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). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

Facing a September 30 deadline, lawmakers quickly returned their focus to FAA reauthorization once the 114th Congress convened earlier this month. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&amp;I) Committee leaders scheduled their first hearing on reauthorization in late January, picking up from an initial hearing held in November.

 


T&amp;I chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) has repeatedly emphasized that he does not want a repeat of the 23-short-term extensions that occurred in the past reauthorization cycle. To pave the way for a smoother process, T&amp;I leaders had met privately with industry over the past year before beginning the public hearings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 


Shuster told attendees at the most recent NBAA Convention that he wanted all affected stakeholders to have a spot at the negotiating table, including general aviation, and later emphasized during the November hearing, “FAA reauthorization needs to be done together.”

 


Shuster has not yet set a timetable for the bill, and he must juggle a busy reauthorization year that also is expected to include comprehensive highway and Amtrak bills. The FAA will compete for attention both on the House and Senate floors and in the authorizing committees. However, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen noted that sometimes the busier the agenda, the quicker the accomplishments.

 


William Deere, NATA senior vice present for government and external affairs, noted that the Pennsylvania lawmaker has the skills to push through contentious bills. “Shuster is a savvy leader,” Deere said, citing as an example the recent water resources bill, which historically has been among the more divisive issues. Shuster was able to shepherd the water resources bill through the House with just three “no” votes.

 


<h3>‘Transformational’ Bill</h3>

 


A simple, straightforward reauthorization bill could happen fairly quickly, Rich Swayze, FAA assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment, told an Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) symposium in December. But a more ambitious bill, one that seeks dramatic change, could take some time, he said.&nbsp;

 


Shuster also has said he is pushing for a reauthorization that is “transformational.” During the November hearing, he stressed, “All options are on the table.”

 


Industry stakeholders already have begun discussions about FAA air traffic management reform and potential privatization. FAA reform and funding emerged as key issues during the initial T&amp;I FAA reauthorization hearing in November and continued through the ALPA symposium.

 


While FAA funding has been a recurring theme for decades, industry groups are entering this reauthorization debate with a desire to work together, rather than engaging in the rhetoric wars that fueled the lengthy delays and numerous extensions of the last bill.

 


While acknowledging the collaborative spirit, GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce said the general aviation community would take a stand against any potentially harmful proposal that surfaces, such as user fees. Bunce, however, believes that the committee will first try to iron out the issues where there is agreement. The first reauthorization hearing of this year was scheduled on reforming and streamlining the FAA’s certification processes. Other issues could include unmanned aerial systems, aircraft noise, data security, NextGen, FAA facility consolidation and general aviation airport funding.

 


Asked what the FAA would like to see in its funding reauthorization, Swayze replied, “A bill that’s not an extension.” But he added that the aviation community must set priorities for what is most important and work toward achieving that goal.

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.

Quick Start for FAA Reauthorization Talks 

Lawmakers have until September 30 to hammer out a deal to reauthorize the FAA without short-term extensions. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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.

More In Regulations and Government

Advanced Air Mobility Sector Welcomes FAA's eVTOL Operating Rules

Regulator's "October surprise" turned out to be a good one for the advanced air mobility sector

NBAA, Collins Aerospace End APIS Service Agreement

Alternative services and declining participation led to the change

NATA CS Buys Compliance and Safety Management Rival

The combined platform promises new advancements in AI and automation

Energy Reserves and Pilot Training For eVTOLs Addressed in FAA's SFAR Rules

Developers of "powered-lift" aircraft are digesting what the details mean for their eVTOL business plans

Joby Discusses eVTOL Rules with International Aviation Safety Agencies

Officials from the UK, Japan, and Australia are being hosted at the company's California HQ this week

Rolland Vincent Associates Joins IBAC Partnership Group

Consultancy will work to support bizav growth

Charter Safety Group Adopts Document Management System

Air Charter Safety Foundation wants to encourage members to digitize documents

FAA Greenlights eVTOL Regs as NBAA-BACE Opens

FAA chief Michael Whitaker: “It’s here today. It is now a final rule”

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN