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

While Saturday’s 148th running of the Kentucky Derby was a shocking win for 80-1 odds longshot Rich Strike, Atlantic Aviation, which operates the lone FBO at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF), saw a rich strike of its own due to private aviation traffic being drawn to the event.&nbsp;The service provider said&nbsp;it saw 812 landings at KSDF over the four days bracketing the race.

 


As Rich Strike crossed the finish line and stunned the crowd at Churchill Downs, there were dozens of aircraft on the ground at the airport, pushing available parking to&nbsp;max capacity and&nbsp;requiring additional aircraft to drop their passengers and go.&nbsp;Atlantic has operated the FBO at KSDF since 2005&nbsp;and, according to Jay Hamby, the FBO chain’s senior v-p, this year’s Run for the Roses was “the biggest Derby we have ever seen.” It&nbsp;brought in additional staffers from its other locations to handle the surge.

 


FlightAware’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/flightaware/viz/KentuckyDerbyFlightTracking/KentuckyDerby?publish=yes&amp;utm_campaign=Media%20Emails%20&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsmi=211940205&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz---OD_oYQ8C0tzTZ9W0iL-lK3Q5QnUwCZ1z_ef16Gk7VHyNoeXEiZzxW7A0i2CmBGLF32jU46v6cTowb_gGz_-0pBQxlw&amp;utm_content=211940205&amp;utm_source=hs_email">special event tracking website</a> noted that more than 1,400 business aviation flights arrived at KSDF and the three closest gateways—Bowman Field in Louisville, Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, and Indiana’s Clark Regional Airport—between May 4 and May 8. That represents a marked increase from the previous Derby record of 950 set in&nbsp;2018.

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

Kentucky Derby Provides Bounty for Local FBO

Atlantic Aviation, which operates the lone FBO at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport saw a record private aviation crowd for the Kentucky Derby.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Plans call for aircraft storage complexes near Los Angeles and New York City

Sky Harbour To Add Private Hangars On Both U.S. Coasts

The move represents the Miami-based company's first expansion

Fontainebleau Aviation Opens FBO at KFLL

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

Facility is the latest addition to AEG's branded dealer network

AEG Connect Adds Oklahoma City's JetSet FBO

The former Kemp Jet Services marks 27 locations for the Avfuel sister company

Avflight Expands Network with Utah FBO Purchase

Company also operates a facility in nearby New Orleans

Alabama Airport Welcomes New FBO Operator

It will be the exclusive distributor for Dare to FLY

Banyan Pilot Shop Acquires Aviation Apparel Brand

The new Vantage Aviation location is expected to open in late 2026

Colorado Airport To Receive Second FBO

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

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