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

NATA’s newly formed Illegal Charter Task Force is hoping to see increased enforcements against so-called gray charter practices as it continues to work with the FAA to highlight the issue. The association pointed to a June 29 announcement of a proposed civil penalty for illegal charter activity, and said, “This penalty brings to light the ramifications for operating an illegal charter business, and it’s expected that more will come.”

 


The FAA is proposing a $3.3 million civil penalty against The Hinman Co. of Portage, Michigan, the agency said, “for conducting hundreds of commercial aircraft operations in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations, including failing to hold the required operator certificate for the flights being performed.” This activity occurred through Hinman’s subsidiary Hincojet and involved a Beechcraft Beechjet 400A and a Hawker 900XP, the agency added.

 


The company has 30 days to respond to the allegations, which include double-billing clients, charging more than permissible under Part 91, and failing to comply with Part 135 record-keeping and training requirements.

 


NATA in recent years has been meeting with the FAA over the issue, as illegal charter has been a long-standing concern. These concerns culminated in the formation of the Illegal Charter Task Force, which held its first meeting during NATA's annual meeting and aviation business conference last month.

 


During that meeting, the task force focused on defining illegal charter and distinguishing between intentional and unintentional non-compliance. “Illegal charters bypass the FAA’s safety standards in order to undercut the pricing of legitimate businesses by creating a potential safety hazard, putting legitimate operators at a competitive disadvantage, and dodging the payment of appropriate federal excise taxes,” NATA said. “The goal of the task force is to work in conjunction with industry and the FAA to identify operators that attempt to evade the rules and regulations that constitute a legal charter operation, and ensure the protection, safety, and integrity of an industry held to a very high standard.”

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

NATA Sees More Enforcement on Illegal Charter Ahead

NATA said the latest FAA  proposed enforcement action brings to light ramifications of illegal charter activity.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

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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Jessica Reed

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Amy Wilder

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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.

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