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

Tim Obitts, chief legal officer for fledgling sustainable fuel producer Alder Fuels, has been named acting CEO of the company following the December 27 dismissal of&nbsp;renewable fuel industry veteran Bryan Sherbacow as president and CEO.
“As a result of enhanced management processes, the company uncovered that the now-former CEO, Bryan Sherbacow, engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited&nbsp;him personally,” the company stated. “Upon discovery, the Board immediately&nbsp;commenced&nbsp;a comprehensive review of the transactions and terminated&nbsp;Mr. Sherbacow for cause.”
After joining the National Air Transportation Association&nbsp;in 2014, Obitts served as the president and CEO for three years before stepping down last September and joining Alder's staff. During his tenure as NATA head, he served as a champion for sustainable aviation fuel, tirelessly advocating for its adoption and increased production.
“We are grateful that Tim has stepped up as acting CEO,” stated Xavier Adserà, the Washington D.C.-based company’s chairman. “Tim is a proven aviation expert and industry leader, and we look forward to supporting him during this transitional phase.”
Alder Fuels has struck a number of partnerships with companies such as Honeywell, United Airline Ventures, Directional Aviation, and Avfuel as it builds its business of converting biomass, such as forest and crop residue, into a low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude (AGC) that will meet jet-A specifications once refined.&nbsp;The company said it has “redeveloped its strategy to ensure the entirety of its resources are directed towards achieving the singular goal of advancing commercial deployment of AGC technology” and that it reorganized its personnel, operations, and partnerships to meet this goal.
&nbsp;It noted that it has secured new multimillion-dollar investments, and in late January received an award from the Department of Energy to accelerate its efforts. “We wish to express our sincere gratitude to strategic partners, sponsors, vendors, and investors who have been incredibly supportive as we move into the second phase of our journey,” the company said in announcing the organizational changes.

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

Former NATA Head Obitts Takes Reins at Alder Fuels

Following Alder Fuels' termination of president and CEO Bryan Sherbacow, former NATA chief Tim Obitts has been given an interim CEO title.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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

Update to Destination 2050 Net Zero report includes new policy demands for European Commission

European Aviation Groups Demand Net-zero Policy Progress

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.

Vermont’s Heritage Aviation is the first customer to sign on

Avfuel Brings SAF to Northeast U.S. Via New Jersey

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.

Company aims for renewable energy at all sites by 2030

Embraer Hopes for Bright Skies Ahead with Solar Installation

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

Designation expands deicing service offerings

Western Aircraft Joins Goodrich Deicing Service Network

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.

Oilseed crop pongamia could provide a stable raw material supply

Plantation Established in Australia for SAF Feedstock

Kerry Lynch

Orgs say 10 years is necessary to ensure market certainty

Aviation Orgs Urge Congress To Extend Clean Fuel Credit

The company was the first to bring SAF to Switzerland starting in 2020

Jet Aviation Adds Basel Headquarters to SAF Supply Locations

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

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