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

Tony Bailey has been promoted to CEO of Indianapolis-based Comlux Aviation Services. Most recently he was the jet maintenance provider’s v-p of operations.

 


Pennsylvania-based aircraft refueler manufacturer Rampmaster has named Leighton (Lee) Yohannan, chairman and partner of business payment firm PayCommerce, as co-CEO.

 


Hartley Elder has been promoted by the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry from chief surveyor and deputy director of civil aviation to director of civil aviation.

 


Bombardier has announced several changes to its Asian aerospace operation. Christophe Degoumois has been promoted from regional v-p for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to v-p for China, Asia-Pacific, Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS, while Michael Han has been named to the newly created position of regional v-p, China. Previously he was Bombardier Business Aircraft’s sales director for Greater China. The Canadian airframer also announced that David Dixon will be leaving the company after 33 years of service. 
 
	French engine maker Turbomeca has named Frédéric Fourciangue, most recently head of the service management department within the customer and sales support division, as CEO of Turbomeca UK.

 


Justin Salmans, previously senior manager of sourcing strategies with Spirit AeroSystems, has been named Cessna’s v-p of supply chain.

 


Jet Aviation has appointed Ruedi Kraft, previously Gulfstream’s regional v-p for the Middle East &amp; North Africa, as its new v-p of market development and completion sales at Jet Aviation Basel. The aviation services provider also named John Anderson, most recently director of maintenance for The Air Group, as the regional maintenance manager for its Van Nuys, Calif. facility, while Lori Thomas was tapped as its charter sales manager for the Western division.

 


Argus safety management system subsidiary Prism has named Dave Huntzinger, formerly Eurocopter’s v-p for fleet safety, as senior v-p for helicopter aviation services.

 


General Dynamics has promoted Leda Chong from staff v-p of government relations to senior v-p of the company’s aerospace group in the Asia-Pacific region.

 


Communications equipment manufacturer Sennheiser has promoted John Falcone from president and CEO of its U.S. subsidiary to v-p of sales Americas for the parent company. He was succeeded by Greg Beebe, previously v-p of product marketing for the U.S. Markus Warlitz, most recently Sennheiser’s CFO, was appointed to the newly created position of general manager of Sennheiser Latin America.

 


White Plains, N.Y.-based aircraft instrumentation and control systems maker Safe Flight Instruments has promoted Matthew Greene from v-p of marketing to v-p of program management.

 


Flight training provider Flightsafety International has promoted Steve Phillips from director of communications to v-p of communications.

 


Bill Ashworth, formerly president of Goodrich Aviation Technical Services, was named president of Aviation Partners Boeing.

 


Delaware-based aircraft modification and completions specialist Pats Aircraft Systems has hired John Eichten. He previously served as senior v-p for sales and marketing at Timco Aviation Services.

 


Mike Guillemot, most recently a regional sales manager with Hawker Beechcraft, has joined aircraft sales company Sojourn Aviation as a partner.

 


Online FBO logistics provider Skynet has tapped Brendan O’Grady, most recently managing director of Universal Aviation’s Ireland operations, as commercial director. 
 
	 
 
	Integrated propulsion system and aircraft structure manufacturer Nordam has named Mike Bunney, previously chief economic officer for the City of Tulsa, senior v-p of support services. The Tulsa, Okla.-based company also promoted Dave Whitten, who had headed the firm’s global marketing, to senior v-p of strategy and marketing, and named Brian Schlegel v-p of supply chain management. Previously he was director of the supply chain for Nordam’s repair division. 
 
	Arizona-based aviation services provider StandardAero has appointed Jeffrey Wood, most recently a senior advisor for Irving Place Capital, senior v-p of its airlines and fleets business. He replaced interim leader Jennifer McNeill, who returned to her former role as v-p of sales, marketing and business development for airlines and fleets. 
 
	 
 
	Waterford, Mich.-based MRO provider Aerodynamics (ADI) has named Mark Nelson, previously a v-p and accountable manager at Comlux Aviation Services, as v-p of Aerodynamics Technical Services. 
 
	 
 
	Interior component specialist Custom Aircraft Cabinets has promoted Tim Reesnes from plant manager to v-p of production.&nbsp; He was succeeded by assistant plant manager Richard Skasick. 
 
	 
 
	Debra Higgins has been named v-p of charter sales by Oxford, Conn.-based private aviation services provider Key Air. Previously she held that same title with Arcadia Aviation. 
 
	 
 
	Illinois-based aircraft charter and management provider Priester Aviation has tapped John Unzicker to be v-p of Midwest sales. Previously he served as director of sales and marketing for charter provider N-Jet. 
 
	 
 
	Medevac transport provider Med-Trans has hired Ken Grimes as v-p of business development. Previously he was senior account manager for Golden Hour Data Systems. 
 
	 
 
	James Peleck has been named COO at Indiana-based turboprop engine specialist Turbines Inc. He has experience with Pratt &amp; Whitney, StandardAero and Boeing. 
 
	 
 
	Daniel Hulen has been named general manager of San Diego-based charter provider Schubach Aviation. Most recently he was director of operations for ACM Aviation Services. 
 
