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.

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The FAA, highlighting its efforts to combat illegal charter, is warning the public of red flags involved in&nbsp;illegal operations. The agency also&nbsp;released a list of certified operators to enable consumers to verify their charter companies. Those warnings came as the agency has worked with industry organizations such as NATA and NBAA to step up its efforts to curtail illegal activity.

 


<a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/illegal_charter_operations/?cid=TW718">In a new statement</a>, the FAA notes it is working “aggressively to identify and shut down rogue operators,” saying they pose a serious threat to safety. Legal charter operations meet a higher level of training, maintenance, and operational requirements, and are more frequently inspected, the FAA statement reminds.

 


The agency outlined various forms of illegal charter activity such as a lack of certification, use of unauthorized aircraft, use of unqualified pilots, ride-sharing offers, and transference of operational control to the customer, among others.

 


Numerous actions are ongoing to crack down on illegal operations, the FAA added, including the formation of a special-focus team to investigate complex cases. Also, the agency has partnered with industry to identify illegal operations, the agency said, adding it is standing up a new team to collaborate with industry trade associations to educate pilots and operators.

 


In addition to furnishing the list of licensed operators, the agency advises that customers can ask to see the company’s operating certificate and specifications that list the approved aircraft.

 


Additionally, the agency listed potential red flags, such as an attempt to transfer operational control to a customer; a lack of federal excise tax charge:&nbsp;“if the price is too good to be true, it probably is;” lack of safety briefing or briefing cards; evasive answers to questions or concerns; and an attempt to coach passengers on what to say if an FAA inspector is present.

 


“The FAA encourages people to thoroughly research operators they are considering hiring, and to report any suspected illegal activities to the agency,” the statement said, adding, “If a member of the public has a concern about the legitimacy of a charter operator, they should contact their local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).”

 


The agency pointed to resources of industry groups, its own guidance, as well as the toll-free illegal charter reporting hotline at 888-SKY-FLT1 (888-759-3581).&nbsp;

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FAA Warns of Red Flags Pointing To Rogue Operators

The agency, in a statement on its activities surrounding illegal charter, links to a list of certificated operators and lists red flags.

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