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

U.S. President Donald Trump Friday afternoon signed into law the sweeping Federal Aviation Administration funding bill, providing one of the longest reauthorization periods for the agency since the 1980s and addressing a range of issues from consumer protections and regulation reform to the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems. The enactment of the legislation into law comes as the agency’s authorization approached expiration on Friday under a one-week extension Congress approved in late September.
Passage of the Aviation, Transportation Safety, and Disaster Recovery Reforms and Reauthorization (H.R.302) ended a four-plus-year process that involved six short-term extensions, several versions of the bill, hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill, dozens of hearings, and one of the most contentious debates surrounding the future of the air traffic control organization.
The bill, which provides for up to $96.7 billion for the FAA through 2023, streamlines the passenger facility charge (PFC) application process and eases certain restrictions on its use. But it stops short of raising the PFC caps, despite a strong push by the airports.
The bill also calls for a number of consumer protections, including a directive for the FAA to set minimum pitch, width, and length requirements for airline passenger seats, as well as a prohibition from involuntarily bumping passengers who have already boarded. Another provision would create an Aviation Consumer Advocate at the Department of Transportation to help work through consumer complaints.
Other measures involve directives surrounding the return of fees, a prohibition of cell phone use in-flight, a requirement for nursing rooms at large and medium airports, and requirements for communications in case of system outages.
Authors designed a number of measures to streamline and improve the certification and regulatory processes, including those involving international validations. Others addressed workforce shortages, improve safety, and facilitate NextGen advancements.
H.R.302 combines several bills in addition to the massive FAA reauthorization, including the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, a three-year Transportation Security Administration reauthorization, and a four-year National Transportation Safety Board reauthorization. It also encompasses sports medicine licensing, the BUILD Act, a Syria assessment, emerging threats, and supplemental disaster relief.
But perhaps most notable is the legislation that didn’t appear: the measure strongly backed by House Transportation &amp; Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster and Airlines for America (A4A) that would create an independent, user-funded air traffic control organization.
After a hard-fought battle to salvage the proposal, Shuster agreed to drop it in an effort to ensure passage of FAA reauthorization.
A4A continues to support the concept, believing it would provide for long-term continuity of ATC funding and better enable the implementation of key modernization projects. Even so, the association lauded the bill as passed.
“We applaud the bipartisan, bicameral efforts in Congress,” the association said when the compromise bill was released. “This measure will provide long-term certainty for the millions of passengers and countless businesses that rely on access to safe, affordable travel and shipping options every day.” A4A added that the legislation delivers certainty to employers, manufacturers, consumers, and communities.
Support came from other segments of the industry: Aeronautical Repair Station Association executive v-p Christian Klein called passage a “historic achievement for Congress” and National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Paul Rinaldi called the legislation a key part of providing long-term stability for the FAA.
However, a few provisions raised concern with Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations president Lee Collins, who expressed disappointment that it did not address issues surrounding pilot fatigue and rest rules for cargo carriers and foreign flag carrier ability to obtain “flags of convenience” certificates to operate in the U.S.
“We are concerned that both of these undermine U.S. airline safety standards,” Collins said.
However, Air Line&nbsp;Pilots Association president Tim Canoll praised the omission of one of the other major sticking points of the bill—an effort to provide an alternative path to the 1,500-hour requirement for co-pilots with training credits. While supported by senator John Thune (R-S.D.), he agreed to drop the measure to secure Senate approval of the FAA reauthorization bill.

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.

Now Law, Five-Year FAA Bill Paves Way for Industry Stability

Air transport industry groups applaud end to four-year fight over agency reauthorization

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

Kaleyesus Bekele

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent 

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Amy Wilder

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

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.

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

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.

More In Regulations and Government

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Move averts potential shutdown

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN