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

With the slate of National Football League playoff matchups now whittled to four teams, the eyes of the business aviation industry are turning to the San Francisco Bay area, which will be the host of Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8.&nbsp;The final game is once again expected to be a magnet for private aviation for the week leading up to it.
Due to the high volume of anticipated traffic, the FAA has <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/domesticnotices/dom26007_sp.html">established</a> a slot-reservation system for most general aviation arrivals and departures (including drop and goes) from Wednesday, February 4 through Monday, February 9 at 17 airports in the area. According to NBAA’s air traffic services, there will be exceptions for regularly scheduled carriers and air-taxi operations.
Specified airports include San Francisco International (KSFO), Oakland San Francisco Bay (KOAK); Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (KSJC), Monterey Regional (KMRY); Salinas Municipal (KSNS); Hayward Executive (KHWD); San Carlos (KSQL); Palo Alto (KPAO); Moffett Federal (KNUQ); Reid-Hillview (KRHV); Stockton Metro (KSCK); Watsonville Municipal (KWVI); Napa County (KAPC); Buchanan Field (KCCR); Livermore Municipal (KLVK); Hollister Municipal (KCVH); and Half Moon Bay (KHAF).
At those airports, each FBO will be given an allocation of slots based on the FAA’s estimated hourly arrival and departure rates, and service providers such as Signature Aviation—which has facilities at four of the affected airports—are advising customers to make their reservations as soon as possible. Due to parking availability, some airports may have only drop-and-go options available once their overnight parking reaches capacity. Those operations will still require reservations for both their inbound and outbound legs.
In addition, the FAA warned that volume in the airspace could place a strain on air traffic control, leading to implementation of other <a href="https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/advAdvisoryForm.jsp">measures</a> such as ground-delay programs, airspace-flow programs, ground stops, airborne holding, and miles-in-trail/minutes-in-trail restrictions.
As usual, the agency will impose TFRs on the day of the big game, with a notam <a href="https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=list">published</a> five to seven days beforehand. A 10-nm exclusion zone, centered on Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, will last from several hours before the start of the contest until one hour after its scheduled conclusion.

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.

FAA Gears Up for Super Bowl Traffic

17 airports will have slot restrictions imposed for general aviation flights

As the NFL season nears its climactic finish, the FAA is anticipating a surge of traffic for Super Bowl LX.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

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.

Air navigation crisis management team also formed to support system modernization 

Greek Civil Aviation Authority Chief Resigns

Gordon Gilbert

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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.

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.

Units must withstand interference from wireless signals in neighboring radio bands 

Nearly 60K Aircraft Affected by Radio Altimeter Proposal

Chad Trautvetter

Company did not meet U.S. citizen requirements to act as aircraft registry owner trustee

FAA Grounds 800 Aircraft Due To Invalid Registrations

Jessica Reed

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.

Harlan Simpkins takes on role of CBAA president and CEO on January 12

Canadian Business Aviation Association Names New CEO

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

More In Regulations and Government

Greek Civil Aviation Authority Chief Resigns

Air navigation crisis management team also formed to support system modernization

Nearly 60K Aircraft Affected by Radio Altimeter Proposal

Units must withstand interference from wireless signals in neighboring radio bands

FAA Grounds 800 Aircraft Due To Invalid Registrations

Company did not meet U.S. citizen requirements to act as aircraft registry owner trustee

Canadian Business Aviation Association Names New CEO

Harlan Simpkins takes on role of CBAA president and CEO on January 12

FAA Rules Against Santa Monica’s Airport Revenue Surplus

City must adhere to federal law on airport revenue use

Argentina Improves General Aviation Flying Freedom

Eliminates ban on VFR night flying, allows single-pilot Part 135 with autopilot

‘Darrin’s Law’ Aims To Limit Tribal Airplane Taking

Emergency landing raised issue of Red Lake Nation's claims over reservation airspace

NBAA Lauds FAA Changes to Medication Requirements

FAA changes requirements surrounding antidepressants and diabetes

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN