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

Hawker Beechcraft has appointed Karin-Joyce Tjon as its new CFO. Most recently she was managing director of global professional services firm Alvarez &amp; Marsal.
John Reimers, CEO of Seattle-based Aviation Partners Boeing, has resigned. Mike Stowell, the company’s chief technology officer and executive v-p of engineering, will assume the role as acting CEO.
Marc Viggiano, previously senior v-p and director of corporate development of air traffic and radar systems provider Saab Sensis, was promoted to president and COO. He succeeds Jud Gostin, who retired from a full-time role but will remain with the company as an advisor.
John Frasca has been promoted from v-p to president and CEO of flight training device maker Frasca International. He succeeds his father, company founder Rudy Frasca, who will continue to serve as the company’s chairman of the board.
Israel Aerospace Industries has appointed Dov Baharav as chairman. Previously he was president and CEO of Amdocs Management.
Robert Stangarone, previously v-p of corporate communications at Cessna, has taken the same role for Embraer’s North American operations. The Brazilian airframer also promoted Flavia Sekles to the position of external communications director. He succeeds Carlos Eduardo Camargo, who is now heading the company’s recently created sustainability department.
Gulfstream has named Derek Zimmerman, most recently v-p of supply chain and aftermarket development for Piper Aircraft, to the newly created position of v-p of product support materials. The Savannah, Ga. airframer also promoted Jamie Fields from senior manager of maintenance, repair and overhaul to the new position of director, repair and overhaul services. At its Savannah Service Center, Gulfstream promoted Darrell Frey, James Kelley and Jeff Kilgore to the facility’s operations directors.
David Thibes has been promoted from director of operations to general manager at engine maker Turbomeca Canada. He replaces Russ Spray, who will remain chairman of Turbomeca USA. Frédéric Fourciangue, who previously led the service management department within the Safran Group subsidiary’s customer sales and support division, was named CEO of Turbomeca UK, succeeding Christian Hamel, who will take on other duties in the Safran group. Guy Bonaud has been appointed representative director of Turbomeca Japan, taking over from Marc Lacoue, who will take on other duties within the company.
Louisiana-based helicopter operator RLC has appointed Dru Milke as CEO. Previously he served as president of Air Logistics. The company also announced two promotions. Larry Adams, most recently director of operations, was named COO, and Michael Guidry was promoted from director of training to v-p of operations.
Large aircraft completions specialist Greenpoint Technologies has made several changes to its executive staff. President Scott Goodey has been given the additional title of CEO, replacing company founder and former CEO Jon Buccola, who now carries the title of chairman. Executive v-p Sloan Benson was also named president of Greenpoint’s Denton, Texas facilities, while Adrian Osborn, previously v-p of programs, was promoted to v-p of operations.
Millie Becker, most recently v-p of business development for Teterboro Airport FBO First Aviation Services, has joined Corning, N.Y.-based aviation services provider FirstFlight as chief development officer. She will continue to work at Teterboro Airport.
Tennessee-based avionics installation and repair specialist Carpenter Avionics has named John Dendekker as general manager. Most recently he was avionics installation sales manager at JA Air.
Minnesota-based aircraft broker Central Business Jets has named Erich Engelbrecht director of its new European office. He was previously managing director of Jetalliance Group subsidiary Avia Consult.
James Morrison has joined Canadian aviation services provider Partner Jet as managing director. Before this appointment he was senior v-p and COO of Porter Airlines.
Phoenix-based safety avionics systems manufacturer Aviation Communication &amp; Surveillance Systems (ACSS) named Kenneth Meyer, previously v-p of engineering and program management for L-3 GCS-Narda Satellite Networks, v-p of program management and customer support.
Texas turboprop engine repair specialist Prime Turbines has promoted Joe Kolo from v-p of sales and marketing to v-p and general manager.&nbsp;
Former Isle of Man civil aviation director Brian Johnson has joined legal consultancy Appleby Aviation as director of operations in the firm’s Isle of Man office.
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.
Aurora, Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters has promoted Kurt Koehnke from director of maintenance to v-p of maintenance. He was succeeded by Roy Toavs, who served most recently as field maintenance manager.
Patrick Mouley has been selected as Bell Helicopter’s new managing director for commercial business for Europe and Russia. Most recently he was Eurocopter’s v-p for marketing and sales assigned to Southeast Asia.
International aviation services provider Gama Aviation has made several changes to its leadership. Company co-founder and former operations director Capt. Steve Wright has been promoted to COO and accountable manager; Capt. Steve Woodfine, most recently a fleet manager, has been promoted to chief pilot. Ian Cheese, previously general manager for turboprops at UK regional airline Flybe, was named the company’s director of flight operations, and Capt. Brian Cozens was appointed head of training. Before joining Gama he held that position with XL Airways.
Jonathan Burls, founder of Reliable Jet Maintenance, has joined aircraft charter and management provider Executive Air Services’s Opa-Locka airport office in Miami as director of maintenance.
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.
Christian Duhain, most recently EADS’s corporate v-p for international development for Asia-Pacific and Latin America, has joined aviation support provider <a href="http://www.ajw-aviation.com/">A J Walter Aviation</a> as a non-executive director.&nbsp;
Aerospace component manufacturer PPG Industries aerospace business has appointed Brent Wright, previously platform business manager for military transparencies, as global platform director for transparencies. He succeeds Mark Cancilla, who was named global platform director for coatings. He takes over from Brian Roberson, who joined the company’s architectural coatings business in Australia.
Dave Hewitt, previously senior v-p of safety and compliance for NetJets, has formed Hewitt and Company, a business and aviation consulting firm.
FlightSafety International has made several promotions to its training center leadership. Gary Porterfield has been promoted to manager of the company’s Wichita facility. He replaces Craig Newall, who has retired. Porterfield was succeeded as assistant manager in West Palm Beach by Jerry Mobley. Due to the retirements of Ralph Hicks and Randy Lewis, Mitch Alexander was promoted to manager of the flight training provider’s Daleville, Ala. center and Kelly Allender was named manager of its Tucson site, respectively. Both were previously assistant managers at their locations.
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.
MRO provider Duncan Aviation has promoted Monte Reeves to customer service manager at its Lincoln, Neb facility. He was succeeded as assistant manager by Tony Leitschuck, who was previously a project manager at the site.
Canadian aircraft sales and services provider Innotech-Execaire Aviation has appointed Ken Moon regional manager of aircraft sales for western Canada. Previously he was a partner at BKD Aerospace International.
Aircraft maintenance and modification specialist Stevens Aviation has named retired Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Gunnin director of military programs.
California-based aviation services provider JetFlite International has hired two new maintenance managers at its Farmingdale-Republic Airport location in New York. Joe Cupaiolo previously was a crew chief at Excel Airways and Adam Delhotal worked for JetBlue Airways as an aircraft technician.
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.
Czech Republic-based private aviation provider ABS Jets has promoted Jiri Hrna from sales manager to senior key account manager.
Phoenix Heliparts in Arizona has named Paul Pfaffenberger, previously with Southwest Turbines, as engineering program manager.
American Eurocopter has named two new members to its marketing team. Kris DeSoto was tapped as regional marketing manager for the Northeast region while Glenn Murray was selected for the same role in the Midwest. Both were previously regional sales managers for Bell Helicopter.
Illinois-based West Star Aviation recently named two new regional sales managers. Julie Anderson, previously with Med Air, will be responsible for the western U.S., while Tim Johnson, most recently a regional sales manager with Dassault Falcon, will take charge of the Upper Midwest region. The MRO specialist also named Darin Perryman as accessories shop team lead at its Grand Junction, Colo. location. Most recently, he held the position of overhaul shop lead with Gulfstream.
Joey Crawford, most recently with Crownair, has joined Carlsbad, Calif. FBO Jet Source as chief inspector for the aircraft maintenance and avionics department.
Pennsylvania-based aircraft refueler manufacturer Rampmaster has named Leighton (Lee) Yohannan, chairman and partner of business payment firm PayCommerce, as co-CEO.
Private aviation provider JetSuite has appointed Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh to its board of directors.

