Kurt recently retired from the FAA Runway Safety Program & Quality Assurance after serving for 8-years based in Los Angeles and briefly in Seattle as part of the Western Service Center and the Air Traffic Control Organization. His work focused in Safety Management Systems (SMS) as a practitioner and facilitator for airport projects throughout Western Pacific Region. Kurt also worked as an Airspace Analyst providing comments on Airport Layout Plans, Master Plans, and Construction Safety Phasing Safety Plans throughout the West. He is an FAA consultant for heliport design, operations, and heliport layout plans and a subject matter expert, facilitator and expert witness on airport markings, signage, lighting, geometry, operations and runway safety.
Kurt worked for the California Department of Transportation as principal airport inspector in Southern California for 7-years. As a private consultant he helped develop the Dallas / Fort Worth area Airport and Heliport System Plan that encompasses 16 surrounding counties and more that 160 facilities. He has served on airport boards, as airport manager, and as chief pilot in several organizations.
Curt graduated from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) with a degree in Air Commerce and Flight Technology in 1974. Kurt and his wife Erlinda (a native Hawaiian) have been married for over 25-years. She also works for airports and in aviation.
Kurt has been a pilot for 49-years with over 9,800-hours of flight time. He is an aircraft owner, builder, a former Unlimited Aerobatic Competitor and a member of the International Aerobatic Club and EAA. He bought his first airplane at age 19 and taught basic aerobatics and tailwheel while in college in that 100 HP Citabria, Serial # 61. He was taught competition aerobatics by Mary Gaffaney and Curtis Pitts having worked for both of them through high-school and college. Kurt also has 2500+ hours in flying boats and was chief pilot of Lake Aircraft & Consolidated Aeronautics, manufacturer of PK Floats. He attained water specializations in both open ocean and confined areas while training in Alaska, Caribbean, Columbia, Canada, and Brazil.
Curt currently works for the Nevada Department of Transportation as State Aviation Manager working as the public-use airport inspector under contract for the FAA. Kurt has been on the Board of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and has acted as Director of the Western Pacific Region for the last 4-years.