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 pledging to take a series of steps—from improving communications for pilots to conducting further risk analysis—to bolster business and general aviation safety. That pledge followed a “General and Business Aviation Call to Action” that the agency held last week with leaders of several key industry organizations to discuss recent accidents and trends. The summit “will kick-start even greater safety collaboration” between the agency and the industry, the FAA added.
Immediate actions include communicating to pilots the importance of checking notams, familiarizing themselves with destination airports, avoiding complacency by carefully following preflight checklists, and paying attention to onboard collision warnings, even if they don’t think a conflict will occur.
Other actions ahead include a safety-risk analysis of close calls involving a mix of VFR and IFR flight; increasing FAA Safety Team outreach on radio communication phraseology, notams, and operations around Class B airspace; working with Part 135 and air tour operators on safety management system (SMS) implementation; and exploring further tools for pilots to assess operational risk. In addition, the government/industry General Aviation Joint Safety Committee will discuss further strategies this week that can be developed to improve safety.
“Safety is a collective effort that requires constant, proactive collaboration among all stakeholders,” said acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “Complacency is the enemy of safety, and we need to be vigilant to address emerging risks before they become problems.”
Held at FAA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., the call to action on Thursday brought together more than two dozen FAA, industry, and labor representatives with sessions moderated by senior FAA officials; NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen; Sean Elliott, v-p of advocacy and safety for EAA; and Jenny Ann Urban, managing director of air charter and maintenance for NATA.
According to the agency, several themes emerged during the discussion, including a need to improve VFR/IFR interactions, examine methods for VFR aircraft to safely fly through Class B airspace, continue the installation of aircraft-tracking technology in control towers, and enable VFR pilots to broadcast a specific code on their transponders and monitor a specific radio frequency around airports with mixed VFR and IFR traffic.
Concerns were raised about safety drift and a common trend of “acceptance, boredom, and complacency.” This highlighted the need to emphasize the imperative for pilots to pay close attention to details, use their checklists, and implement SMS. The discussions also explored how scenario-based training and AI could enhance safety.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

FAA Steps Up Safety Collaboration with Business and General Aviation

Agency held a Call to Action with business and general aviation leaders

Following a Call to Action summit with business and general aviation leaders, the FAA is stepping up collaboration with industry to improve safety.

FAA Steps Up Safety Collaboration with Industry

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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.

Global 5000 accident exposes major safety issues

AINsight: An Eye-opening Lesson on Eye-to-wheel Height

Matt Thurber

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.

Incident took place after a Flexjet Challenger crossed the active runway while the airliner was landing

SWA 737 Goes Around after Midway Runway Incursion 

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.

Deal adds MRO capabilities for oxygen and fire-suppression systems

Aerox Expands O2 Services with Omnigas Acquisition

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.

House T&I Committee Democrats highlight urgent need to prioritize FAA reauthorization implementation

Lawmakers Call For ‘Intense Focus’ on ATC Upgrades, Hiring

AmyWilder

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.

The SMS supports regulatory compliance for operators

NATA CS Launches Safety Management System with AI

Workshops will delve into regulatory requirements, managing risk, and using data

ACSF To Host SMS Workshops with Symposium

Charles Alcock

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

New safety topics related to cybersecurity, ground handling, and VTOL aircraft

EASA Adds Tasks to European Plan for Aviation Safety 

Curt Epstein

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

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

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