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 crew of a U.S. Air Force Gulfstream V operating under the call sign SAM741 (Special Air Mission 741) reported sighting of a person in a “wingsuit” as the aircraft was passing through 4,000 feet on a flight into Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) earlier this week, according to the LiveATC recordings.
While no other sightings were known to follow, the report hearkened back to the series of reports of a person apparently seen wearing a “jetpack” flying through various altitudes that circulated earlier in the decade. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2020-12-28/pilot-captures-video-jetpack-flying-la-airspace">Video captured</a> at least one of these incidents, but it was unclear whether it was the so-called “jetpack man” or a drone. Investigations yielded no information, and the reports ceased.
However, on Sunday, SAM741 reported a similar event while on a trip to KLAX from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. This flight followed one that began at Joint Base Andrews, according to FlightAware.
The pilot on the GV reported to air traffic control that “just had a potential skydiver around 4,000 feet.” The controller responded with seeming surprise: “What was that?” And the pilot elaborated, “We just had somebody cross above us around 4,000 feet in a wingsuit.” This elicited an “are you serious?” response, but the pilot affirmed.
The controller then notified other incoming aircraft that could be near the flight path of the potential, including those from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines. The controller received a round of acknowledgements to remain on the lookout, with one pilot noting that they had heard of such an event on social media but thought it had been bogus.
“Yeah, it’s been a few years since we’ve last experienced it here, but I guess another one today,” the controller stated.

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

USAF Gulfstream V Crew Reports Sighting of Person in ‘Wingsuit’ at 4,000 Feet

Aircraft was en route to KLAX

A recent sighting of a person in a “wingsuit” at 4,000 feet around LAX hearkens back to similar reports made earlier in the decade.

USAF GV Crew Reports Person in ‘Wingsuit’ at 4,000 Feet

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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 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.

Dashboard details 10,000 air traffic control projects and tracks progress

FAA Dashboard Provides View into ATC Modernization

Charles Alcock

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Release covers controller-pilot datalink communications

Eurocontrol Issues Datalink Guidelines for Operators

Hanneke Weitering

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.

More In ATC

FAA Dashboard Provides View into ATC Modernization

Dashboard details 10,000 air traffic control projects and tracks progress

Eurocontrol Issues Datalink Guidelines for Operators

Release covers controller-pilot datalink communications

Indra Group To Build Nav Canada Drone Integration Platform

Initial drone traffic management capabilities expected in 2029

FAA Eyeing AI, Machine Learning To Optimize Airspace, Scheduling

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford outlined vision to move FAA into the future

FAA Cuts 2,000 from Certified Controller Goal in 2026 Plan

New plan suggests a necessary full certified professional controller target of 12,563, down from 14,633 in the 2025 plan

Collins Ramping Up Radar Build with Florida Expansion

New radar production area to be complete by year’s end

Digital Tower Technology Coalition Pushing Remote ATC

Cross-section of stakeholders encouraging implementation throughout NAS

Govt Watchdog Finds Security Gaps in Key ATC Systems

FAA needs baseline security controls in a little more than 10% of its “high-impact' ATC systems

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN