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 Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) <a href="https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/library-items/FAA%20Terminal%20Flight%20Data%20Manager%20Final%20Report%207.17.24.pdf?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">found</a> that the FAA is close to three years behind in the deployment of its Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program, costs have increased by 20%, and airspace users may not realize benefits until at least next year.
TFDM is a key NextGen system designed to improve airport surface operations and air traffic control (ATC) efficiencies. These technologies have become a priority for the agency, particularly in light of the spate of high-profile close calls in recent years. The system is designed to integrate flight, surveillance, and traffic management information. TFDM also will automate manual flight data processes, including upgrading from paper flight strips used by controllers to track a flight’s progress to electronic flight strips and improve surface traffic flow management.
The FAA is currently testing and implementing TFDM capabilities at certain airports, such as introducing electronic flight strips and surface management tools. Even so, it is still behind schedule, with initial deployment pushed back from January 2020 to October 2022 and completion now anticipated in February 2030 instead of September 2028.
Further, the $155 million increased cost—from $795 million to $950 million—caused the FAA to reduce the deployment sites from 89 to 49, “increasing the estimated cost per site while decreasing planned system consolidations and functionality,” the DOT OIG said.
While the FAA has maintained the large deployment sites, which are estimated to provide more than 90% of the originally anticipated benefits, the agency has concerns that funding uncertainty could result in a further reduction of sites.
The DOT OIG believes it will be at least 2025 before airspace users realize benefits such as fuel and carbon emissions savings from reduced taxi times and delays and worries that the FAA faces implementation risks such as system integration, airline participation, cybersecurity requirements, and ATC human factors and training.
“As a result of the deployment delays and implementation risks, it is uncertain when TFDM will provide full benefits for airspace users,” the DOT OIG said. “Additionally, the budget and schedule may change further, especially as FAA deploys TFDM to more complex sites. We are making recommendations to improve FAA’s TFDM program.”
The DOT OIG recommended that the FAA assess a cost-saving move to remove a data comm requirement for two-way interface between TFDM and Tower Data Link Services, evaluate human factors issues involved, and assess improvements in training.

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

DOT Watchdog Warns of Delays, Uncertainties with Key FAA NextGen Program

The TFDM program is 20% over cost and almost three years behind schedule

A key FAA NextGen program is close to three years behind schedule and 20% over cost, a government watchdog warned, citing other risks such as training needs.

DOT Watchdog Warns of Uncertainties with Key NextGen Program

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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.

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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.

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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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.

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