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

Operations resumed late last month on the shortened Runway 3/21 at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California with new<a href="http://www.santamonicaairport.info/shortened_runway_and_taxiway_configuration"> air traffic control procedures </a>in place.&nbsp;The city announced the December 23 reopening of the 3,500-foot runway—reduced by 1,500 feet—proclaiming the project on time and on budget and stressing that the new length would reduce jet traffic and pollution in both Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

 


“This is a great day for the city of Santa Monica and our residents,” said Santa Monica mayor Ted Winterer. “We stayed the course and kept our eye on delivering a shortened runway just in time to usher in the New Year with reduced noise and pollution from large jets.”

 


The airport shuttered to aircraft operations for a 10-day period while the runway-shortening project was completed. During that period the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed one of the cases challenging a consent decree struck between the FAA and the city that paved the way for the runway shortening in the near term and ultimate closure of the airport in 2028. The case involved plaintiffs Kate Scott and James Babinski, who had obtained a temporary restraining order on the shortening project only to have that lifted shortly after it was imposed.&nbsp;

 


A separate lawsuit involving NBAA and a handful of airport businesses and supporters who also are challenging the consent decree is moving forward in the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia.

 


During the closure, Suja Lowenthal, senior advisor to the city manager, sent a message to the community noting remarks from families about how they were “enjoying the quiet” from the closure.

 


The FAA, meanwhile, has issued a notice to airman noting that, until February 1, only the VOR-A and visual approaches will be available. All RNAV departures are available.&nbsp;In addition, the FAA noted new taxiway locations and hold areas and advised of run-up areas. With the new runway configuration, pilots will no longer be able to exit the runway at any point and must use the new taxiways.&nbsp;“Pilots are encouraged to ask SMO ATC for clarification or help at any time they are uncertain or think they need additional assistance,” said Santa Monica Tower air traffic manager Robert Russ.

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

SMO Reopens with New ATC Procedures

Santa Monica Mayor declared the reopening with a shorter runway a great day for the city.

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

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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.

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