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

Increased business and general aviation operations in the U.S. helped push up Signature Flight Support’s FBO revenue by 12.4 percent in 2018, contributing to the overall 24.4 percent jump in revenue for parent BBA Aviation. The parent organization also benefited from the additions of Epic and Firstmark, along with increased Ontic license acquisitions.

 


Signature’s FBO business brought in $1.76 billion in 2018, making up 75 percent of the $2.35 billion in revenue of BBA Aviation. The FBO chain benefited from a 9 percent improvement in U.S. business and general aviation movements in 2018, BBA noted, adding, “We continue to believe the U.S. B&amp;GA market is a long-term structural growth market.” However, at the same time, BBA expressed concerned about a “short-term disconnect” currently ongoing that reflects a decline in business confidence and is reducing discretionary flying.&nbsp;

 


Signature’s FBO profits were down 1.9 percent to $315.7 million on the year, which BBA attributed to previously announced investments in commercial technology to enhance customer service and support revenue optimization. Even so, Signature still posted a 17.9 percent margin.

 


Its TechnicAir MRO operation saw organic revenues&nbsp;decline 3.4 percent to $74.1 million with a 50.7 percent drop in profit to $3.7 million. BBA cited “the availability of skilled technicians,” along with lower repair activity on a key maintenance account to this decline. Meanwhile, Epic contributed $292.5 million in revenues and a $2.9 million operating profit during its first six months of ownership under the Signature umbrella.

 


Signature continued its expansive growth in 2018, not only through the Epic acquisition but with an agreement to acquire St. Thomas Jet Center and the opening of new terminals. The FBO network now spans 196 locations, including 18 Signature Select franchises. Its reach further expanded through Epic, which added 202 privately owned, Epic-branded FBOs and another 121 unbranded locations.

 


BBA said moving forward, Signature is eying further development of its non-fuel services through the Signature/Epic card services program, as well as on its Elite Class commercial passenger interconnect services.

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

Signature Gets Boost from Increased U.S. Operations

BBA's revenues jumped 24.4 percent overall thanks to acquisitions, as well as a 12.4 percent increase in Signature's FBO business.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

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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