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

Los Angeles-area Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport received a second FBO with the opening this week of Hawthorne Hangar Operations (HHO). Located in the Wolfe Air hangar off Runway 7/25, the Avfuel<ins class="ice-ins ice-cts-1" data-changedata data-cid="3" data-last-change-time="1501775939984" data-time="1501775939984" data-userid="170" data-username="Mark Phelps">-</ins><del class="ice-del ice-cts-1" data-changedata data-cid="2" data-last-change-time="1501775939782" data-time="1501775939782" data-userid="170" data-username="Mark Phelps"> </del>branded location currently offers self-service fueling for both jet-A and avgas from its $1.6 million fuel farm, which has a capacity of 30,000 gallons of jet-A and 2,500 gallons of avgas. A new 3,000 gallon jet fuel tanker is expected to arrive next week.

 


The facility has 14,000 sq ft of office space, including a 2,000 sq ft of passenger terminal with a 12-seat conference room, passenger lounge, showers, crew cars and concierge service. The complex also operates an adjoining 18,000-sq-ft hangar that can accommodate a Gulfstream G650.

 


“We’ve been a presence on this field for more than seven years in hangar operations, aerial photography and production, under our owner Dan Wolfe’s umbrella of companies,” noted facility general manager Jim Schulte. “We recognized a need for another FBO on the field, and seized the opportunity. It was a natural transition, and one we’re excited to execute with the professionalism and safety standards we’ve developed over the years.”

 


Next week, the company will begin renovations on a 3,000-sq-ft two-story building that was formerly part of Northrop Aviation’s research division, which it expects to outfit as a passenger terminal by end of September.

 


In 2019, Schulte told AIN, plans call for that building to be razed in preparation for a new 10,000-sq-ft, four-story terminal building with a two-level, 200-space underground parking garage. In addition, the approximately $13 million project will include a new 15,000-sq-ft hangar with two helipads&nbsp;on its roof, complete with fueling capabilities. Construction is expected to be completed on the new campus by 2020.

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

Second FBO Opens at SoCal's Hawthorne Airport

After providing hangar services at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport for several years, Hawthorne Hanger Operations has taken the next step

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

FBO chain's 30-year commitment reaches more than $1 billion

Atlantic Aviation‘s Aspen Lease Finally Reaches Finish

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

Airport last owned the facility in the early 2000s

Illinois Airport Reacquires Sole Service Provider

The complex is viewed as the cornerstone of an aviation conglomerate

Major Las Vegas Hangar Complex Changes Hands

Projects totaled more than $5 million in infrastructure development

Oklahoma Airport Gets More Hangars, Upgraded Ramp

The facility will lean heavily towards sustainability

Clay Lacy Aviation Starts Construction on New KSNA FBO

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In FBOs

Atlantic Aviation‘s Aspen Lease Finally Reaches Finish

FBO chain's 30-year commitment reaches more than $1 billion

Illinois Airport Reacquires Sole Service Provider

Airport last owned the facility in the early 2000s

Major Las Vegas Hangar Complex Changes Hands

The complex is viewed as the cornerstone of an aviation conglomerate

Oklahoma Airport Gets More Hangars, Upgraded Ramp

Projects totaled more than $5 million in infrastructure development

Clay Lacy Aviation Starts Construction on New KSNA FBO

The facility will lean heavily towards sustainability

NATA Panel Examines FBO Preparation for eVTOL Service

OEMs and FBOs talk about how electric aircraft can be accommodated at FBOs

NATA Conference Panel Examines FBO Consolidation

While the big chains take a more selective approach, others remain hungry

Atlantic Aviation Gets Lease Renewal Approval in Aspen

The decision is the latest in a nearly two-year saga at the airport

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN