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

The FAA is closing its investigation into a Detroit aviation operation that came under public scrutiny for flights it provided to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in March for transportation between Michigan and Florida. “The FAA investigated and made clear to the operator what the rules are for chartered flights,” the agency said in a statement. “The operator took steps so a similar situation won’t occur in the future.” Reportedly, no penalties were involved.

 


The flights involving Air Eagle’s Gulfstream G280 came under question initially for Whitmer’s departure to Florida and then for the cost and payment involved. Local media had quoted the Whitmer office as characterizing the flights as “charter,” but Air Eagle did not have the associated air operating certificate.

 


Air Eagle operates the G280 for PVS Chemicals of Detroit. Whitmer’s office has said it would reimburse PVS Chemicals the $27,521 cost of the flight, according to the Detroit Free Press, which also said PVS Chemicals president David Nicholson had issued a statement in May that, in the future, the company would deny requests to fly candidates or government officials.

 


Leading up to the 2020 elections, NBAA had hosted a Newshour <a href="https://nbaa.org/flight-department-administration/policies-utilization/nbaa-news-[…]ing-a-political-candidate-this-year-you-might-want-to-read-this/">Webinar highlighting the pitfalls</a> of Part 91 operators transporting public officials. “It’s a perfectly ordinary consideration,” NBAA said but noted the complex federal, state, and local laws and ethics rules surrounding such operations. NBAA created a members-only resource to provide information reimbursement rates, government- and candidate-owned aircraft exemptions, and recordkeeping requirements.

 


Air Eagle, which has been based at Detroit City Airport since the mid-1990s, had no comment.

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.

FAA, Air Eagle Resolve Whitmer Flight Issues

Air Eagle came under investigation after the charter operator flew Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer between Michigan and Florida in March.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

Kaleyesus Bekele

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent 

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Amy Wilder

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Regulations and Government

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Move averts potential shutdown

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN