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

Bombardier has promoted Éric Martel to president of customer services and specialized and amphibious aircraft. He succeeds <a href="?q=node/30719">James Hoblyn, who died in July</a>. Before this appointment, Martel was the Canadian airframer’s senior v-p for commercial aircraft.
BBA Aviation has named David Best president of its Asia-Pacific division. Previously, he was chief commercial officer at its Signature Flight Support subsidiary. The company also announced that André Moreira has joined engine repair and overhaul subsidiary Dallas Airmotive do Brasil as quality engineer.
David Coleal, previously v-p and general manager of Bombardier Learjet, has joined Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems as senior vice president/general manager of the fuselage segment.
Kenny Dichter, the founder and former CEO of jet-card company Marquis Jet, has resigned from his role as vice chairman of NetJets. He will remain with the fractional provider for the next year in an advisory capacity. (See article on page XX.)
Bell Helicopterhas named Patrick Mouley its managing director for commercial business for Europe and Russia. Previously he was Eurocopter’s v-p of marketing and sales for Southeast Asia.
John Graber, previously president of AAR Aircraft Services, has been selected as president of CHC Helicopter Services.
General Dynamics has named former controller Jason Aiken CFO at its Gulfstream subsidiary. He succeeds Daniel Clare, who was selected as president of Jet Aviation in July. Kimberly Kuryea, previously CFO of General Dynamics’ Advanced Information Systems, will succeed Aiken as the parent company’s controller.
Atlanta, Ga.-based Aviation parts supplier Precision Aviation Group has promoted Ketan Desai from director of sales and marketing to v-p of sales and marketing. Bobby Risbourg, previously manager of aviation parts and purchasing with Chevron’s aviation division, has joined the company’s Precision Heliparts subsidiary as regional sales manager for the Gulf Coast.
Robert Marshall will take over as CEO of the UK’s Marshall Group from his father, Sir Michael Marshall, in January. The company, which operates Cambridge Airport, includes Marshall Aerospace, which specializes in aircraft MRO.
Jet Aviation has appointed Charles Krugh, most recently general manager of Bombardier’s Wichita service center, as the new senior v-p and general manager at its St. Louis MRO facility (formerly Midcoast Aviation). He succeeds interim general manager Rodger Renaud, who will continue in his role as vice president of green completion sales.
Robert Lummus has been promoted to v-p and general manager of StandardAero Business Aviation’s Los Angeles International Airport facility. Previously he was director of operations at the location.
Gulfstream has tapped Mike Quaid as operations manager for its newly formed Western U.S. field service region. Most recently, he was a senior regional field service representative.
In-flight connectivity specialist Aircell has appointed Dennis Hildreth manager of OEM sales. Most recently he was principal marketing manager for flight information solutions at Rockwell Collins.
Mark Wulber has joined Argus International as director of audit programs for business aviation. Most recently, he served as director of training and compliance for Executive Flight Services.
Hawker Beechcraft has appointed Neil Kunycky, previously a sales director with Bombardier, Beechcraft sales director for the Northeastern U.S.
Tom Poberezny, chairman of theExperimental Aircraft Association and son of EAA founder Paul Poberezny, announced his retirement. Rod Hightower, hired last year as the organization’s president and CEO, will assume the chairman role. (See article on page 52.)
Duncan Aviation has announced several staff promotions. Chad Doehring, previously customer service manager at the company’s Lincoln, Neb. Facility, was named manager of its airframe services team, while Monte Reeves was promoted from assistant manager to manager of customer service. He was succeeded by Tony Leitschuck, who was previously a project manager at the location. <a href="http://www.duncanaviation.aero/contact/contact.php?name=Tom_Lieser">Tom Lieser</a> was promoted from crew lead at the company’s Chicago avionics satellite shop to manager of <a href="http://www.duncanaviation.aero/contact/facilities_detail.php?facilityID=22">Duncan Aviation-St. Paul</a>.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based CRS Jet Spares has named Larry Dean its western regional sales manager. Most recently he was director of sales and marketing at International Jet Aviation in Colorado.
Art Muro, most recently service manager with Crownair Aviation Maintenance, has joined Carlsbad, Calif.-based Jet Source as its Part 145 maintenance manager.
Global aircraft charter specialist Chapman Freeborn has named Dewi Gendo general manager of its newly established office in China.
