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. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) reintroduced legislation to permit FAA-certified commercial pilot and aircraft maintenance technical training qualified expenses for 529 college savings plans. Collins had previously offered the bill, the Aviation Workforce Development Act, in 2023, but in the absence of a major tax package it made little progress. However, it did accrue 162 co-sponsors in the last Congress, suggesting a significant amount of support.
The latest introduction of H.R.1818 comes as Congress is assembling a tax bill that could serve as a potential venue for such a measure. Joining Collins in the introduction of the bill this year are Reps. Lucy McBath (D-Georgia), Jimmy Panetta (D-California), and Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee’s tax subcommittee.
“This year’s safety concerns have made it clear that the commercial aviation industry needs a steady supply of pilots and aircraft mechanics to remain strong,” said Collins. “The bipartisan Aviation Workforce Development Act, H.R.1818, amends the tax code so Americans pursuing a career in aviation have the same tools as those seeking four-year degrees with zero increased cost to taxpayers.”
Tax-advantaged savings accounts for education, 529 plans were originally designed to offset the costs of education at a four-year university. Congress has, over time, expanded the list of qualified expenses to include apprenticeship programs in certain trades. Aviation programs, however, were largely left out of this expansion.
Fifteen organizations representing airlines, business and general aviation, flight trainers, and other operators have endorsed the bill.
“As we look to the future of our aviation industry, it’s clear that we must open new opportunities for individuals to pursue careers as pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians,” Panetta added. “This bipartisan bill will help make the training for these critical professions more affordable by allowing 529 plans to cover aviation programs. By expanding access to these opportunities, we can support the growth of the next generation of commercial pilots and mechanics, vital to strengthening our nation's travel and tourism economy.”

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

Lawmakers Offer Bill To Open 529s to Pilot, Maintenance Training

Collins reintroduced the legislation that previously died in the last Congress

Lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to make flight and aviation maintenance training eligible for 529 plans.

Lawmakers Offer Bill To Open 529s to Pilot/Mx Training

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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.

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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.

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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