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

A U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Sunday to halt the city of Santa Monica, California, from shortening the runway at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) from 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet. The city had planned to begin work on the runway shortening project on October 9, marking another step in the city’s effort to close the airport by the end of 2028 under a settlement agreement struck the FAA earlier this year.

 


But the city faced a number of legal objections from pilots and other interests in the airport community, as well as from national organizations such as NBAA. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted the petition in one such case, from airport neighbor Kate Scott and James Babinski, ﻿a pilot who frequents the airport. Scott and Babinski argued that the city failed to comply with environmental review and public hearing requirements before moving forward with the terms of the settlement agreement.

 


The court determined that Scott and Babinski would “likely prevail at trial on the merits of their claim.” The court also agreed that the plaintiffs met the test for “irreparable harm” necessitating a TRO based on concerns that the runway shortening would require aircraft to fly lower over neighborhoods, increasing noise. Also, the court noted the concern that flight at the lower altitude over densely populated areas “increases the risk to pilots.”

 


The court gave the city until October 13 to submit a filing that would show cause why the TRO should not remain in place.

 


NBAA welcomed the decision. "This latest development highlights the important role of local and regional advocacy in preserving access to vital community airports," said NBAA Western regional representative Stacy Howard. "NBAA is pleased to see the court respond quickly to the aviation community's concerns with the city's shortsighted plan to drastically reduce the usability of this irreplaceable Southern California airfield."

 


The association is involved in separate litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, which argues the FAA did not follow statutory requirements in reaching the settlement agreement with the city.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Federal Judge Grants TRO To Halt SMO Runway Shortening

The judge believes the case against Santa Monica would likely prevail in court.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

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.

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.

Midway Island plays a role in ETOPS flight planning

FAA Ponders Fate of Remote Pacific Island Airfield

Tennessee governor suggests change to airport board

Nashville Mulls Airport Name Change To Honor Dolly Parton

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Site will support both piloted and pilotless VTOL flight testing

Wisk Begins Building eVTOL Vertiport at Hollister Airport

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.

More In Airports

FAA Ponders Fate of Remote Pacific Island Airfield

Midway Island plays a role in ETOPS flight planning

Nashville Mulls Airport Name Change To Honor Dolly Parton

Tennessee governor suggests change to airport board

Wisk Begins Building eVTOL Vertiport at Hollister Airport

Site will support both piloted and pilotless VTOL flight testing

Electra Demos Hybrid-electric Flights in Three States

FAA program tests links between small fields and major hubs

Flexjet Bases European Helicopter Fleet at Blackbushe

S-76s and AW139s will carry passengers to and from London-area airports

FAA’s Bedford, Lawmakers Oppose Burke Lakefront Closure

Neither FAA nor Congress appear open to helping Cleveland expedite airport closure

Haneda Plans Three-strikes Rule To Bench Errant Pilots

Restriction targets individual pilots, not the operator or aircraft

Local Groups Band Together To Support Lakefront Airport

Groups point to $195 million in economic contribution

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN