Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

The aerospace and defense (A&amp;D) industry is at a critical inflection point as it faces strong growth in business but continued attrition and talent recruitment issues, according to a study that the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and consulting firm McKinsey released this week at the Paris Air Show. In the face of this, A&amp;D organizations need to generate at least 30% greater productivity within the existing workforce, the study found.
Titled “<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/aerospace-and-defense/our-insights/accelerating-progress-maximizing-the-return-on-talent-in-a-and-d#/">Accelerating Progress-Maximizing the Return on Talent in A&amp;D</a>,” the study delves into the A&amp;D workforce dynamics and highlights the need for fresh approaches and sustained investment to strengthen the workforce pipeline. It drew insights from more than 30 organizations representing more than 600,000 U.S. employees, as well as those of industry leaders, talent executives, and national workforce data.
According to the study, the U.S. A&amp;D sector generated $995 billion in 2024, up 5.7% year over year, but attrition remained at 15% despite multiple retention efforts. A&amp;D workforce reached 2.23 million employees in 2024, but critical talent shortages in engineering and skilled trades persist.
These challenges create headwinds for efforts to increase productivity, meet growing customer demand, and drive digital adoption, the study said.
“The aerospace and defense industry continues to lead in innovation thanks to the power and ingenuity of our workforce—but the talent challenges we face continue to grow more complex,” said AIA president and CEO Eric Fanning.
“To remain a global leader, we must take bold, strategic action to attract, retain, and empower the next generation of talent,” he added. “That means investing not only in people, but also in the technologies and partnerships that will secure our industry’s resilience and competitiveness for decades to come.”
Some of the key ways to boost efficiency, according to the study, could be reimagining how work is designed and executed; equipping the existing talent pool with new skills; and incentivizing critical employees in meaningful ways. For example, artificial intelligence and automation have become key priorities for companies working to address the talent shortage, the study notes.&nbsp;

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Aerospace Workforce Shortage Hits Inflection Point

Companies need to drive 30% to 40% more efficiency with existing workforce

Recruitment and retention remain a key issue in A&D, requiring companies to drive 30% to 40% more efficiency with the existing workforce

Study: A&D at Inflection Point In Face of Retention Issues

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

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.

Vallair Group company will expand its course offering

French Mx Training Provider Earns EASA Part 66 Approval

Charles Alcock

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

CAE published its latest Aviation Talent Forecast at the Paris Air Show

Aviation Needs To Recruit 1.5 Million Professionals

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.

JD2E trainer depicts advantages and versatility of combined training systems

JD2E Working with Smith Myers, CarteNav, Teledyne on Missions Training

Matt Thurber

Event features prominent company founders and organization chiefs

NBAA Webinar Looks at Lasting Impact of Bizav

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.

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

Move expands locations for pilot type-rating training

CAE Expands Training Fleet with Pilatus PC-24 Sims

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.

Lufthansa Aviation Training will use the simulator in its pilot training program

Switzerland Qualifies Brunner Mixed-reality DA42 Sim

Amy Wilder

Presentation of survey results at 2025 CBAA to include base salary and workforce trends

Canadian Business Aviation Salaries Show Upward Trend

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 the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Paris Air Show 2025

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