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 the Covid-19 crisis severely curtailing commercial aviation traffic, private aircraft charter providers are eager to assure the traveling public that they are providing the latest in disinfection and sanitization measures, among them California providers Clay Lacy Aviation and Silver Air.

 


Van Nuys-based Clay Lacy introduced its "CleanCheck" standard after&nbsp;evaluating&nbsp;and implementing&nbsp;new technologies and best practices from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Transportation, FAA, OEMs, and other industries, such as&nbsp;bipolar ionization and ClearCabin antimicrobial barrier application. The charter operator's&nbsp;aircraft are cleaned and disinfected after each flight&nbsp;and the company has increased the cleaning frequency for its facilities.

 


“Health and safety is always our first priority,” said company president and CEO Brian Kirkdoffer. “We examined every department, facility, and process and asked how we could thoughtfully change to provide the absolute safest service and environment."

 


Meanwhile, Private jet management and charter operator Silver Air developed its “Covid-19 Cleared” program in conjunction with medical professionals and infectious disease specialists, with the aim of reducing potential infectious touchpoints on its aircraft.

 


While safety has also been the company’s primary concern, “the current environment has challenged us to redefine what that means,” explained CEO Jason Middleton. In addition to aircraft sterilization, its protocol has medical professionals conduct virtual health screenings of passengers and crews before boarding.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Charter Providers Roll Out New Covid Safety Measures

California-based aviation services providers Clay Lacy Aviation and Silver Air have introduced new cleaning protocols in the Covid-19 era.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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.

NASA ASRS database gives insight into drone safety

AINsight: Nothing Mysterious About This Drone Report

Charles Alcock

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

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

Partners say the industry has "a significant security shortfall."

Business Aviation Security and Safety Experts Join Forces

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.

New InFO document cites an ICAO standard and EASA requirements

FAA Calls on General Aviation Operators To Adopt SMS

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.

Declaration of Intent signed a month ahead of the new U.S. administration taking office

FAA and EASA Recommit To Collaborate on Aviation Safety 

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

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IBAC Adds Luxaviation to its Industry Partner Program

Business aviation services group is 19th company to join program

Qatar Executive Selects MedAire360 for Charter Fleet

Company's Gulfstream G700 jet is latest to be equipped

MedAire Expands MidEast Bizav Security, Health Services

Flight crew mental health is an important facet of operational safety

Aviation Community Celebrates ICAO's 80-year Milestone

ICAO was founded through a convention signed in December 1944

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