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

Israel’s new <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-06-07/private-jet-travel-israel-has-gotten-more-complicated">Electronic Travel Authorization System</a> (ETA-IL)—one of the most substantive changes in the country’s entry policies—went into effect at the beginning of the year.&nbsp;The new policy affects travelers from all visa-exempt countries, including the U.S. and UK, and it requires them to obtain authorization at least 72 hours before their intended travel date.
Amnon Shmueli, the head of Israel’s Border Control, noted that it is the responsibility of the aircraft operator to check that all passengers have received an ETA-IL form and have obtained their travel permit. Shmueli added that passengers who do not receive ETA-IL approval before their trip may be refused entry into the country.
Those exempt from the ETA-IL process include Israeli citizens, individuals with an Israeli identity number, or current visa holders.&nbsp;According to Universal Weather and Aviation, “the regulatory changes reflect Israel’s ongoing commitment to enhancing both security and efficiency in its air travel systems.”
The company also posted the <a href="https://www.universalweather.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/List-of-Authorized-Airports-2025.pdf">updated list</a> of airports approved for non-Israeli flights requesting to land in Israel or overfly the Israeli FIR. Those approved for general aviation flights only include Marka International Airport (OJAM) in Jordan, Al Bateen Executive (OMAD) and Dubai Al Maktoum (OMDW) airports in the UAE, and Farnborough Airport (EGLF) in the UK.

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

New Israel Entry Procedures Now in Effect

Added protocols involve electronic approvals ahead of flights

Israel’s new Electronic Travel Authorization System (ETA-IL)—one of the most substantive changes in the country’s entry policies in recent years—is in effect.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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

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.

Prosecutors said spraypainting caused €1 million in damages

Two Protestors Jailed for CitationJet Attack in Germany

Jennifer Leach English

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.

Embraer spinoff is now targeting type certification for its four-passenger eVTOL in 2027

Passengers Tried To Board eVTOL Trial Flights Drunk and with Gun

AmyWilder

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Publicly available flight data puts some bizav operators at risk

Flight Deck Panelists Address Identity Tracking Threats

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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.

NaviGuard offers real-time GPS monitoring

Free Aircraft Performance Group App Combats Spoofing

Sarah Rose

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.

Spoofing not confined to Middle East or Ukraine

NBAA Webinar Addresses GPS Spoofing Vulnerabilities

Gordon Gilbert

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

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

A piston-twin and a turboprop twin caused confusion at Dryden Regional Airport

Fueling Mix-up Caught at Canadian Airport Before Takeoff

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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