Rudy Quevedohas joined the Flight Safety Foundation as deputy director of technical programs. Previously he was director of safety at North American Airlines.
Vermont FBO Heritage Aviation has promoted Rheal Gagnon from director of FBO services to v-p.
George Laiten, most recently senior manager of customer Support and MRO at Jet Aviation, has joined maintenance services provider West Star Aviation as director of Bombardier programs. The Illinois-based company also named Don Ehler technical sales manager of its Spirit of St. Louis Airport facility. Previously he served as parts and components/regional sales manager for Avmats.
California-based private aviation provider JetSuite has appointed Robby Phillips, most recently Pacific Southwest director of sales for Flexjet, its new sales director.
Damon Cramhas joined FlightSafety International as director of marketing for simulation products and services. Previously he served as business development and sales lead for commercial aircraft training at CAE. The flight training provider also promoted Kelly Allender from assistant manager at its Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, to manager of its Tucson, Ariz. facility.
Indianapolis-based Comlux Aviation Services has hired Jude Zimmerman, most recently Starport Aviation’s director of sales and completions, as its new interiors manager. The completions specialist also promoted Stephen Law from lead technician to maintenance supervisor.
Patrick Tuttle, CEO of ADR, has been selected to succeed Cessna corporate communications vice president Robert Stangarone as chairman of the Wichita Aero Club starting in January.
Steve Bowlin, previously Kaz Aviation’s v-p of FBO operations, has been selected by Landmark Aviation as general manager of its Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field location.
USAIG has named career U.S. Coast Guard aviator Paul Ratté its new director of aviation safety programs. He most recently served as commanding officer of the USCG Air Station in Atlantic City, N.J.
Wichita aviation services provider Yingling Aviation has named long-time Cessna executive John Donatelli to the position of regional sales manager. He will assume oversight of Kansas Aviation’s flight training activities as well.
François André has been chosen as manager of Le Castellet International Airport in the south of France. Previously he managed nearby La Môle St. Tropez Airport.
Final FlightsDavid Sclair, 73, the former publisher of General Aviation News and an airshow fixture for decades, died on July 26, following a six-month battle with cancer. A career journalist, Sclair earned his pilot’s license in 1966 and soon after purchased a publication named Northwest Flyer. Following the acquisition of several smaller titles, the publication eventually became known by its present name, General Aviation News. Parent company Flyer Media, which the Sclairs own, also produces Living with Your Plane, a national directory of fly-in communities. In 2001, AOPA honored Sclair with its Max Karant Award for his dedication to excellence in aviation journalism.
Ronald E.G. Davies, 90, curator of the Smithsonian Air &amp; Space Museum’s Air Transport collection for three decades and one of the world’s preeminent commercial aviation historians, died on July 30 after a series of strokes and a heart attack in his native UK. After serving in the British Army during World War II, he joined the Ministry of Civil Aviation and later worked for British European Airways and de Havilland Aircraft before arriving in the U.S. in the late 1960s as an employee of McDonnell Douglas. A prolific writer, he published numerous books detailing the development of airlines and airline travel. His most recent book Airlines of the Jet Age: A History was released this summer. At the time of his retirement earlier this year, Davies was the Institution’s oldest full-time employee.
Bruce Sundlun, 91, former Governor of Rhode Island and a founding member of the board of directors and later president of Executive Jet Aviation (EJA), the predecessor of NetJets, died July 21 at his home in Jamestown, R.I.
A B-17 bomber pilot during World War II, he was shot down over occupied Belgium, escaped capture and eventually returned to service ferrying bombers to Pacific bases. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross among other decorations. After the war, he earned a law degree and served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington. In 1964, he became one of the founding members of EJA. After the company’s near collapse in 1970, Sundlun was installed as chairman and president and returned the company to profitability, making jet charter legitimate on a national basis. He remained associated with EJA until it was sold in 1984. He then went on to lead a broadcasting group before winning the Rhode Island Statehouse on his third election attempt in 1990.

People in Aviation: September 2011

Bombardier has promoted Éric Martel to president of customer services and specialized and amphibious aircraft.

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