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 White House is bringing back former senior FAA official Michael Whitaker to take the helm of the agency. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-05-03/whitaker-reported-faa-administrator-candidate">Rumored for months</a> as the pick to lead the FAA, Whitaker has been serving as COO of Supernal, a Hyundai Motor company that is designing an electric advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. He served as deputy FAA administrator under the Obama Administration from 2013 to 2016.
Whitaker also has a long background in airline operations, spending 15 years in leadership roles at United Airlines and three decades of legal-oriented positions with Trans World Airlines. Before his most recent position at Supernal, he was group CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, which operates IndiGo.
He is being nominated to an FAA post that has remained open on a permanent basis since Steve Dickson left halfway through his five-year term in March 2022. Billy Nolen then slid into the position on an acting basis, but he <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-04-21/faa-acting-administrator-billy-nolen-depart-agency">departed the agency</a> in June and, in an ironic twist, has also stepped into the AAM realm as chief safety officer for Archer Aviation. More recently, DOT COO and deputy secretary Polly Trottenberg <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-06-09/dot-realigns-leadership-trottenberg-faa-helm">moved over</a> to serve as acting administrator.
The White House previously had nominated Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington to the role, but <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2023-03-26/phil-washington-withdraws-faa-administrator-consideration">he withdrew</a> from consideration after facing substantial Republican opposition, particularly over his lack of aviation experience.
Whitaker, however, today has already drawn wide support from across the gamut of industry, most of which is well familiar with him. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said the association “enthusiastically” supported the nomination and added, “Mike Whitaker has long been an outspoken aviation safety advocate and champion of innovation in the industry, who demonstrated during his time as deputy administrator at the FAA that he is a proven leader who delivers results.”
Helicopter Association International president and CEO James Viola noted that he worked closely with Mike during his time with the agency and said, “I am confident that he is the right person to lead the agency at a time when aviation— particularly vertical aviation—is evolving at such as rapid pace.”&nbsp;
General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce added that Whitaker “possesses the leadership skills, management experience, and aviation knowledge needed to lead the FAA.” Bunce further noted the recent appointment of Katie Thomson as deputy administrator and said the combination “will be a strong leadership team for the agency.”
Among others weighing in was the Air Line Pilots Association, which praised Whitaker’s understanding of strong safety and training regulations.
Thomson, meanwhile, had taken the deputy administrator role in June after serving as chief of staff for the agency.

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.

White House Selects Michael Whitaker To Lead FAA as Administrator

Whitaker had been rumored for months for the spot

Michael Whitaker had been rumored for months as the Biden Administration's choice to lead the FAA, and now he is the official choice.

White House Selects Whitaker To Lead FAA

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