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

California-based Clay Lacy Aviation has become the first company to receive a “Facilities Neutral” rating from 4Air, an industry sustainability solutions provider.

 


With its headquarters at Los Angeles-area Van Nuys Airport, Clay Lacy has invested heavily in reducing its environmental impact through initiatives such as the installation of a 30,000-sq-ft solar energy array, the introduction of e-vehicle charging stations, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting, and the use of carbon offset credits. Through its audit process, 4Air validated that the facility has been operating in a carbon-neutral manner since 2019.

 


“The Facilities Neutral rating affirms the sustainability strategy and actions taken by Clay Lacy Aviation to meet a carbon-neutral level,” explained 4Air president Kennedy Ricci. “After a thorough review and audit, we offer Clay Lacy stakeholders and its customers assurance that its program has delivered in its goals of reducing its carbon footprint and procuring carbon offsets to attain carbon neutrality.”

 


This recognition builds on Clay Lacy's environmental resume that also includes the title of <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-12-14/clay-lacy-earns-first-nata-sustainability-certification">first to be certified </a>under NATA's new Sustainability Standard for Aviation Businesses. It will soon break ground on two additional FBOs—one at John Wayne Orange County Airport in California&nbsp;and on the East Coast at Connecticut’s Waterbury-Oxford Airport, each of which will also be designed to incorporate sustainable construction and operational practices.

 


“4Air’s rating is an industry-first framework to address greenhouse gas impact that offers a verifiable path to achieve meaningful emissions counteraction and reduction,” said Scott Cutshall, the service provider’s senior v-p of development and sustainability. “This important third-party rating recognizes that Clay Lacy’s thoughtful and proactive efforts are meeting our measurable goals, as we continue to work toward a sustainable future.”

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

Clay Lacy Notches First 4Air Facilities Carbon Certification

Clay Lacy Aviation has become the first company to receive a “Facilities Neutral” rating from 4Air, an industry sustainability solutions provider.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Green fuel to be offered by ACI Jet, the lone FBO on the field

Another California Airport Joining the SAF Set

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 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.

Association notes production ramp-ups have been delayed

IATA Disappointed in Slow SAF Growth

Charles Alcock

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 developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Environment

Another California Airport Joining the SAF Set

Green fuel to be offered by ACI Jet, the lone FBO on the field

IATA Disappointed in Slow SAF Growth

Association notes production ramp-ups have been delayed

Green Aviation Takes Root in France's Aerospace Valley

Organization holds its sixth annual Green Aero Days event in Toulouse

RTX Launches Sustainability Alliance With Dutch Aerospace Sector

Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are committed to new R&D efforts in the Netherlands

EU's Clean Aviation Set to Invite Proposals for Decarbonization R&D Work

Total funding for the third phase of work could top €950 million

Florida FBO Becomes First on East Coast To Offer SAF

Naples Aviation is the first of many to begin offering SAF in the coming months

Pakistan's First SAF Plant Gets Funding Boost

The large-scale plant is expected to come online in 2026

New Major SAF Plant Planned for Texas

The multi-billion-dollar facility is expected to be running by 2029

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