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

Business aviation groups welcomed the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) agreement to establish the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2016-02-09/icao-group-sets-new-co2-standard-aviation">first-ever standard for aircraft carbon-dioxide emissions</a>. ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) formally recommended the standard yesterday, paving the way for adoption by the full ICAO Governing Council and General Assembly later this year.

 


The standard would cover all new-production business jets with a mtow of more than 5.7 metric tons/12,566 pounds and most new-production large turboprops with a mtow of more than 8.6 metric tons/18,959 pounds. Most new type design business aircraft along with all in-production would need to comply by 2023. The CAEP agreement recommends that larger aircraft, those with 19 seats or more, be in compliance by 2020. The CAEP also recommended a phaseout of production of aircraft that do not comply by 2028. Although certification authorities might be able to grant exemptions in limited circumstances, the new standard could spell the end for production of older business jet types by 2028, but manufacturers believe they can develop solutions for at least some of those aircraft, according to Ed Smith, senior v-p of international and environmental affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

 


The standard considers an aircraft’s performance in cruise, along with size and weight, and recognizes that CO2 reductions can be achieved through new technologies affecting structural, aerodynamic or propulsion systems, GAMA noted. The standard has been designed with the idea that periodic reviews will allow the stringency of its standards to be tightenedfor alignment with the development of new technologies, the association added.

 


“This landmark environmental measure reinforces the industry’s strong record of bringing to market technology that improves aviation’s efficiency, and is an important part of our industry’s commitment to address climate change,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “The new standard will allow aviation to continue to grow in a sustainable manner.”

 


“The agreed CO2 standard has achieved the best balance of environmental benefit, technological feasibility, economic reasonableness and consideration of interdependencies,” according to the Air Transport Action Group, a coalition of more than 50 organizations involved in air transportation. The CAEP did not recommend retrofit for existing fleets. “That is not practical,” ATAG noted, but added that operators are already voluntarily retrofitting to reduce emissions. The smallest business jets and smaller turboprops are exempt, in part because they “collectively emit a very small proportion of CO2,” the coalition added.

 


The International Business Aviation Council also endorsed the standard. “The CO2 standard is a significant step representing the commitment of manufacturers and operators of business aircraft to mitigating CO2 emissions,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards.

 


The business aviation groups consider the standard as one of the primary pillars of the industry’s larger plans for climate change. The industry has set a goal of capping CO2 emissions growth beginning in 2020 and cutting them in half by 2050. The standard also lays the groundwork for the development of global market-based measures to curb emission growth.

 


Once adopted by ICAO, the standard must be adopted by individual states. Last summer the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-06-10/epa-sets-stage-regulate-aircraft-ghg-emissions">an advance notice of proposed rulemaking for the regulations of greenhouse gas emissions.</a> That was the first step of formal rulemaking that was being conducted in concert with the development of the ICAO standard.

 


Airport representatives see the agreement as representing an important step in the industry’s efforts to tackle climate change. "It is no exaggeration to say that the future of aviation depends on our dedication to the cause of environmental stewardship," said Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World. "Today's agreement underscores the sector's united stance on carbon emissions reduction."

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Bizav Groups Back ICAO-recommended CO2 Standard

The standard applies to all but the smallest business jets.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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 commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

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

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

UK’s ‘Operation Blue Skies’ to redirect commercial traffic in Shanwick airspace

North Atlantic Airspace-Scale Contrail Trial Underway

Curt Epstein

Emissions reduction indexes will help contrast economics with compliance mandates

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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.

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.

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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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