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

Nearly a dozen industry associations this week voiced strong opposition to a new bill intended to strengthen international repair station oversight, saying it would, instead, threaten jobs, hurt small businesses, disrupt air travel, and weaken the competitiveness of the U.S. aerospace industry. The associations—including the Aeronautical Repair Station Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, among others—<a href="http://arsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ContractMaintenanceCoalitionLetter-20191118.pdf" style="font-size: 13.008px;">wrote those objections in a lette</a><a href="http://arsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ContractMaintenanceCoalitionLetter-20191118.pdf">r</a> to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&amp;I) Committee leadership in response to the November 15 introduction of The Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act.
T&amp;I chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) introduced the measure, saying, “We’re at an unfortunate moment in our aviation system’s history where safety standards are being questioned, and the bottom line is&nbsp;safety has to be the number one priority.”
He added he has pressed FAA officials for years to do more to close the gap on foreign repair station safety standards. “The bill I’m introducing today does just that by establishing one standard of safety regardless of where the aircraft is maintained.”
The legislation, which was unveiled with seven co-sponsors, requires unannounced inspections at foreign repair stations; minimum qualifications for mechanics and others working on U.S.-registered aircraft at foreign repair stations (including FAA certification for mechanics and supervisors); data analysis; moratoriums on new FAA-certified foreign repair stations until the bill is implemented; and a repository of heavy maintenance history.
Industry groups, however, called the legislation unnecessary given scrutiny repair stations already receive from U.S. and foreign regulators and expressed concern that the legislation would punish the industry if the FAA fails to comply. Further, they said, “The bill mandates onerous new record-keeping and reporting requirements that do nothing to help focus regulators on safety-critical information and will simply overwhelm them with irrelevant data,” adding some of the requirements would be impossible to implement.
They also expressed concern about the threat to international cooperation. “Passenger and cargo airlines and general aviation operators that rely on FAA-certified facilities around the globe will be unable to get their aircraft serviced at foreign destinations,” they said, expressing the additional fear that U.S. repair stations could also be vulnerable to losing approval from foreign aviation authorities.
Also signing the letter were the Aerospace Industries Association, Aircraft Electronics Association, Airlines for America, Aviation Suppliers Association, Cargo Airline Association, International Air Transport Association, Modification and Replacement Parts Association, National Air Carrier Association, and Regional Airline Association.
While those organizations opposed the bill, several unions and other organizations backed it, including the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Consumer Reports, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Consumers League, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, and the Transport Workers Union of America Transportation Trades Department.

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.

House Foreign Repair Station Bill Draws Industry Fire

Rep. Peter DeFazion introduced the bill to tighten oversight on foreign repair stations, but aviations groups say it will harm industry.

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.

Purchase enables company to offer retail aircraft maintenance services in U.S. Southwest

Pinnacle Aviation Buys Mx Provider Aviation One

Work involved major disassembly of the airframe

ExecuJet MRO Completes 120-month Check on Legacy 500 

Extension goes to six years or 4,000 flight hours, whichever is first

Hartzell Lengthens Warranty on Props for Raisbeck King Airs

Curt Epstein

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

The addition will support Flightstar’s MRO growth

Illinois MRO/FBO Flightstar Expands with New Hangar

Combines component repair and overhaul and parts services companies

Jet Parts, DAS Aviation Merger To Improve Efficiency

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Installation supports ISR and law enforcement missions

SEA Adds Mission Console and Sensor Mount for Caravan

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 about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Pinnacle Aviation Buys Mx Provider Aviation One

Purchase enables company to offer retail aircraft maintenance services in U.S. Southwest

ExecuJet MRO Completes 120-month Check on Legacy 500

Work involved major disassembly of the airframe

Hartzell Lengthens Warranty on Props for Raisbeck King Airs

Extension goes to six years or 4,000 flight hours, whichever is first

Illinois MRO/FBO Flightstar Expands with New Hangar

The addition will support Flightstar’s MRO growth

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Installation supports ISR and law enforcement missions

Gulfstream Steps Up Investment in Customer Support

New customer support leader Lor Izzard is building on earlier improvements

Back on the Plate, Pre-buys Still Face Post-covid Challenges

Industry experts caution on the need for a full pre-buy and one that is carefully laid out

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