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

Aviation property development and management firm Aeroplex/Aerolease Group has partnered with Los Angeles-based PCS Energy to create the first solar energy project at California’s Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The project, consisting of some 4,000 solar panels, will cover 150,000 sq ft on the roofs of the four hangars at the company’s Van Nuys East complex. “We’ve been working on it for a number of months,” said Aeroplex CEO Curt Castagna. “The reflectivity test with the FAA has been approved.”

 


Once online, the system will generate 2.5 million kilowatts of energy annually—enough to power 200 homes—and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than four million pounds a year. According to the terms of the deal, PCS leased the roof space and will install the panels, as well as retrofit all of the complex’s interior offices, ramp and parking lot light fixtures to LED.

 


The installation, which will not require any structural reinforcement of the hangars, is expected to be completed and generating power by year-end. Under a separate agreement, PCS will sell 100 percent of the energy to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for the next 20 years.

 


VNY recently achieved Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation for its carbon management and reduction, on a path toward carbon neutrality. It is the first general aviation airport to be so designated.

 


“There exists tremendous potential for airports across the nation to implement sustainable energy projects, and we hope to continue in these efforts by leading with this initiative,” said Castagna. His company is currently in negotiations for a similar project at Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field, where it operates a 12-acre facility.

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

Van Nuys Airport Gets Major Solar Energy Project

The solar panels on the roofs of the Aeroplex/Aerolease Group's hangars will provide enough energy to power 200 homes for a year.

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

Organization holds its sixth annual Green Aero Days event in Toulouse

Green Aviation Takes Root in France's Aerospace Valley 

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.

Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are committed to new R&D efforts in the Netherlands

RTX Launches Sustainability Alliance With Dutch Aerospace Sector

Total funding for the third phase of work could top €950 million

EU's Clean Aviation Set to Invite Proposals for Decarbonization R&D Work

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

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

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.

Naples Aviation is the first of many to begin offering SAF in the coming months

Florida FBO Becomes First on East Coast To Offer SAF

The large-scale plant is expected to come online in 2026

Pakistan's First SAF Plant Gets Funding Boost

The multi-billion-dollar facility is expected to be running by 2029

New Major SAF Plant Planned for Texas

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.

The move could bolster the Kingdom's circular economy and sustainability

TotalEnergies, Aramco Sign SAF Development Agreement

Kerry Lynch

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.

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