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

With airframers awaiting signs of a major rebound in new business jet sales, industry analyst Brian Foley believes the pattern seen since 2011, an average of 692 deliveries a year with a standard deviation of just 25, might not be easy to break. “Statistically, there’s a pretty good chance that 2017 results will also fall within that narrow band, as will 2018's,” he noted. “This trend has not been random, but rather a symphony of equal and opposite market forces holding deliveries in tight equilibrium.”

 


He asserts that rather than a benchmark, the peak of 1,317 deliveries in 2008 should be considered an anomaly, and one not likely to be reached again under the current normalized and sustainable market conditions. While the U.S. and European markets have seen recovery, that has been offset by weakness in emerging markets that were affected by falling commodity prices and government policies.

 


Another factor weighing on the market is the growth in membership and fractional programs for those who wish to fly privately without owning an aircraft. Foley added that business jets, which once were appreciated for their ability to maintain or even gain in value, now depreciate more like other capital goods.

 


He believes that the anticipated entrance of new models could help stimulate the market. “Many of these new products are in the expensive, large-cabin category, which has been lagging lately. This will help that segment regain while lifting the overall billings of the business jet market meaningfully.”

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.

Analyst: Bizjet Delivery Totals Might Be New Normal

According to Brian Foley, the high of more than 1,300 deliveries in 2008 should be viewed as an anomaly, not a benchmark.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Charles Alcock

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Jessica Reed

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.

Jo Damato and Andrew Broom assume additional responsibilities

NBAA Expands Roles for Two Senior Executives

Matt Thurber

Similarities between the piston- and jet-powered Cirruses make transition training easier

Transport Canada Certifies Cirrus SR G7 and Vision G2+

Kerry Lynch

Aircraft will be able to take off in 150 feet of runway

Electra Launches Hybrid-electric EL9 STOL Aircraft

First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight

Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory

G700 next headed to the Bahrain International Airshow for display alongside the G500

More In Aircraft

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

NBAA Expands Roles for Two Senior Executives

Jo Damato and Andrew Broom assume additional responsibilities

Transport Canada Certifies Cirrus SR G7 and Vision G2+

Similarities between the piston- and jet-powered Cirruses make transition training easier

Electra Launches Hybrid-electric EL9 STOL Aircraft

Aircraft will be able to take off in 150 feet of runway

Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory

First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight

Gulfstream’s G700 Surpasses 65 City-pair Records

G700 next headed to the Bahrain International Airshow for display alongside the G500

FAA Greenlights Honda eVTOL Flight Tests

Honda's secretive eVTOL program picks up steam

Broker: Preowned Cessna Citation Market Remains Mixed

Some models are seeing high demand, others not so much

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