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 updating its Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant assurances to incorporate mandates included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, including a requirement surrounding the availability of 100-octane low lead (100LL) aviation gasoline through Dec. 31, 2030.&nbsp;The updates also eliminate several stipulations surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion and sustainability efforts, and instead reflect a series of new executive orders on those issues.
Modifications to the program took effect with <a href="https://bit.ly/43e8sS7">a notice</a> published in the April 25 Federal Register to expedite processing of fiscal year 2025 grants, the agency said. However, the FAA will still accept comments on the updates through May 9. “If necessary, in response to comments received, the FAA will consider appropriate revisions to these grant assurance modifications,” the agency added.
Sponsors who receive AIP grants for airport planning, development, noise compatibility planning, or noise mitigation must agree to certain assurances, the agency explained, noting that assurances are granted to airport sponsors, non-airport sponsors undertaking noise compatibility program projects, planning agency sponsors, and aviation state block grant programs. The FAA grants assurances periodically, most recently in 2022.
In changes announced last week, the agency added a Grant Assurance 40 requiring airport owners or operators that had made any 100LL avgas available during calendar year 2022 to “not restrict or prohibit the sale of or self-fueling” of the fuel. The requirement remains in effect until the earlier of Dec. 31, 2030, “or the date on which the airport or any retail fuel seller at the airport makes available an unleaded aviation gasoline that has been authorized for use by the administrator of the [FAA] as a replacement for 100-octane low lead aviation gasoline for use in nearly all piston-engine aircraft and engine models; and meets either an industry consensus standard or other standard that facilitates the safe use, production, and distribution of such unleaded aviation gasoline, as determined appropriate by the administrator.”
In addition, other changes reflected the removal of executive orders targeting certain requirements surrounding equal employment opportunity, “environmental justice,” advancement of racial equity and support for underserved communities, prevention of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad.
Among other updates, the FAA further added measures reflecting executive orders on restoring freedom of speech, ending “radical and wasteful government DEI programs” and preferences, “unleashing American energy,” “defending women from gender ideology extremism,” and restoring merit-based opportunity.

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

FAA Calls for Continued Aviation Gasoline in Airport Grant Assurances

FAA made several updates to its AIP grant assurances, including on DEI as well as avgas

The FAA has made several updates to its airport grant assurance requirements surrounding leaded avgas, DEI, and sustainability.

FAA Calls for Continued Avgas in AIP Grant Assurances

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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

Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal to support both helicopter and eVTOL air taxi services

UAE Approves First ‘Hybrid Heliport’ Design for Abu Dhabi

Curt Epstein

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.

Independent survey results say KAPF is important

Survey: Naples Airport Receives Strong Community Support

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.

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

Oxford Airport Outsources Handling, Security to Unifi

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

ASCE aviation rating remained unchanged from its last report in 2021

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

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

More In Airports

UAE Approves First ‘Hybrid Heliport’ Design for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal to support both helicopter and eVTOL air taxi services

Survey: Naples Airport Receives Strong Community Support

Independent survey results say KAPF is important

Archer and United Reveal New York City eVTOL Network

Proposed vertiport locations include three Manhattan helipads and six airports

Oxford Airport Outsources Handling, Security to Unifi

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

St. Louis-area Airport Building a Major CBP Facility

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

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

ASCE aviation rating remained unchanged from its last report in 2021

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

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

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

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

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