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 average salary increase in business aviation dipped in 2024 compared with the prior two years but still was up 8% year over year across the board, according to NBAA’s recently released 2024 Compensation Survey. This increase was twice the national average, NBAA added.
NBAA’s survey drew responses from 459 participants, representing 4,578 aviation-specific employees. Respondents reported on 19 different aviation-specific positions.
According to the responses, chief pilots’ and senior captains’ typical salaries are nearly double that of a copilot. Bonuses have become a key element of pilot pay, on average providing an additional 13% of pay, on par with the 14% in 2023 and 13% reported in 2022.
Chief pilots and senior captains at the largest companies (those with $10 billion or more in corporate sales) typically received bonuses representing 22% and 20%, respectively, of additional pay. Meanwhile, a copilot at a company with $100 million or less in annual sales typically saw a 4% bonus.
Conversely, the smallest companies reported the largest salary increase budgets. This continued a trend from 2023. When broken down by FAA region, salary increases were highest in the Northwest and Southern territories.
As far as retention, 36% of the surveyed company respondents reported using retention bonuses, while 19% offered deferred compensation and 28% provided longer-term incentives/equity.
Consistent with past surveys, pilots flying the heaviest business aircraft are paid 40% more than the average pilot. The hotels and lodging industry topped the board for highest average pilot pay, 33% more than the national average. The highest pilot salary on average was found in the New England region, some 31% more than the national average. Pilots who have been with a company for more than 10 years typically make 27% more than average.

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

NBAA Survey Reveals Bizav Pilot Salary Increases Easing

Business aviation salary increases less than in recent years but were still twice the national average

Business aviation salary increases have ebbed from the past two years but were still twice the national average, according to NBAA’s 2024 Compensation Survey.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

NASA, USAF speakers address culture and decisionmaking

Jet Linx Grounds Fleet for Annual Safety Summit

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.

The annual bizav showcase will be in Las Vegas in October

NBAA Promises Inspiration at BACE 2025

Charles Alcock

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.

HM Aerospace could take up to 30 of the aircraft to train pilots

Malaysian Flight School Orders VoltAero's Cassio 330

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.

Simulators expands partnerships with Embraer, Cebu Pacific

CAE Adding Simulators in Madrid, the Philippines

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 than 70 teams joined the 2025 design competition

High School Team in Texas Takes First in GAMA Challenge

Companies need to drive 30% to 40% more efficiency with existing workforce

Study: A&D at Inflection Point In Face of Retention Issues

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.

More In Training and Workforce

Jet Linx Grounds Fleet for Annual Safety Summit

NASA, USAF speakers address culture and decisionmaking

NBAA Promises Inspiration at BACE 2025

The annual bizav showcase will be in Las Vegas in October

Malaysian Flight School Orders VoltAero's Cassio 330

HM Aerospace could take up to 30 of the aircraft to train pilots

CAE Adding Simulators in Madrid, the Philippines

Simulators expands partnerships with Embraer, Cebu Pacific

High School Team in Texas Takes First in GAMA Challenge

More than 70 teams joined the 2025 design competition

Study: A&D at Inflection Point In Face of Retention Issues

Companies need to drive 30% to 40% more efficiency with existing workforce

French Mx Training Provider Earns EASA Part 66 Approval

Vallair Group company will expand its course offering

Aviation Needs To Recruit 1.5 Million Professionals

CAE published its latest Aviation Talent Forecast at the Paris Air Show

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN