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

For private aircraft operators heading to Uzbekistan, there have been recent changes made to the accessibility of airports serving the capital city of Tashkent.&nbsp;According to OpsGroup, the local government is no longer allowing business aircraft to use Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (UZTT) and is now directing them to nearby <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-01-15/jetex-slated-uzbekistans-first-fbo">Tashkent East</a> (UZTP, which is now the designated business aviation airport there.
Tashkent East has a single 13,123-foot (4,000-meter) runway with ILS on both ends. It is already operating to receive general aviation flights, with customs and immigration available 24/7.
The airport has no slot or PPR requirements at present, OpsGroup noted, with just a standard Uzbekistan landing permit needed. That can usually be obtained within 24 hours, it said.
Ground handling at UZTP can be arranged through Flight Consulting Group. As for fuel, like most areas in the former Soviet Union, TS-1 is available. With many similarities to jet-A, it is widely used throughout Central Asia for a variety of aircraft.

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

Uzbekistan Moves Bizav Traffic to Tashkent East Airport

Private aircraft can no longer use the main international airport

Uzbekistan has announced its capital’s Tashkent East Airport, with its 13,000-plus-foot runway, as the designated gateway for business and VIP aviation.

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 airport will shut down on April 23

Colorado’s Aspen/Pitkin Airport To Close for a Month

Matt Thurber

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

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.

Provides navigation assistance for a busy airshow traffic environment

Garmin Guides SNF Flyers with SmartCharts Arrival

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.

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.

New protocol is a result of quality-assurance efforts

FAA Prohibiting Side-by-side Approaches at KSFO

Some believe new fees are motivated by noise complaints

Mesa City Council Approves Falcon Field Landing Fees 

Hanneke Weitering

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Fixed system detects foreign object debris without vehicle patrols

Skylark Brings AI FOD Detection to Airports

Agency issued a general notice to highlight the change

FAA Mandates Radar for Airplane, Helicopter Separation

Private funding sped up the process to add new IFR procedures

Monmouth Airport Deploys LPV Instrument Approaches

Charles Alcock

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

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