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

U.S. based FBO chain Sheltair has completed construction of its new FBO expansion at Orlando Executive Airport in Florida. In addition to serving as a tourism destination, home to several world-class amusement parks, the city shares hosting duties with Las Vegas for NBAA’s annual convention and exhibition. The project consisted of a new four-story 37,000-sq-ft terminal building and two additional hangars totaling 22,600 sq ft of aircraft storage with 3,600 sq ft of attached office space. Altogether, the new development brings the company to 323,147 sq ft of total hangar/office space in Orlando.

 


The new complex, which officially opens on June 11, will offer amenities including complementary aircraft cabin cleaning, concierge services, catering, crew cars, passenger shuttle service, refreshments, conference room, pilots lounge, and flight-planning area.

 


Sheltair (Booth E89), also recently added additional hangar space at its facility at New York’s Republic Airport on Long Island. The first phase of a $55 million project includes three hangars, each with 31,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space, 28-foot-high doors, and 4,000 sq ft of office space, which brings the location to nearly 180,000 sq ft of hangar floor, and fulfills what the company describes as customer demand for increased hangar space. Located in Farmingdale, the airport is a short helicopter ride away from downtown Manhattan.

 


“These first three of what will be six hangars reflect decades of experience in what works when ensuring the most efficient use of space for tenants,” said company COO Warren Kroeppel. "However, what can’t be put in a blueprint is the level of service offered by each and every Sheltair Aviation employee. You can put all types of amenities into a building but it still comes down to an individual commitment to excellence.”

 


Among those that have taken up residence in the new complex is Zenflight, which operates a private club of corporate aircraft based around the U.S. It has made the Republic its new corporate headquarters. Along with the three similar-sized additional hangars, the second phase of the project will include a new 10,000-sq-ft FBO terminal that is expected to be completed later next year.

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

Sheltair Improves East Coast U.S. FBOs

The FBO chain has unveiled its new terminal in Orlando, Fla, and added hangar space there, and at its Farmingdale, New York facilty.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

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.

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

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Projects totaled more than $5 million in infrastructure development

Oklahoma Airport Gets More Hangars, Upgraded Ramp

The facility will lean heavily towards sustainability

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

EBACE 2019

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Illinois Airport Reacquires Sole Service Provider

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