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

As the industry concerns grow over the labor shortage, MRO AAR has released a new report that explores opportunities to build the pool of aviation maintenance workers. The report, “<a href="https://www.aarcorp.com/assets/3/7/AAR_EAGLE_1.31.19_vFIN4[1].pdf">EAGLE Pathways: Bridging the Middle-Skills Gap to Careers in Aviation</a>,” looks at means to bring in new workers and track progress through public-private partnerships, targeted recruitment, and career paths that provide for advancement.

 


It points to areas of potential recruitment, including the estimated 6.5 million discouraged or underemployed American workers, military veterans, and historically underrepresented workers such as women, African Americans, and Latinos. Prospects also include students who prefer a less expensive two-year degree or industry skills certifications to a more costly a four-year degree.

 


Industry research has estimated a need for 189,000 new aviation maintenance technicians in North America alone through 2037. However, nearly 30 percent of the existing force is nearing retirement, while new hires represent only about 2 percent of workers.

 


AAR said it has been building partnerships with various cities, states, and schools to ensure its pipeline. In fact, AAR president and CEO John Holmes was in Indianapolis this week to discuss Indiana’s Next Level Jobs initiative with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and other local and state officials. That initiative includes employer-training grants of up to $50,000.

 


“One of our top priorities is to increase training and job prospects not just for AAR but across the aviation industry,” Holmes said. “We believe more people will choose aviation if they are aware of the training opportunities and the favorable job prospects in this exciting industry.”

 


Additionally, AAR this week announced an expansion of its training partnership with Vincennes University, under which students can earn credits that lead to several careers at AAR. Through the program, students will job shadow, receive mentoring, get academic support, and, for mechanic students, possibly qualify for up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursement. AAR has introduced similar programs at colleges in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Chicago and Rockford, Illinois; and Duluth, Minnesota.

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.

AAR Points To Prospects To Fill Labor Pipeline

An AAR report suggests looking to discouraged or underemployed workers, underrepresented groups, and students preferring a two-year path.

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

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

Executives share their experience with system

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Charles Alcock

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

C&L Aerospace Tapped for Challenger Flutter Damper Mx

The company was selected by OEM Héroux-Devtek

Avcon Delivers Aerial Weapon in Florida Mosquito Fight

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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