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

NBAA-BACE, held&nbsp;last week,&nbsp;provided a big boost to the Central Florida economy, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).&nbsp;The three-day&nbsp;show generated an estimated $51 million in economic impact and attracted more than 21,000 visitors from around the world.

 


Held&nbsp;at the Orange County Convention Center, BACE returned to Orlando for the first time since 2018, with the 2020 edition canceled due to the pandemic. The number of exhibitors this year topped 800—on par with 2018’s total.&nbsp;At Orlando Executive Airport (KORL)—which hosted the show’s static aircraft display for the 12th&nbsp;time—nearly 70 business jets, turboprops, and piston aircraft from all the leading manufacturers were on exhibit.

 


“Hosting the world’s largest business aviation event speaks volumes for the service and facilities offered at [KORL],” said GOAA CEO Kevin Thibault. “This show, which generates millions in economic impact, demonstrates the importance of general aviation and showcases the significant role [KORL] plays in the region.”

 


At this year’s show, however, NBAA&nbsp;senior v-p for events&nbsp;Chris Strong&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-10-18/nbaa-places-baces-chips-las-vegas">confirmed rumors</a> that this will be BACE’s last appearance in the Sunshine State for at least the next several years. The annual event will be taking up residence in Las Vegas through 2026.

 


"We decided with what's going on in Las Vegas—with the new [convention center] hall, ramp space—that we would do a trial to be in Las Vegas for the next four years," he told AIN. "Vegas is international, it's the global destination for a global show, and it's also a place where high-net-worth individuals tend to be very comfortable gathering."

NBAA-BACE 2022 Provided $51M Economic Boost  to Orlando

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, this year's NBAA-BACE provided a big boost to the Orlando, Florida economy.

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