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

NBAA praised House passage yesterday of a bill that calls for a series of enhancements to general aviation and charter security that are designed to take a more risk-based approach. Sponsored by Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), the bill, Securing General Aviation and Commercial Air Carrier Service Act of 2017 (H.R.3669), is intended to highlight general aviation issues that often get lower priority on a national level, according to report language accompanying the bill.

 


“General aviation and commercial charter air carriers represent a small fraction of the TSA's stakeholder community, often causing their issues and concerns to fall to the bottom of the agency's priorities,” according to the report language. “This bill seeks to elevate some of these important, but often overlooked, security issues.”

 


Specifically, the bill calls on the Transportation Security Administration to study the feasibility of establishing a web-based Secure Flight passenger screening system for charter operators; develop an implementation plan for general aviation recommendations approved by the Aviation Security Advisory Council; and report on the feasibility of threat assessments for all candidates seeking training for aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. Additionally, the bill would authorize the TSA to provide screening services for charter operators in areas other than passenger terminals, as well as appoint a full-time employee who handles only general aviation and charter issues .

 


NBAA praised passage of the bill. “We applaud Rep. Estes for introducing this important legislation, which would provide much-needed streamlining of security for general aviation and commercial charter air carriers,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “The bill would offer more flexibility to general aviation and charter operators, while also increasing security.”

 


The report notes that unlike the commercial airlines that connect to TSA’s Secure Flight system, passenger vetting at charters is often conducted through emails, presenting potential security risks for the associated data. Charter operators typically don’t have the volume to support the costs of connecting with Secure Flight. Under the measure in the bill, TSA would explore a web-based option to provide operators with real-time passenger vetting information in a secured environment.

 


As for passenger screening, charters currently must conduct their own screening or hire private companies. But sometimes screening agents aren’t available on short notice. The bill is designed to provide flexibility to access TSA screeners that are requested through the airport.

 


Meanwhile, the Aviation Security Advisory Committee has looked at several improvements to general aviation and commercial charter air carrier programs. But the TSA has yet to implement them, the report language said. The bill further seeks to address the lack of a full-time “subject matter expert” at TSA to interact with the general aviation community, the report language said. As for the flight-training measure, the report specifies the vetting should focus on initial training of covered individuals.

 


The House approved the bill by voice vote and it heads next to the Senate for consideration.

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.

House Bill To Tackle Range of Genav Security Issues

The bill is intended to highlight general aviation issues that often get lower priority on a national level.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

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.

Duffy served in Congress from 2011 to 2019

Former Rep. Duffy Selected for Transportation Secretary

AmyWilder

Operators push for simpler fatigue-management rules

Canada’s Flight and Duty Time Regulations under Scrutiny

Thune formerly chaired the Commerce Committee and is well versed in aviation issues

Thune Move to Senate Majority Leader Draws Bizav Praise

Hanneke Weitering

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.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Inflight refueling aircraft slated for first autonomous flight in 2025

USAF Approves Merlin's Airworthiness Plan for Autonomous KC-135

Tax issues among first anticipated on Capitol Hill's plate next year

Washington To See New Aviation Leaders in Next Congress

Tariffs, Schedule F, sustainability, audits all possible changes

New White House Sets Stage for New Aviation Policy

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

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.

Report identifies vulnerabilities in labor, materials, and infrastructure

Task Force Details Aerospace Supply-chain Weaknesses

Charles Alcock

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

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

More In Regulations and Government