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

A move by the FAA to revise Part 380 public charter flight rules, as requested by airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), is not justified, could cut services to small communities, and could serve as a barrier to new entrants, a coalition of seven aviation groups warned the agency.
Those warnings were a response to an FAA notice of intent (NOI) released in August, saying the agency was considering a rulemaking to alter the regulatory definitions of “on-demand operation,” “supplemental operation,” and “scheduled operation” under 14 CFR Part 110. The agency said these changes would address “the exception from FAA’s domestic, flag, and supplemental operations regulations for public charter operators.” Such a rulemaking, the FAA added, would push some operators under Part 135 to Part 121.
The NOI comes as certain airlines and ALPA have complained of unfair competition and the use of Part 380 as a “loophole” to skirt the safety requirements of Part 121. Currently, approved Part 135 operations can provide public charter services under the provisions of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Part 380 economic authority.
In comments to the NOI, the seven aviation organizations—many representing the business and general aviation community—said: “Changes to regulatory definitions could have unintended negative consequences throughout the entire Part 135 community—an established industry segment providing safe and secure transportation options that meet the diverse needs of thousands of communities across the nation.”
They further noted that such changes would be made against the backdrop of &nbsp;“an industry where four major airlines control more than 80 percent of the domestic market,” and said, “Part 380 provides much-needed competition in a highly concentrated marketplace, often ensuring secondary markets and small communities continue to have options for meeting the air transportation needs of their citizens.”
Part 135 carriers have operated public charter operations safely for more than 45 years, reaching communities that otherwise would not have commercial service, they maintained. “Any changes to the regulation should be driven not by the economic interest of competitors, but by an identified safety need,” the organizations added. “Indeed, we are unaware of any accident or serious incident involving an operation under Part 135 using the economic authority granted under Part 380 and involving a jet airplane. No accidents. No incidents.”
The organizations also said they fear that such changes could eliminate jobs, as well as hurt competition, carbon emissions reduction, emerging technologies, and innovation.
They noted one of the single biggest differences in the regulations used by Part 121 is the ATP requirement but said,&nbsp;“If the FAA ultimately chooses to ignore the lack of valid safety concerns and promulgate rulemaking to placate the vocal minority of commercially motivated stakeholders, a requirement for all flight crewmembers conducting Part 380 public charter operations to hold type ratings, when available, would close any regulatory gap while minimizing harm to small communities, innovative business models, and competition in general."
But the organizations also agreed that any such changes should be explored through an aviation rulemaking committee, noting that any preemptive rulemaking could go against the wishes of Congress surrounding small community service.
Signing the comments were the Airline Passenger Experience Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, International Flight Services Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Association of State Aviation Officials, and National Business Aviation Association.

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.

Aviation Groups Warn Part 380 Changes Would Curb Air Service

Business and general aviation groups stress Part 380 changes are not justified

Seven aviation organizations, including business and aviation groups, are stressing that changes to Part 380 could harm innovation and community service.

Av Groups Warn Part 380 Changes Would Curb Service

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