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 Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is cautioning on the dangers of dust devils, saying they have been present in more than 170 aircraft accidents it has investigated since 1982.
Noting that dust whirlwinds are often considered a harmless phenomenon, the Safety Board highlighted their hazards to aviation, detailing related accidents involving small fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft.
“For pilots unfamiliar with or inattentive to the presence of dust devils, especially when operating at low altitudes, the consequences can be catastrophic,” the agency said in a safety alert, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-alerts/Documents/SA-088.pdf">Dust Devils: Silent Sky Snares</a>.
Dust devils can occur under clear skies and warm conditions, forming in areas of strong surface heating, NTSB noted, adding that they can be as strong as tornadoes and waterspouts. “Given their often invisible nature (unless they pick up dust and debris), dust devils pose a risk of sudden and unexpected turbulence for pilots and aircraft, which may lead to rapid loss of lift, uncommanded roll or yaw, or other disturbances,” the Safety Board said.
The NTSB cited related accidents, including a Grumman G-164B Ag Cat that flew through a dust devil after taking off from a dirt airstrip in Saffell, Arkansas. It subsequently lost lift and crashed into a field inverted with substantial damage.
In another instance, an MD-369FF helicopter flew into a dust devil shortly after takeoff in Palm Gardens, Nevada. The encounter caused a sudden right yaw, loss of lift, and an uncontrollable hop, the NTSB said. “The pilot attempted to maintain control during the descent but the main rotor struck the tailboom, which sustained substantial damage; the skid gear was also damaged.”
The NTSB provided guidance on detecting dust devils, noting that they can cast a shadow on the ground. “Even if the dust devil doesn’t have visible debris, the vortex itself can cause enough air density and temperature differences to create a visible shadow.” Further, dust devils can leave tracks on the ground, even if they don’t lift debris, the Safety Board added.
“Always be vigilant for the potential presence of dust devils, especially in regions known for them, such as the U.S. Southwest,” the Safety Board advised. “Scan areas thoroughly before takeoff and landing, as well as during low-level flight operations. If operating in areas known for frequent dust devil activity, maintain a higher altitude, when possible, to minimize the encounter risk.”
The NTSB stressed that pilots should not assume visibility equals safety. “Just because a dust devil is not picking up debris doesn’t mean it’s not there.” Additionally, the agency urged pilots to be informed and on the lookout for their potential in weather briefings. Further, if a pilot suspects having flown through one, they should inspect their aircraft.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

NTSB Cautions of Hidden Dangers of Dust Devils

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The invisible dangers of dust devils have prompted the NTSB to issue a safety alert cautioning pilots to be on the lookout for them.

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

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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