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

Just days before the city of Santa Monica is set <a href="http://https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-11-28/smo-close-while-runway-shortening-completed">to temporarily close Santa Monica Municipal Airport </a>(SMO) to shorten its runway, air traffic controllers at the facility joined the response teams fighting the Skirball Fire, the Santa Monica Airport Association (SMAA) said.&nbsp;Controllers handled water-dropping helicopters, Los Angeles Police Department helicopters and newsgathering aircraft in the airspace as the fight to contain the fires raging through the area continues.&nbsp;

 


“Despite Santa Monica City Council efforts to close 100-year-old Santa Monica Municipal Airport, the airport and its FAA-staffed control tower continue to provide critical air traffic services for fighting hazards of all kinds,” said SMAA, which has been engaged in a legal battle to save the airport.

 


SMO is designated as critical infrastructure by the city’s “All Hazards Mitigation Plan,” the association said.&nbsp;“Yet the city council is silent on how it will replace this key local disaster-response asset if it is successful in closing the airport,” SMAA said. “With all the natural disasters surrounding Los Angeles—fires, hurricanes and earthquakes—local community lives will depend on SMO in any kind of disaster.”

 


SMAA is involved in legal efforts to overturn an agreement between the FAA and the city that paves the way for the immediate shortening of the airport’s sole runway from 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet and for the airport to close altogether at the end of 2028.&nbsp;“Loss of SMO as an airport, and the city’s stated ‘creative reuse’ of its structures, will additionally greatly exacerbate population density and traffic congestion within the city limits and in neighboring communities,” the association contends, adding the airport generates around 1,500 jobs and at least $241 million dollars annually in economic activity.

 


The city is moving ahead with a plan to close the airport to operations beginning on the evening of December 12 through early December 23 while it completes the necessary painting and other changes required for shortening of the runway to 3,500 feet.

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

SMO Controllers Join Skirball Fire Battle

The efforts come as the airport is set to close for a 10-period while the city shortens the SMO runway.

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