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

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has serious concerns regarding the European Commission’s (EC) proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS). The group said it was not consulted by the Commission’s climate action directorate on the proposed changes, which could impose broader obligations on business aviation while excluding the sector from key support for sustainable aviation fuel uptake.&nbsp;
According to the EC, emissions from business aircraft have “largely been exempted” from the EU-ETS. EBAA denies that assertion, countering that the majority of its operator members have been monitoring and reporting their emissions, purchasing allowances, and complying with EU-ETS obligations for years.&nbsp;
Under the proposal, existing flight-frequency exemptions would be removed, and the current distinction between commercial and non-commercial aircraft operators would be replaced by a single annual emissions threshold. While smaller operators may be able to use simplified monitoring and reporting tools, they would still be required to register, purchase, and surrender allowances.&nbsp;
Further, the Commission proposes extending the EU-ETS, from 2029 onward, to departing flights from the European Economic Area to third-country destinations located within 5,000 kilometers (2,700 nm) of the European Union’s geographical center.&nbsp;
According to EBAA, the EC "appears to suggest" that all incoming and departing flights operated by business jets could be included, but without the same distance or directional limitation. If confirmed, this could mean that an airline and a business jet operating the same long-haul route would face different carbon-pricing obligations solely because one aircraft is classified as a business jet.&nbsp;
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) weighed in on that possible provision as well, stating it is “deeply frustrated” at the proposed extension of the EU-ETS beyond Europe’s borders. “The EU is repeating a historic error,” it noted. “The consequences will be harmful—sowing acrimony over extraterritoriality, slowing global decarbonization, and sapping European competitiveness—with European travelers and businesses paying the price.”
The changes would also explicitly exclude business flights from the allowances reserved to help cover part of the price differential between regular jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “The proposal describes the SAF support mechanism as transparent, based on equal treatment and non-discrimination,” said Róman Kok, EBAA’s director of public affairs and communications. “Explicitly excluding business flights immediately afterwards is difficult to reconcile with those principles.”&nbsp;
He added that the restriction is particularly concerning because sustainable aviation fuel remains the only realistic near-term decarbonization solution for most of the existing business aviation fleet.

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.

EBAA Voices Concerns Over EU-ETS Plan's Impact on Bizav

Proposal could discriminate against business aviation sector

EBAA is crying foul over the latest proposed changes to the European Union's Emissions Trading System.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Gordon Gilbert

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

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Civil Aviation Authority hopes to reduce risk of midair collision

UK Proposes e-Conspicuity for ADS-B-exempt Aircraft

Kerry Lynch

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.

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.

Rule is performance-based, encouraging innovation, company maintains

Spike Aerospace: FAA Supersonic NPRM Steps Toward New Era

Amy Wilder

Bill would send 20% of revenue to GA airports

Aviation Coalition Supports California Fuel Tax Bill

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.

FCC vote set for July 22 on 160-MHz auction order

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Hanneke Weitering

NPRM seeks to end blanket overland ban

FAA Proposes Noise Rule for Supersonic Flight Over Land

Combined pause windows total nearly 15 hours

FAA Announces KDCA Closures around Independence Day

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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Regulators promised to address key issues and review progress regularly

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