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

Textron Aviation has teamed up with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and WSU&nbsp;Tech to develop a collaborative apprenticeship program that is designed to ensure a long-term flow of skilled production tooling specialists.

 


The first of its kind in the region, the two-year apprenticeship program encompasses both factory and classroom training to develop a range of skills involved with the design, build,&nbsp;and maintenance of production tooling, including everything from specialized hand-held tools to large jig assemblies that support aircraft parts and assemblies. Under the program, participants typically will train at WSU Tech for two days, while spending three days with assigned mentors at Textron Aviation facilities in South Central Kansas.

 


While participating in the program, apprentices will receive&nbsp;salary and benefits from Textron Aviation, as well as related tuition and fees at WSU Tech. Upon completion of the program, participants will earn a tooling associate of applied sciences degree from WSU Tech and become full-time Textron Aviation employees. Employees further have the option of tapping into Textron Aviation’s tuition reimbursement program to work toward a bachelor’s degree. The initial class will involve 15 students.

 


“Through the new apprenticeship program with WSU Tech, our students will get the benefit of an advanced curriculum designed specifically for this program, as well as learn on the job from our highly skilled tradespeople,” said Maggie Topping, senior v-p of HR and communications at Textron Aviation.

 


“This program is another example of the innovation and disciplined business practices of the people of Kansas that have made us a global aerospace leader,” said Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who visited the manufacturer for Tuesday’s announcement. “This kind of partnership is exactly the formula that helps attract talented people to work and live in Kansas.”

Textron Aviation, WSU, IAM Form Apprenticeship Program

Textron Aviation's new apprenticeship program with the IAM and WSU will produce skilled production tooling specialists.

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