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

As most eyes focused on the presidential race during yesterday’s elections, the majorities in both the House and Senate narrowed slightly and a few notable Republicans either lost or were in danger of losing their seats.

 


Rep. John Mica (R-Florida), who had steered aviation policy first as the chairman of the House aviation subcommittee and then of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was unseated by Democrat challenger Stephanie Murphy in a 51.4-percent to 48.6-percent decision. Local media characterized the loss as “stunning.” Mica had served in the House since 1993.

 


Over the years Mica had been deeply involved in FAA reauthorization, transportation security, airport funding and an array of other issues affecting the industry. NBAA in in 2005 presented him its American Spirit Award for his support of the business aviation community and his help in the effort to relocate the association’s annual convention to Orlando in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At the NBAA opening general session in 2012, he said, “Some people just don’t get it that business aviation is one of the great economic engines of our economy and of a free-enterprise system.” However, he hasn’t always aligned with business and general aviation. Most recently he backed Rep. Bill Shuster’s (R-Pennsylvania) independent air traffic control organization proposal.

 


Shuster, the current chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, meanwhile, easily won against contender Art Halvorson with 63.4 percent of the vote. Shuster narrowly beat Halvorson in the Republican primary, and had the unusual situation of facing him again after Halvorson received enough write-in votes in the Democrat primary that cleared a path for him to run as a Democrat.

 


As of early today, General Aviation Caucus member Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) held a 52 percent to 48 percent lead over Democrat challenger Michael Eggman in a race that had been watched as a potential Democrat pickup. But it had not yet been called.

 


Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), another caucus member who was potentially at risk, however, did narrowly retain his seat with 50.3 percent of the vote.

 


Democrats had picked up six seats with a few races yet to be decided, narrowing the Republican-held majority in the House.

 


In the Senate, aviation subcommittee chairman Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) trailed her opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan, by 0.1 percent. The race early Wednesday was still too close to call. AOPA credited Ayotte as being a strong proponent of general aviation issues. Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), meanwhile, sailed through his race, capturing 71.8 percent of the vote. Without the Ayotte race yet called, the Democrats have picked up one seat.

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.

Ayotte Trailing, Mica Ousted in Elections

Rep. Mica had chaired both the House aviation subcommittee and full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

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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His career spanned more than five and a half decades

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The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

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Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

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

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