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

Tim Obitts, chief legal officer for fledgling sustainable fuel producer Alder Fuels, has been named acting CEO of the company following the December 27 dismissal of&nbsp;renewable fuel industry veteran Bryan Sherbacow as president and CEO.
“As a result of enhanced management processes, the company uncovered that the now-former CEO, Bryan Sherbacow, engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited&nbsp;him personally,” the company stated. “Upon discovery, the Board immediately&nbsp;commenced&nbsp;a comprehensive review of the transactions and terminated&nbsp;Mr. Sherbacow for cause.”
After joining the National Air Transportation Association&nbsp;in 2014, Obitts served as the president and CEO for three years before stepping down last September and joining Alder's staff. During his tenure as NATA head, he served as a champion for sustainable aviation fuel, tirelessly advocating for its adoption and increased production.
“We are grateful that Tim has stepped up as acting CEO,” stated Xavier Adserà, the Washington D.C.-based company’s chairman. “Tim is a proven aviation expert and industry leader, and we look forward to supporting him during this transitional phase.”
Alder Fuels has struck a number of partnerships with companies such as Honeywell, United Airline Ventures, Directional Aviation, and Avfuel as it builds its business of converting biomass, such as forest and crop residue, into a low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude (AGC) that will meet jet-A specifications once refined.&nbsp;The company said it has “redeveloped its strategy to ensure the entirety of its resources are directed towards achieving the singular goal of advancing commercial deployment of AGC technology” and that it reorganized its personnel, operations, and partnerships to meet this goal.
&nbsp;It noted that it has secured new multimillion-dollar investments, and in late January received an award from the Department of Energy to accelerate its efforts. “We wish to express our sincere gratitude to strategic partners, sponsors, vendors, and investors who have been incredibly supportive as we move into the second phase of our journey,” the company said in announcing the organizational changes.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Former NATA Head Obitts Takes Reins at Alder Fuels

Following Alder Fuels' termination of president and CEO Bryan Sherbacow, former NATA chief Tim Obitts has been given an interim CEO title.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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.

The report sees the Midwest as a future hotbed of SAF production

Environmental Group Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

Kerry Lynch

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.

NBAA called a study suggesting business aviation emissions will need to be regulated 'misleading' 

NBAA Challenges Study Highlighting Bizav Emissions

NASA's Gulfstream G-III will use lidar technology to scan contrails of GE's Boeing 747

NASA and GE Plan Flight Tests To Study Contrails

Charles Alcock

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

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Project also includes Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Honeywell Aerospace, and American Airlines, plus MIT and University of Michigan

NASA Contracts Electra for AACES Sustainable Airliner Program

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

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

4,000 solar panels have been fitted on buildings across the London-area facility

Solar Generates 25% of Farnborough's Electric Power

Matt Thurber

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.

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