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

In the three months since the city of Santa Monica shortened the runway at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California to 3,500 feet, jet traffic has plummeted by more than 80 percent, the city reported this week. Jet operations at SMO last month numbered just 139, down from the average of 687 jet operations in February 2016 and 2017. Similarly, in January, jet operations had declined to 111, down 84 percent from the prior average of 696 in January 2016 and 2017.

 


At the same time though, helicopter operations increased 41 percent in February and 33 percent in January from the prior-two-year average, while turboprop operations were up 40 percent in February and 9 percent in January.

 


Overall operations were down by a little more than 400 in both January and February from their respective prior-two-year averages. February operations numbered 2,219, compared with 2,661 previously, and January operations total 2,116, compared with the 2,551 prior-two-year average. The increased turboprop activity may be an indication of jet traffic beginning to transition to turboprop, said senior advisor to the city manager Suja Lowenthal.

 


The city in December completed its runway-shortening project as part of a larger plan to set the stage for closing the airport altogether by the end of 2028. NBAA had urged the city to delay the shortening in light of a pending lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Appeals that seeks to overturn an agreement between the city and the FAA that enables not only the runway shortening but also the ultimate airport closure. Oral arguments in that case have been scheduled for May 14, keeping the lawsuit on pace for a decision by year-end.

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

Business Jet Ops Drop Sharply at Santa Monica Airport

Oral arguments set in May for NBAA lawsuit to overturn effort to close airport.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

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.

Helsinki city officials want to build housing on the historic site and nature reserve

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

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

Electric aircraft and ground vehicles can now charge at KBAF in western Massachusetts

Atlantic and Beta Add Aircraft Chargers in Massachusetts

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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.

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.

Airport ground vehicles create a memorable holiday light display

Czech Airport Lights Up with Holiday Spirit

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ADS-B and computer vision enables system to detect landing and on-runway traffic

Purdue Polytechnic Patenting Runway Status Lights 

Galesburg Regional Airport will be renamed for a hometown aviation legend

Illinois Airport To Honor Local Aviator, FBO Operator

AmyWilder

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

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

New operator plans upgrades and eVTOL integration

New Operator, Upgrade for Downtown Manhattan Heliport

KTPF accepts night flights for the first time since September

Tampa GA Airport Now Fully Operational after Storms

Peter Shaw-Smith

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.

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

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