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

Aftermarket modification specialist BLR Aerospace has received certification from Brazil’s ANAC for its FastFin tail rotor enhancement and stability system on the Airbus Helicopters H125. The modification increases the rotorcraft’s useful load and stability, especially in hot and high conditions, according to the company.

 


The H125 FastFin was certified late last year by the FAA and was recently endorsed by EASA. It is available to the aftermarket as a factory-installed STC option. According to the manufacturer, it has sold 30 of the kits to operators of the the light single helicopter in the U.S. and Europe. More than 1,000 kits have been installed in all supported models.

 


“BLR is gratified to bring the FastFin System to H125 operators in Brazil,” noted Mike Carpenter, president of the Washington state-based company. “It’s a proven value-enhancing technology that helps make missions more efficient and productive.”

 


Among its benefits, BLR claims a useful load increase of up to 130 pounds and a 10 percent improvement in pedal margins. The company added that it also enhances control in precision hover-hold operations and provides better management of the yaw axis when hovering in crosswinds.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

BLR's H125 FastFin Gets Brazil Approval

Certified last year by the FAA and recently approved by EASA, the kit is available through the aftermarket or as a factory installed STC.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Modification eases pilot workload and enhances safety

IS&S Providing Autothrottles for U.S. Army King Airs

AmyWilder

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.

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

Enhanced services at Music City Airport

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Rheinland Air Service becomes authorized Tamarack dealer

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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