Final Flights
Ralph Albertazzie, 88, the pilot of Air Force One during the Nixon administration, died on August 15 at his home in West Virginia. After serving as a bomber pilot instructor during World War II, he operated a flying school in his hometown of Morgantown W.Va., until he was recalled to serve during the Korean War, in which he flew nearly 100 combat and combat support missions. Assigned as the pilot of the presidential aircraft in 1968, Albertazzie flew a Boeing 707, the first jet to be designated Air Force One. He was at the controls of that aircraft in 1974 on the day President Nixon resigned, and in his book The Flying Whitehouse he related how he had to change Air Force One’s call sign in midair as President Ford took the oath of office.
Robert Fowler, 89, a former test pilot and member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, died at his home in Toronto on August 23. A pilot in the RCAF during World War II, he was a veteran of 48 missions over Europe. After the war he flew survey flights for Gulf Oil and Spartan Air Service before joining de Havilland Canada as a test pilot, eventually being named the airframer’s chief engineering test pilot before his retirement in 1987. During his career he was responsible for the first flight and development of many de Havilland Canada aircraft, including the DHC-5 Buffalo, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dash 7 and Dash 8, in addition to numerous research and experimental aircraft and engines. He was also the first person to test fly the PT6, mounted on the nose of an RCAF Expeditor (Beech 18). Fowler was named a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Karl Kasparian, 57, a customer support manager at GE Aviation, died unexpectedly on September 2 in Cincinnati. He joined GE Aviation in 1973 and spent his entire career in business aviation in a variety of roles, including engine assembly, testing and field service engineering in the U.S., Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. Promoted to senior customer support manager in 2004, he was known as a valued client advocate who went the extra mile for his customers.

People in Aviation: October 2011

Hawker Beechcraft has appointed Karin-Joyce Tjon as its new CFO.

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