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 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is maintaining its grading of D+ for U.S. aviation infrastructure, citing a capacity-constrained system that is projected to only worsen over time. ASCE releases its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure every four years, providing an infrastructure assessment throughout the nation. The 2025 edition, which evaluated 18 categories, had grades ranging from “B” to “D.”
<a href="https://bit.ly/3RrXCCf">In aviation</a>, the grade matched that of the 2021 report. The report pointed to FAA projections that passenger traffic is expected to increase at a rate of 2.5% annually between 2023 and 2044, from 811 million to 1.3 billion. At the same time, the agency has found that 11 airports are expected to be runway-capacity-constrained by 2028, increasing to 14 by 2033. (“Capacity constrained” is defined as airports exceeding 80% of their hourly runway capacity for at least 50% of the time.) Further, 13 more airports are at risk of “significant congestion” through 2033, according to the report.
The report acknowledges that the FAA has made strides in its air traffic modernization efforts, but it said progress continues to be slowed by upgrade delays, the removal of outdated equipment, a lack of senior staff familiar with older equipment, and a lack of materials to repair older equipment.
Meanwhile, the FAA estimates that $67.5 billion in capital development projects is needed over the next five years, including approximately 18,100 projects for 3,287 existing airports and five new ones. But ASCE’s Bridging the Gap economic study found a need for $310 billion in investment through 2033.
To raise the grade, the association recommends that the government provide sufficient and flexible federal funding for consistent and long-term capacity, including more Airport Improvement Program grant flexibility and removing the cap on passenger facility charges.
The association recommended guidance on formal facility condition assessment programs, saying airports should look at their systems holistically for maintenance and with asset life cycle management plans across their systems. Addressing the workforce is another area of need, according to the report, pointing to a constrained controller workforce. The report also called for embracing proactive approaches to address sustainability and resiliency, as well as adopting new and emerging technologies.

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

Civil Engineering Organization ASCE Gives D+ to U.S. Aviation Infrastructure

ASCE aviation rating remained unchanged from its last report in 2021

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is calling for flexible funding as it assigns a D+ rating for U.S. aviation infrastructure.

Engineering Org Grades U.S. Aviation Infrastructure a D+

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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.

Proposed vertiport locations include three Manhattan helipads and six airports

Archer and United Reveal New York City eVTOL Network

Charles Alcock

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

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

U.S.-based aviation services group is already present at 220 airports

Oxford Airport Outsources Handling, Security to Unifi

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.

$30 million facility will allow KBLV to receive more international flights

St. Louis-area Airport Building a Major CBP Facility

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

Partners say they are working on projects in Oman and the UAE

Lyte, Bluenest, and LynePorts Form Team To Develop Middle East Vertiports

UAS participates in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Reimbursable Services Program at 30 airports

UAS Adds Five Airports to Its U.S. Customs Program

Matt Thurber

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

More helicopter operations and growth in the area prompted the expansion

Garland/DFW Heliport Expands with New Landing Pad

Handlers, aircraft operators, and airports have three years to comply with new rules in Europe

Ground Handlers Must Comply with New EASA Regulations

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.

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