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

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) is continuing his campaign to overturn a decision by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant access to Ligado to portions of the spectrum adjacent to those used by aviation and other GPS users, pledging to keep fighting the approval and touting reiterated opposition from the Department of Commerce. The FCC in April 2020 had granted approval for Ligado—once known as LightSquared—to use portions of the L-band spectrum next to frequency bands used for GPS and satellite communications.

 


In a statement on the Senate floor last week, Inhofe highlighted <a href="https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/sec_raimondo_response_to_sen.inhoferefccdecision.pdf">a recent letter</a> he received from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo saying, “There has been no change in the Department of Commerce’s or NTIA’s [National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s] opposition to the FCC’s Ligado order. NTIA will continue its efforts on behalf of the Executive Branch to oppose it, including continuing to actively pursue its petition for reconsideration.”

 


“After the Ligado order was rushed through over the weekend in April 2020, there was widespread disagreement, frustration—and frankly—outrage at the decision,” Inhofe said, noting 15 government departments and agencies petitioned the FCC for reconsideration. Because&nbsp;those petitions were pending as the administration turned over, he sought to reconfirm those positions.

 


“This shows, once again, that there is bipartisan concern about the Ligado order that is continuing into the Biden administration,” he said of the Raimondo response. “It is not an exaggeration when I say that the Ligado order would be devastating to public safety, our national defense, and even our way of life.”

 


He reiterated his concerns that Ligado’s planned 5G network could interfere with other spectrum use, pointing to the FCC’s stipulation in its order that Ligado should repair or replace devices experiencing harmful interference from its operations.

 


“That alone should be enough to overturn the order—but if not, we need to make sure federal agencies, state governments, and all others negatively impacted by the actions of Ligado are not left holding the bag when it comes to costs—and worse, aren’t put in the position where they have to push the costs onto American consumers,” Inhofe said.

 


<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-06-23/senate-bill-calls-ligado-pay-gps-harm">Inhofe in June</a> introduced the Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary for GPS and Satellite Communications Act of 2021 (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2166?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22s.2166%22%5D%7D&amp;s=1&amp;r=1">RETAIN Act, S.2166</a>) to ensure Ligado covers the cost of harm, and <a href="https://turner.house.gov/_cache/files/f/c/fc9c4954-a5d8-4938-a8c8-a1f573343d2f/121B9A76DDA55FE5B9A64995D2751F45.cooper-010-xml.pdf">a companion bill</a> was introduced in the House in July.&nbsp;He noted the act has drawn support from more than 100 organizations.

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.

Inhofe Pledges Continued Fight Against Ligado Order

Sen. James Inhofe took to the Senate floor to reiterate opposition to the Ligado order and highlight similar stances within the Biden administration.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Industry group praises prioritizing safety and workforce support

AIA Endorses FAA Funding in FY2026 Proposal

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Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

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Department of Commerce taking comments through June 3

NBAA Urges Members To Stress Trade Importance To Gov’t

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Rep. Nadler has co-sponsored a half-dozen bills in recent years to curb helo ops

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Bar Helicopters in New York City

FAA told to ‘hire, hire, hire’ in its safety workforce

FAA Official: ‘Don't Over-engineer’ SMS

Charles Alcock

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

EBAA says industry still faces discrimination and ‘irrational’ decisions

Business Aviation Asserts Role in European Recovery

Curt Epstein

Out-of-scope operators are being erroneously charged

Business Aviation Customers Feel the RefuelEU Pinch

The airport is reducing peak access due to construction

CBAA Protests Reduced Bizav Slot Allocation at Montreal

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