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.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Curt Epstein

A new study by UK-based market analyst ID TechEx predicts that the global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market could reach $50 billion over the next decade. Production capacity of renewable diesel and SAF—which are closely linked in terms of processing—could exceed 67 million tonnes annually by 2036, it added.
Last year was a crucial one for SAF with the introduction of SAF-use mandates in the UK and EU, creating mandatory demand for the renewable fuel. Report&nbsp;author Eve Pope expects that demand will continue to rise as further decarbonization regulations are enacted.
There are nearly a dozen approved SAF production pathways, but the bulk of SAF is produced via the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process, which&nbsp;relies on used cooking oils, animal fats, and greases as feedstocks. Supply of these feedstocks is limited, and Pope expects SAF demand to outstrip feedstock availability around 2030.
Emerging pathways such as alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) and e-SAF are expected to take up the slack, with some refineries now coming online. LanzaJet’s Freedom Pines facility in Georgia, with a capacity of 9 million gallons of SAF a year, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-11-18/lanzajet-starts-saf-production-georgia-plant">began operation</a> last year, making it the first ATJ refinery to produce SAF on a commercial scale.&nbsp;For many of the new production processes, high costs still remain a significant barrier to be addressed by technology development and regulations, according to Pope.

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

Report: Global SAF Market To Reach $50 Billion by 2036

Group sees a feedstock “tipping point” beyond 2030

A new report sees the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market topping $50 billion over the next decade.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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.

National rollout would take place by 2030

FAA Issues Draft Framework for Unleaded Avgas Transition

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.

4Air provides tools to support sustainability and regulatory compliance

CAA, 4Air Team Up for Member Discounts 

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

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.

The company cited financial factors for the changes

SAF Producer Neste Walks Back Some Climate Goals

Charlotte Bailey

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 developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

New funding will include work on hydrogen-powered aircraft

Clean Aviation Calls For Research and Innovation Proposals

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

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.

U.S. start-up has applied to the FAA for its first supplemental type certificate

Green Taxi Targets Hybrid-electric Airliner Taxiing By 2027

Peter Shaw-Smith

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

Jetex’s investment enabled Azzera to conclude an $800,000 capital raise

Jetex-Azzera Tie-up Boosts SAF Traceability in Mideast

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.

More In Sustainability and Environment

FAA Issues Draft Framework for Unleaded Avgas Transition

National rollout would take place by 2030

CAA, 4Air Team Up for Member Discounts

4Air provides tools to support sustainability and regulatory compliance

SAF Producer Neste Walks Back Some Climate Goals

The company cited financial factors for the changes

Clean Aviation Calls For Research and Innovation Proposals

New funding will include work on hydrogen-powered aircraft

Green Taxi Targets Hybrid-electric Airliner Taxiing By 2027

U.S. start-up has applied to the FAA for its first supplemental type certificate

Jetex-Azzera Tie-up Boosts SAF Traceability in Mideast

Jetex’s investment enabled Azzera to conclude an $800,000 capital raise

Industry Applauds House Bill To Restore SAF Credit

The measure still has a long road to travel

Avfuel Boosts SAF Supplies at Austin Airport

Million Air takes first SAF delivery in Austin

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN