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

The Melbourne (Florida) Airport (MLB) Authority has approved the lease on a hybrid FBO/hotel, which is expected to begin construction by early 2021. According to Florida-based hospitality real estate developer and manager AD1 Global, the five-story Hyatt Place hotel will include an integrated full-service FBO on the ground floor, which will give the central Florida airport its third aircraft service provider when the facility opens in 2022.
The FBO, which has yet to be named, will provide its own line service, and operate its own refuelers which, along with the existing two service providers on the field,&nbsp;&nbsp;will draw from the airport’s 200,000-gallon fuel supply. Mark Busalacchi, MLB’s director of marketing and business development, told AIN that a group of T-hangars will be demolished to make room for the new FBO’s ramp, while an existing access road will be eliminated to provide the new building with secure direct airside access.
The new hotel, to be built by Certified General Contractors, will employ the latest noise mitigation construction techniques. It will have 140 rooms, including several executive suites on the top floor and a rooftop bar/restaurant that will offer expansive views of the airport and surrounding environment.
With an approximately $20 million price tag, the facility will occupy three acres of a 12-acre parcel on the south side of the airport just west of the commercial terminal.&nbsp;Sam Cohen, a principal with AD1 Development and the owner of the project, is currently in negotiations to acquire a lease for the remaining portion, which could eventually accommodate another hotel, a conference center, and/or retail development.
“Between Embraer, Northrop-Grumman, L3 Harris, and now <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-04-24/aerion-supersonic-chooses-floridas-mlb-airport-new-hq">Aerion Supersonic</a>, the need for a hotel has been there for quite a while, but the FBO component of this really makes so much sense for our airport because of who our tenants are and the amount of private flying that is done at the airport,” Busalacchi explained. “Private jet activity at the airport is increasing, it’s going to further increase with the presence of Aerion, so it’s just a great fit.”

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

Central Florida Airport Approves Hybrid FBO/Hotel

The Melbourne (Florida) Airport Authority has approved the lease on a hybrid FBO/hotel, which is expected to begin construction by early 2021.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

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.

Helsinki city officials want to build housing on the historic site and nature reserve

Campaigners Push to Reopen Helsinki's Malmi Airport

Hanneke Weitering

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.

Electric aircraft and ground vehicles can now charge at KBAF in western Massachusetts

Atlantic and Beta Add Aircraft Chargers in Massachusetts

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.

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.

Airport ground vehicles create a memorable holiday light display

Czech Airport Lights Up with Holiday Spirit

Matt Thurber

ADS-B and computer vision enables system to detect landing and on-runway traffic

Purdue Polytechnic Patenting Runway Status Lights 

Galesburg Regional Airport will be renamed for a hometown aviation legend

Illinois Airport To Honor Local Aviator, FBO Operator

AmyWilder

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

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.

New operator plans upgrades and eVTOL integration

New Operator, Upgrade for Downtown Manhattan Heliport

KTPF accepts night flights for the first time since September

Tampa GA Airport Now Fully Operational after Storms

Peter Shaw-Smith

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

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