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 U.S. FAA, which has long been working on a policy statement for rotorcraft inlet barrier filter (IBF) installation, has turned to SAE International for help on two technical aspects. SAE was tasked with developing a recommended practice standard on an alternative means to substantiate that the IBF modification does not exceed engine inlet distortion limits. The FAA also asked SAE to define a means to determine and verify power availability for IBF-equipped rotorcraft.


SAE’s S-12 Helicopter Powerplant Committee is taking the lead on the standards with help from the S-16 Turbine Engine Inlet Flow Distortion Committee. A virtual committee meeting is scheduled&nbsp;for February 15 to begin work on the standard, with a face-to-face meeting on March 9 during Heli-Expo.


“We are pleased to be working with the FAA on the development of these important rotorcraft standards and appreciate the trust that the FAA has placed in SAE International to use industry standards as guidance material,” said David Alexander, director of aerospace standards for SAE International. Power availability and engine distortion limits have been two of the more difficult issues that the FAA has faced as it has attempted to put together a policy on IBF installations.


The FAA has been sorting through public comments it received on a <a href="http://www.gama.aero/public-consultation/content/policy-statement-certification-engine-inlet-barrier-filter-ibf-installat">draft policy statement</a> released a little more than a year ago, an agency spokeswoman said. Noting the SAE activities, the spokeswoman added, “Our hope is these tasks will result in Aerospace Recommended Practices that can then be referenced in our helicopter advisory material.”


The draft policy had generated substantial opposition because it called for detailed proprietary engine data that manufacturers tend to be reluctant to share publicly. In addition, industry executives expressed concern that the original policy had included the potential for performance penalties that would render IBFs impractical and would drive up certification costs considerably. The primary aftermarket providers, Aerometals and Donaldson, questioned whether they would be able to remain in the market should the draft policy become final as originally written.


FAA officials have said they would carefully consider the comments, but the agency has maintained, “The increased usage of…IBF installations on rotorcraft requires guidance to ensure safe and standardized installations.”


The FAA has not released a timeline when a final statement might be released. Timing of the SAE standards also was unclear, but an SAE spokeswoman said that on average, the development of standards and recommended practices could take between 18&nbsp;and 24 months.

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.

SAE To Tackle Helicopter IBF Standards

The FAA has asked SAE to work through two of the more difficult issues as it attempts to complete a policy statement on IBF installation.

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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.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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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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