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

One day after Hurricane Maria churned over Puerto Rico, the island awoke today to estimates that it could take months to restore its shattered power grid, which left it in the dark overnight. While communications remain difficult, Signature Flight Support said that its facility at Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport suffered “significant damage” and that the company is still assessing the situation. Tommy Hill, president of Million Air San Juan, the other service provider there, reported that his FBO is up and running and expected the airport could open today, albeit with no lights or tower.

 


At San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin International (TJSJ), Jet Aviation San Juan told AIN that the facility suffered “zero-to-minimal” damage and is fully operational on generator power, with an intact fuel supply. The U.S. Customs facility, which shares the new building, is likewise operational. The FBO and its staff are now gearing up for an influx of humanitarian flights. During the two weeks following Irma, the facility handled an average of 55 flights a day, receiving more than 500,000 pounds of relief supplies for distribution throughout the region. Those flights are anticipated to resume on Friday as TJSJ reopens to humanitarian and limited commercial traffic.

 


Now a Category 3 hurricane, Maria is expected to impact Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas later today.

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

San Juan Assesses Maria's Wrath

Hit by the strongest storm in nearly a century, aviation businesses in Puerto Rico begin to shake off the impact.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

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.

Late Thanksgiving drives higher departure numbers than same week in 2023

U.S. Leads Global Business Jet Activity Growth

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

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Vertiport Simulations adds electric charging cubes and other detailed scenery to flight simulator software

Gaming Simulators Could Support eVTOL Pilot Training and Vertiport Design

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.

New Nuuk International has been under construction since 2019

Greenland's Capital City Gets Newly Upgraded Airport

Dallas-area airport is responsible for hundreds of millions in economic impact

Texas Airport Provides Economic Boost to Local Community

Palm Beach closure will accommodate work being done in the runway's surrounding area

KPBI To Shut Down Runway for Three Months

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.

Dubai's Road and Transport Authority is involved in construction of four vertiports

Joby and Skyports Start Building First Dubai Vertiport for eVTOL Air Taxis

Matt Thurber

Ballot measure would have ceded decisions on runway expansion to residents

Aspen Residents Vote for County Control of Airport

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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