider Wing Aviation, has expanded beyond the Lone Star state with the acquisition of MAC Air Group, a family-operated company based at Maine’s Portland International Jetport (KPWM).
A presence at KPWM for nearly seven decades, MAC is an FAA Part 135 charter operator, Part 145 repair station, and FBO MAC Jets. For Galaxy, this FBO is its fifth, but there are no immediate plans to rebrand the facility.
For Galaxy, this purchase gives it its second Part 135 certificate, as well as its second Part 145 authorization. Last month, the company purchased MW Aircraft Services, an MRO located at Texas’ Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport (KCXO), where it has an FBO, giving it the ability to support its transient customers, as well as its managed aircraft fleet.
“Expanding into Maine was a highly strategic decision for us,” Jeremy Gee, managing director of Black Forest Ventures’ aviation division, told AIN.&nbsp;“With the addition of MAC Air Group, we’re extending Wing Aviation’s footprint into the Northeast with a partner that shares our commitment to safety, service, and long-term client relationships. From an operational standpoint, Portland serves as a natural gateway for transatlantic flights, giving our fleet a reliable stop between Texas and Europe.”

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.

Galaxy FBO Parent Company Expands Beyond Texas for the First Time

Purchase of MAC Air Group strengthens Black Forest Ventures’ aircraft maintenance capabilities

Galaxy FBO and Wing Aviation parent Black Forest Ventures has expanded beyond Texas’ borders with the purchase of Maine-based MAC Air Group.

Texas-based Aviation Company Expands to the Northeast

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Chad Trautvetter

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.

Company adds utility turboprop to its portfolio

Columbia Air Tapped for Daher Kodiak Sales and Service

Hanneke Weitering

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.

Diamonds are an MRO’s best friend

DUST Identity Targets Counterfeit Aircraft Parts

Matt Thurber

Modification helps company complete UAV delivery flight testing

Wildhorse Helicopters Bell 47 Gets Full NVG Treatment

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.

System eliminates paper logbooks and simplifies monitoring of aircraft requirements

ScaleWings Taps Crewchief Tracking for Builders/Owners

System brings a big jet feature to one of the smallest

Pro Star Aviation Installs Moving Map System on PC-24

Adds capabilities that will benefit customers based in Brazil

Brazil’s ANAC Approves Solojet’s Sovereign Maintenance

The company will add to its 66,000-sq-ft location at KINT

Propeller and Rotor MRO Piedmont Propulsion To Expand

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

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

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