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

After several down years, the private aviation industry looked to 2011 as the start of a rebound cycle, and for many aviation service providers the year did show some gains after a relatively flat 2010. “We loved 2011 a whole lot more than we did 2010,” was how the head of one major FBO chain summed up the past year’s business. Recent information from FBO operators suggests that many saw increases in business in the 10-percent range, while a few even described 2011 as their best year ever.&nbsp;


The FBO industry, however, faced several challenges over the past year beyond those related simply to aircraft traffic and the economy. Instances of alleged <a href="aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2011-12-05/fbos-confront-competition-airport-operated-fbos">“unfair competition” by airports possibly using public funds to compete directly against privately operated FBOs</a>, lawsuits filed seeking to <a href="aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2011-12-01/california-lawsuit-loss-could-lead-ban-leaded-avgas">end the sale of leaded avgas</a> and even legislation drafted in an attempt to <a href="aviation-news/ainalerts/2012-01-26/sc-senator-seeks-state-ban-fbo-ramp-fees">ban the charging of ramp fees in the state</a> for customers who do not purchase fuel at an FBO were among the threats. Despite these issues, most FBO operators expressed a sense of cautious optimism that 2012 would see further increases for the industry.


Against this backdrop, AIN conducted its annual FBO survey early this year. In this special report, along with an assessment of the industry from the executives of the four major FBO chains, we highlight the 15 FBOs that make up the top 10 percent of the service providers in the Americas, as judged by our readers. Some of those selected, such as Pentastar Aviation’s Detroit location, Global Select (formerly City of Sugar Land) and Wilson Air Memphis, have been perennial favorites, while relative newcomers, such as XJet and JA Air Center, continue to impress their customers.


When asked in the survey questionnaire what the most important factors were in their choosing an FBO, an overwhelming 86 percent of our respondents chose “excellent customer service” as the most important criterion, followed by fuel pricing and passenger amenities. However, respondents showed surprisingly little loyalty for FBO or fuel brand. Conversely, when asked why they would avoid using a particular FBO, respondents cited poor service for passengers and run-down or unclean facilities as the biggest factors prompting them to take their business elsewhere.


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

2012 AIN FBO Survey–The Americas

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

The company operates a full-service FBO at nearby KXNX

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

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