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

A coalition of 20 organizations across the aviation industry is urging House lawmakers to take action on a bill to make qualified pilot and maintenance technician schools eligible for 529 plan distributions. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-03-28/lawmakers-aim-make-aviation-programs-eligible-529-plans">Introduced in March</a> by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1818/text?s=1&amp;r=1">H.R.1818</a>, the Aviation Workforce Development Act, would permit 529 plans to cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for participation in a qualified aviation technician or pilot course, including with Part 147 maintenance schools and Part 61 and 141 flight schools.
The bill may ultimately end up in a comprehensive FAA reauthorization package but first must receive House Ways and Means Committee approval.
Industry backers sent <a href="https://nbaa.org/wp-content/uploads/professional-development/workforce-initiatives/HR-1818-Coalition-Letter.pdf">a letter</a> to committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) urging them to schedule a vote on the bill, which they said is designed to reduce barriers for aspiring aviators facing the high cost of training. “We agree that a robust commercial aviation industry requires a steady supply of pilots and mechanics and allowing Americans to use 529 Plans—which are comprised of their own money—will help the industry meet the rapidly increasing demand for air services,” they said in the May 10 letter.
The organizations noted that similar legislation was recently enacted for trades apprenticeship programs. “H.R.1818 will build on that legacy and address the similarly growing need for aviators and aircraft mechanics by giving Americans the same tools to choose a career in aviation as those seeking four-year degrees,” they added of the bill introduced by Reps. Mike Collins (R-Georgia), Jimmy Panetta (D-California), Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania), and Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee).
NBAA, among the signatories of the letter, noted that Sen. Tim Scott (R-South&nbsp;Carolina) is expected to introduce similar legislation in the Senate. NBAA added that along with strongly backing H.R.1818, it also endorsed&nbsp;the recent introduction of a bill—the Flight Education Access Act (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2874?s=1&amp;r=9">H.R.2874</a>)—to increase loan limits for flight education and training programs.

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.

Aviation Orgs Urge Action on Bill To Have 529 Plans Cover Pilot and Aircraft Technician Training

Twenty organizations are urging House Ways and Means Committee leaders to approve a bill that would extend 529 benefits

Industry Orgs Urge Action on Aviation Training Bill

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