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

Stakeholders at Arizona’s Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Mesa are up in arms about the airport’s proposal to implement landing fees for the first time, as well as hike costs for hangar space. The measure—which will come up for a vote by the Mesa city council on February 9—is being introduced as a means to ensure KFFZ’s self-sustainability through revenues collected by airport tenants. According to the council, city general funds may not be used to operate, maintain, or improve the airport.&nbsp;
Under the newly-released <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:6af48355-9060-4a5a-bbdf-7d1cd17774f6">schedule</a>, based aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds would be charged nearly $30 per landing (with five free per month), while those of more than 6,000 pounds would be assessed $5.50 per 1,000 pounds per landing (also with five free landings per month).&nbsp;For small transient aircraft, landings would cost $33.95 per landing, while those weighing more than 6,000 pounds. would be charged $6.50 per 1,000 pounds.
Monthly hangar rental fees would also see a rise, along with hangar security deposits. Airport management believes the fees combined would generate approximately $3.5 million in additional revenue to offset increased operating costs.&nbsp;The airport is in the midst of a series of virtual information sessions on the measure, with the last sessions scheduled for January 7, 8, 12, and 14.

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

Mesa Ponders Adding Falcon Field Landing Fees

Measure is positioned as a means of airport self sufficiency

Arizona's Falcon Field Airport is looking to institute landing fees for the first time to offset increased operating costs.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Gordon Gilbert

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.

Customs is available at all three FBOs at Vancouver 

Bizav To See More Customs Flexibility at Vancouver

Charles Alcock

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

Eight-figure investment intended to make bizjet arrivals easier to plan

Biggin Hill Airport Completes Runway Improvement Works

Hanneke Weitering

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

South Florida infrastructure push coincides with new military partnerships

Archer Maps Out Miami eVTOL Air Taxi Vertiport Network

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

The new hangars will be managed by aircraft management group Empire Aviation

UAE Investors To Build More Private Jet Hangars in Dubai

The city is eyeing the airport's 450 waterfront acres for redevelopment

AOPA Joins Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Closure Battle

Multi-million dollar inspection post is expected to open in late 2026

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Breaks Ground on CBP Facility

First two facilities being built for eVTOL air taxis will be ready in the first quarter of 2026

Abu Dhabi Airports and Skyports Confirm Vertiport Plans 

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

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

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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