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

Last year, Las Vegas hosted its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-11-15/vegas-grand-prix-create-aircraft-parking-logjam-private">first</a> Formula 1 Grand Prix race, an event that drew thousands of spectators to Sin City along with hundreds of private aircraft. With the organizers set for its second edition this November, aircraft operators can expect to once again pay special event fees at the local airports, which will all have slot and prior permission required (PPR) systems in effect.
While the event will take place on November 24, the special event period and its associated extra fees will be in play from November 19 through 26 at the city’s three airports: Harry Reid International (KLAS), Henderson (KHND), and North Las Vegas (KVGT).
Operators balked at extra fees imposed by the airports and FBOs at last year’s inaugural event, but those prices seem to have risen this year, with one aircraft operator reporting that they will be charged $24,000 to land their aircraft during that period in Vegas. Indeed, at the two FBOs at KLAS, operators landing ultra-long-range business jets at Signature Aviation or Atlantic Aviation during the peak days can expect to pay at least $20,000, with some fees waived with minimum fuel purchase.
According to Clark County, which operates the FBOs at KHND and KVGT, slots and PPR will be granted on a “first come, first served” basis. Special event fees at the two airports will range from $200 for the smallest sized aircraft p to $3,000 for “Group III” aircraft (with length times wingspan greater than 3,500 sq ft). Boulder City Municipal Airport (KBVU) will also engage in similar traffic management initiatives for the event.
In a <a href="https://notams.aim.faa.gov/lta/main/viewlta?lookupid=3446145998999524652">Letter to Airmen</a>, the FAA noted that operators “without parking PPR/airspace slot reservations should expect substantial delays in and out of the area with possible denial of service."
Due to the heightened traffic during that period, aircraft operators are advised to carry extra fuel in case of delays in landing by ATC.

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.

November's F1 Vegas Grand Prix Will Once Again Cost Aircraft Operators More

Operators can expect to pay special event fees at all three of the city's airports

Aircraft operators heading to Las Vegas next month for the Formula 1 Grand Prix can expect to encounter special event fees.

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