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

Tim and Sheri Lilley, who lost their son in the January 29 midair collision over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), are encouraged by the progress on Capitol Hill to pass legislation to strengthen ADS-B requirements but are continuing their advocacy to ensure enhanced safety regulation. In a heartfelt session, the Lilleys <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-05-08/tim-lilley-fixing-what-caused-dca-midair-collision">shared their story</a> during the 2025 Air Charter Safety Summit about the loss of Sam Lilley, one of the pilots of the PSA Airlines-operated American Airlines Flight 5342 CRJ700 that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while on final approach to Runway 33.
That accident thrust the Lilleys onto a national stage and led to a quest to ensure the lessons learned from the accident would elevate safety standards so that such an event could never happen again. Sheri Lilley, a safety advocate and IT strategist who formerly worked at Gulfstream Aerospace, returned to the 2026 Safety Summit, attending the duration and adding comments on the importance of emergency response planning.
In addition, both Lilleys left a video message updating attendees at this year’s summit on their progress over the past year, with Sheri pledging, “We are in this for the long haul. We are going to be engaging with anyone who wants to hear our opinions and our experience.”
As far as progress on Capitol Hill, Tim, a safety advocate who was a former U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot and later a pilot-in-command for Flexjet, said they are hopeful that comprehensive aviation safety legislation designed to address all 50 of the NTSB’s recommendations from the accident, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7613">Alert Act</a>, will receive a vote on the House floor in the next few weeks.
However, Sheri noted that the Alert Act approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last month is substantially different than the first version offered. The initial version did not adequately address what the Lilleys believed were the two most critical recommendations from the NTSB involving ADS-B In mandates and the military’s ability to waive transmission of ADS-B. “Those were the two primary things we wanted to see in,” Sheri added—“legislation to tighten up on those two.”
While improved, Tim added that once the Alert Act passes (it is expected to receive House approval), the Lilleys are hoping to see a couple of minor adjustments in the Senate.
As far as advocacy beyond the Alert Act, Tim said, “We’ll continue to advocate for aviation safety,” suggesting that they want to look at transponders and emergency vehicles crossing runways.
Sheri added that based on their experience, they also have recommendations about emergency response planning—“how you prepare for a situation like this with some of your customers and employees.”&nbsp;
In addition, they would like to see an update on the Disaster Family Assistance Act, the framework under which the NTSB assists families following accidents. “It was authored two decades ago. It does not accommodate current times. It doesn’t anticipate social media and all sorts of various aspects,” Sheri added. “That level of support wasn’t needed historically, but we know now that if an incident happens, there are going to be people posting on TikTok before you even have an opportunity to notify anyone. So we have lots of opinions formed over the last 14 months, and we have a passion, as you guys know, for helping you improve.”

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Lilleys See Safety Bill Progress, Need for Further Action

Jan. 29, 2025 midair at KDCA has led the Lilleys on safety quest

A little more than a year after losing their son to the Jan. 26, 2025 midair over KDCA, Tom and Sheri are fully centered on aviation safety advocacy.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

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.

Analysis based on operator submissions during 2025

Crew Recency Tops Flight Risk List in Nimbl Report

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

Organization is expanding partnerships, forming working groups such as one on ground incidents

ACSF Expanding Horizons, Diving into Data

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.

FAA wants to assess maturity rather than prescribe design of SMS programs

FAA Eyes Collaboration Toward Enhancing SMS

Safety culture comes into focus

ACSF Safety Summit Opens with Tackling Daily Challenges

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.

Graham has served on the board since 2020 and was renominated for a term extending through 2030

White House Appoints Michael Graham as NTSB Vice Chair

Matt Thurber

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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.

LNAV+V advisory glide paths can be helpful but do not guarantee obstacle clearance

AINsight: Watch Out Below the Minimum Descent Altitude

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

On average, two lithium-ion battery thermal runaway events occur every week, mostly while aircraft are in cruise

Lithium-ion Battery Fires: Understanding Risks and Containment 

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

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