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

Continuing the long-term battle over the future of Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California, the Santa Clara County board of supervisors in California unanimously voted to take steps to shutter the airfield sooner than grant obligations currently permit and prohibit leaded aviation gasoline fueling there in the meantime.

 


The vote in August, which followed hours of debate, came on the heels of a report conducted by data science consulting firm Mountain Data Group that found higher blood lead levels in children who live closer to the airport. It also came despite an appeal from San Jose Mayor Samuel Liccardo to proceed cautiously, fearing that premature closure would divert general aviation aircraft to other San Jose airports such as Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (KSJC).

 


In a letter to the board of supervisors, Liccardo expressed concern that such a move ahead of developing adequate alternatives would push general aviation aircraft—and lead exposure—to more densely populated areas. He also expressed concerns about the safety implications of mixing more general aviation aircraft at KSJC.

 


But Liccardo also stressed&nbsp;he’s long been an advocate of closing the facility. “I have publicly and consistently supported the closure of Reid-Hillview Airport. To whatever extent the county’s most recent lead study confirms safety and community health concerns, its closure seems all the more imperative,” he said.

 


Grant obligations would require that the airport remain open until 2031, but Reid-Hillview, a general aviation strip with parallel 3,100-foot runways, has had a lack of support from Santa Clara leadership for years. In fact, the FAA issued a compliance letter in February over concerns that the county has not made necessary safety upgrades at the facility. In the letter, the agency warned that even though the county stopped accepting federal Airport Improvement Grant funds, it is still under obligation to maintain the facility through 2031.

 


As for the leaded fuel concerns, Swift Fuels in August began delivery of its newly FAA-approved UL94 to the facility, a move advocates are hoping can help preserve its future.

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

Santa Clara Looks To Shutter Reid-Hillview Airport

Santa Clara County wants Reid-Hillview Airport closed sooner than grant obligations would permit and end leaded fuel in the meantime.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

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.

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.

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.

Midway Island plays a role in ETOPS flight planning

FAA Ponders Fate of Remote Pacific Island Airfield

Tennessee governor suggests change to airport board

Nashville Mulls Airport Name Change To Honor Dolly Parton

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Site will support both piloted and pilotless VTOL flight testing

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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.

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