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

Private equity firm The Sterling Group, which launched itself into the FBO consolidation arena in September with the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-10-03/destin-jet-acquired-start-new-fbo-network">purchase of Florida’s Destin Jet Center</a>, has unveiled the name of its new aviation services chain and acquired its second location. The Lynx FBO Network, as it is now known, is backed by Sterling, a middle-market investment fund that manages more than $2.4 billion in assets. Its latest purchase, announced earlier this week, is Aurora Jet Center, one of three service providers at Aurora State Airport, which serves the metropolitan Portland, Oregon area.

 


The Avfuel-branded facility has access to approximately 70,000 sq ft of hangar space, capable of sheltering aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650. “Aurora Jet Center is the primary provider on the airfield and has been growing substantially over the past several years,” noted former Trajen and Landmark Aviation executives Chad Farischon and Tyson Goetz, who head the buy-and-build venture. “It is an exceptional addition to our new network.”

 


“Our first two locations, both primary providers at their respective airports, are perfect representations of our vision for the Lynx network,” added industry veteran and Sterling partner Greg Elliott. “We are just getting started.”

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

Sterling Group Adds to New Lynx FBO Network

Launched at the end of September, the private-equity fund owned chain is the latest player in the FBO consolidation market

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

The 29,000-sq-ft structure is slated for December completion

Galaxy FBO at Houston Hobby Starts New Hangar Build

Charles Alcock

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Business aviation services group has used the TrustFlight technology since 2018

Luxaviation Implements Centrik Safety Platform for FBOs

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

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

Business aviation services group is upgrading the lounge of its Munich FBO

ExecuJet’s German FBOs Prepare To Support Major Events

The two new additions bring the group to 85 locations worldwide

Air Elite FBO Network Expands Domestically and Internationally

Airport Management Solutions won the RFP process over three competitors

Lone Kentucky Airport FBO Changes Hands

Upon closure of deal, SR Aviation will have nearly 400,000 sq ft of hangars

Newly Launched Hangarkeeper Buys Second Facility

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.

Business aviation services group now has three Upper Midwest FBOs

Premier Grows FBO Network with Cincinnati Acquisition 

Hanneke Weitering

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.

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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