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

StandardAero Aviation Holdings has acquired Vector Aerospace from Airbus in a move that fortifies its position among the major maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organizations. Combined annual revenues total $3 billion, and the work force includes&nbsp;6,000 employees across 42 locations worldwide. Terms of the acquisition, which was announced Friday, were not disclosed.

 


Airbus and StandardAero<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-07-05/standardaero-eyes-vector-aerospace-acquisition"> revealed four months ago</a> that they entered exclusive negotiations over the sale of Vector. Airbus, formerly EADS, had acquired Vector in 2011 for $625 million, but in late 2015 reportedly began shopping the firm.

 


The acquisition brings to StandardAero an entity that generated $700 million in revenues in 2016 and employed 2,200 workers in 22 locations across Canada, the U.S., the UK, France, Kenya, South Africa, Australia and Singapore.

 


“Our combined organizations are better positioned to provide the industry with more global services, expanded MRO capabilities and operational benefits to deliver faster, higher quality solutions to our combined customers worldwide,” said StandardAero CEO Russell Ford.

 


This acquisition expands StandardAero’s capabilities on Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6 and PW100 turboprop engines and significantly extends its reach in the civilian and military helicopter-engine MRO market, including on the M250, PT6T, Arriel 1 and 2, T58/CT58 and T700/CT7 engines, Ford said. “Vector also brings along new helicopter airframe and components services/support aligned with major OEMs like Boeing, Sikorsky, Airbus Helicopters and Bell Helicopter.”

 


The combined entity will operate under the StandardAero brand. “This is a great opportunity to bring together two successful entities,” Ford said, citing a number of benefits from the merger, including opportunities for better operational efficiency and turn times, value-added custom offerings and expanded research and development expertise. The merger further offers an expanded global presence “to improve our products, reliability and aftermarket support network and services; and [enable] better overall service and highly responsive customer experience,” Ford said.

 


This is the second major StandardAero purchase since March, when it announced plans to acquire PAS Technologies, a support services company for the oil-and-gas sector, industrial-gas-turbine and aerospace markets. While StandardAero is substantially boosting its MRO and support capabilities, the company also is shrinking in the completions arena with the decision <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-09-21/associated-air-center-shut-its-doors-year-end">to shutter </a>its VIP completions specialist Associated Air Center at year-end.

 


The moves come two years after private equity firm Veritas Capital purchased Scottsdale, Arizona-based StandardAero from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for $2.1 billion.

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.

StandardAero Completes Vector Buy from Airbus

The combined entity generates $3 billion in annual revenues and employs 6,000 across 42 locations worldwide. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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.

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.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

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Executives share their experience with system

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

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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.

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Executives share their experience with system

Australian Regulator Approves Textron Service Centers

Textron operates service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast

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The company was selected by OEM Héroux-Devtek

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The Kansas-based company specializes in modifying airframes

Duncan Aviation Authorized for Honeywell APU Repairs

MRO’s Lincoln facility expects to bring work online in early 2027

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