	 
 
	Central Flying Service has promoted David Smith from director of parts and planning to v-p of parts and service. The Little Rock, Ark.-based MRO provider also promoted James Woods, most recently maintenance sales representative, to avionics manager. 
 
	 
 
	Phillip Smith, previously chief inspector and quality assurance manager at Sanford, Fla. FBO StarPort, has been promoted to director of maintenance. The company also named Bruce Van Allen, most recently with BBA Aviation, as director of marketing. 
 
	 
 
	Private aviation solutions provider Chantilly Air announced that Brian Husa, previously a completions sales representative with Duncan Aviation, has joined its team as director of business development. 
 
	 
 
	Richard Thomson, most recently v-p of the technical services group at Aviation Management Systems, was named director of aircraft management sales by private aviation provider TWC Aviation. 
 
	 
 
	Industry veteran Dick Van Gemert has joined the board of directors of San Francisco-based charter and management firm Solairus Aviation.

 


Private aviation provider JetSuite has appointed Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh to its board of directors. Thella Bowens, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, was elected chair of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) board of directors.

 


Graham Evitt has been promoted from commercial engineer to Rolls-Royce 250 regional sales manager at BBA Aviation subsidiary H+S Aviation. 
 
	 
 
	Illinois-based aviation services provider J.A. Air Center has named David Ufen, most recently avionics and modification sales manager with Elliott Aviation, as its director of avionics. 
 
	 
 
	Steven Schell has joined Landmark Aviation as general manager of its Norfolk International Airport FBO. Most recently, he held the same post at Atlantic Aviation’s Burbank, Calif. facility.

 


Phoenix Heliparts in Mesa, Ariz., has named Paul Pfaffenberger, previously with Southwest Turbines, as engineering program manager. The helicopter MRO specialist also appointed Chris Murvine as lead inspector and director of training. Most recently he was senior maintenance instructor for MD Helicopters.

 


Dallas-based engine MRO specialist Prime Turbines has hired John O’Brien as sales and service manager. Previously he worked as a sales executive for Skyservice Business Aviation. 
 
	Ricardo Carvalho, currently v-p of aviation services provider Southern Cross Aviation, has been appointed head of the company’s aircraft sales for Brazil. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based firm also named Sarah Park as its new marketing director.

 


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 ,while Adam Delhotal worked for JetBlue Airways as an aircraft technician. Maintenance program provider Jet Support Services (JSSI) has hired Ed Baliff as a product line specialist and Zane Cox as a technical advisor. Both were previously with Rolls-Royce. 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. 
 
	 
 
	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. Joey Crawford, most recently with Crownair, has joined Carlsbad, Calif. FBO Jet Source as chief inspector for the aircraft maintenance and avionics department.

 


Canadian MRO provider Vector Aerospace has promoted Brian Thompson, formerly president of Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic division (Vaesa), to senior v-p of the company’s global engine services unit. He was succeeded by Jeff Poirier, previously Vaesa v-p of customer and technical services.

 


Tallahassee, Fla.-based aviation services provider Flightline Technical Services has added Joe Garcia and Joe Volker as to its staff as aviation technicians.

 


Bud Ackerman has joined California-based aviation services provider Axis Jet’s aircraft sales team. 
 
	Aviation services provider Rectrix Aviation has named former NTSB board member and AIN columnist John Goglia as director of safety. The Bedford, Mass.-based company also tapped W. Scott La Forge, previously Island Airlines CEO and president, as director of operations.

 


Trevor King, previously with Signature Flight Support’s FBO at London Luton Airport, has joined London Stansted Airport-based Inflite The Jet Centre as the FBO’s director of business development. Tennessee-based business aviation consultancy Gray Stone Advisors has added two staff members. Richard Stone, previously president, CFO and controller for the Sea Ray Boat Group, was named senior advisor for leadership and finance. Jay Povlin, formerly senior v-p at Brunswick, was selected as senior advisor, marketing and analytics.

 


Awards and Honors 
 
	Former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey was awarded the Aero Club of Washington’s Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence last month. She presided over the agency’s Y2K transition and led the FAA during the 9/11 aftermath. She was noted for her establishment of a risk-management approach across the entire aviation community to improve aviation safety, and worked to expand the capacity and capabilities of the nation’s ATC system. o

 


Final Flight

 


James (Jim) Greenwood, 91, the man credited with making the name Learjet synonymous with private jet travel during the 1960s, died on November 4, in Green Valley, Ariz. A WWII Navy veteran and pilot, he began his Wichita career in 1955 as manager of press relations for Beech Aircraft before joining Bill Lear’s Learjet in 1964. In his role at Learjet he was instrumental in introducing the business community to the concept of private jet travel. He later served with the FAA as director of public affairs before returning to Gates Learjet, retiring in 1985 as senior vice president of corporate affairs. Greenwood was elected to both the Arizona and Kansas Aviation Halls of Fame.

People in Aviation: December 2011

Tony Bailey has been promoted to CEO of Indianapolis-based Comlux Aviation Services. 

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