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 National Air Transportation Association (NATA) celebrated a decade of promoting ground handling safety last week at its annual Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS). Held in Fort Worth, Texas, this year's event was expanded to two days, providing additional opportunities for operational case studies, interactive learning, and candid discussions about the challenges facing aircraft ground-handling teams.
In his opening keynote, NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna called for greater industry attention and investment in ground operations, noting that as aviation advances air traffic control modernization, flight deck safety, and emerging technologies,&nbsp;ground handling must remain an equally important part of the aviation safety conversation.
“Every safe flight begins and ends with the work taking place on the ground,” Castagna told attendees. “Our industry is investing in modernization and new capabilities, and we need to bring that same energy and commitment to ramp safety. The people who fuel, move, service, and support aircraft are essential to aviation safety. By equipping them with the right training, tools, and leadership, we can turn the lessons shared at this symposium into meaningful improvements across our industry.”
A recurring theme of the conference was the importance of closing the gap between leadership and front-line personnel so that safety expectations, operational realities, and lessons learned can be communicated openly and acted upon effectively.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

NATA Ground Handling Safety Symposium Reaches a Decade

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NATA’s annual Ground Handling Symposium reached the decade mark in Fort Worth.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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