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

An NPRM from the Treasury Department on the assessment of federal excise taxes (FET) in the aircraft management industry could be issued as early as August, according to Jorge Castro, a consultant to the National Air Transportation Association. Speaking at the group’s annual Air Charter Summit in Washington, D.C., last week, he told the audience that dialog has heated up between the Internal Revenue Service and FAA regarding regulation of the FET laws.


In a 2012 policy change, the IRS concluded that aircraft management services provided to owners could be subject to commercial FET, but after outcry from the industry, the agency acknowledged it needs better guidance and suspended audit assessments until the issuance of new rules. NATA has since served as a source of information for the IRS.


“Operational control is a very important concept that the FAA follows,” said Castro. “We thought it makes sense for the IRS rules to mirror and align with that concept.”


If the anticipated timeline for the proposed draft of the legislation holds true, it would pave the way for public hearings on the subject this fall and possible final rulemaking by year-end.

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.

NATA Anticipates FET Ruling Soon

The National Air Transportation Association believes a new NPRM on the issue of federal excise taxes on aircraft management services is imminent.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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 information on safety procedures and concerns.

Officials from the UK, Japan, and Australia are being hosted at the company's California HQ this week

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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.

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Rolland Vincent Associates Joins IBAC Partnership Group

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Charter Safety Group Adopts Document Management System

Air Charter Safety Foundation wants to encourage members to digitize documents

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Annual award given at the NBAA-BACE show for the best business aviation story

NBAA 'Newsmakers Luncheon' Praises Bipartisanship On FAA

Sam Graves and Rick Larsen join NBAA roundtable

Revamped U.S. Notam Format Delayed At Least One Year

Agency gave no reason for the delay in aligning format with ICAO standards

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