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 National Air Transportation Association (NATA) urged the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to maintain the small aircraft exemption for agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees.
In May 2024, the APHIS issued a <a href="https://bit.ly/42HNkDb">final rule</a> that would increase the inspection user fees on commercial aircraft by 50% through fiscal year 2027 to about $340.90 and the per-passenger fee to $4.12 each. It also changed reporting requirements from quarterly to monthly and removed the “small aircraft” exemption, covering those with 64 or fewer seats. When the exemption was put in place 30 years ago, the APHIS explained, AQI inspections were not typically directed at small aircraft. However, the service maintained that U.S. Customs and Border Protection does do such inspections now.
However, the original rule delayed the removal of the exemption to April 1, 2025. Since release of the rule, the APHIS has <a href="https://bit.ly/4jqBIfb">further delayed</a> implementation of the fees on small aircraft to June 2 and asked for comments on the fees, inspection needs, and potential risks involving smaller aircraft operations.
In its comments, NATA urged APHIS to keep the existing exemption for small aircraft in place to ensure a more equitable cost allocation and support the economic viability of small aviation businesses.
NATA noted that Part 135 operators fly aircraft with a maximum of 30 passenger seats and payload of 7,500 pounds, and most of the 2,000 carriers are classified as small businesses, unlike scheduled passenger airlines or large cargo carriers.
“Given the limited payload capacities and overall small aircraft size, any burden for inspection service is inherently minimal and often de minimis,” the association maintained. “The aircraft in the Part 135 class pose a lower agricultural risk compared to large freighters or scheduled airliners, which often carry thousands of bags and palletized cargo.”
This is especially true for medical transportation services, which must meet strict medical protocols, NATA added.
Further, APHIS is required to ensure that fees charged are commensurate with the costs of the services provided, NATA added. “Most of the carriers and aircraft in this class are rarely, if ever, inspected by actual APHIS agents. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, not APHIS inspectors, typically process these arrivals, only involving APHIS if specific circumstances arise.”
NATA also contended that charging Part 135 operators the same fee as large cargo carriers or scheduled airlines “misallocates” the inspection costs, having small operators subsidize large corporations. “The de minimis agricultural services provided by CBP for part 135 aircraft do not justify the same fee as is charged to the airlines,” NATA said.
NATA also expressed concern that the regulatory calculations improperly relied on data pertinent to scheduled airlines.
As an alternative to eliminating the exemption, NATA recommended lowering the threshold to 30 seats and allowing it to apply only in cases where the aircraft is not carrying certain cargo or serving certain foods.
This would limit the exemption to those with the least risk, the association explained, stressing that medical flights should retain the exemption.

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.

NATA Urges APHIS To Keep Small Aircraft Inspection User Fee Exemption

AQI fees set to go in place on small aircraft in June

NATA has asked the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to restore an exemption for small aircraft from inspection user fees.

NATA Urges APHIS To Keep Small Aircraft Fee Exemption

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

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

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.

Rescinded job offer followed failed alcohol test

Texas Pilot Sentenced after Threatening Voicemail

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

Service will be housed on the cloud with more flexibility and resiliency

FAA To Roll Out More Reliable Notam Service in September

Jessica Reed

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

Walter Bius and his Prairie Flower company allegedly operated an illegal charter service using deceptive aircraft leasing practices

DOT Files Civil Action against Illegal Charter Operation

Robert Sancetta

Most pilots can continue flying even with a cancer diagnosis

AINsight: Cancer and Flying, Part 1

Curt Epstein

Program is lauded for social media use and cohesive messaging

Climbing Fast Campaign Climbs to the Top

Chad Trautvetter

Uncertainty is keeping potential buyers and investors on the sidelines

Daher Aircraft Navigates Trump’s Tariffs

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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

UK manufacturer has purchased battery chargers from electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies

Vertical Adopts Standardized Chargers for eVTOL Aircraft Batteries

Sarah Rose

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.

More In Regulations and Government