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 FAA continues to move briskly forward on its effort to overhaul the air traffic control system, most recently with the addition of Surface Movement Radars (SMR) at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). Installations mark continued improvements at two key airports, with KDCA coming under scrutiny in the aftermath of the nearby midair collision on Jan. 29, 2025, and Newark being plagued with communications issues in the months following.
Also part of its overarching effort, the FAA submitted a notice last week that it was awarding an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to AT&amp;T for the FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS), encompassing a range of communications and information management systems. The initial award includes $74.3 million for early start-up planning and development activities.
KDCA received the Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4), following the installation at KEWR by just a few days. The technology will enable controllers to better track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways in all weather and visibility conditions, according to the FAA.
“In just 18 months, we have delivered billions of dollars to air traffic control centers across the country—including $30.5 million right here at Washington Reagan,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “This new radar is our latest reinforcement tool to equip our controllers as they safeguard our air travel.”
Along with the SMR-4, the FAA has replaced 67% of its copper wiring with high-speed fiber, transitioned to electronic flight strips, and installed new radios at KDCA. Further, new electronic information display systems and IP voice switches are scheduled for installation by the end of 2028.
Replacing 30-year-old radar, the SMR-4 is part of $30 million in infrastructure and radar investments at KEWR. In addition, 90% of the copper wire there has been replaced, and the tower is now transitioning to electronic flight strips.
“Newark sees well over a thousand flights per day, and the new Surface Movement Radar will help controllers keep those flights safe at this major U.S. hub,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.&nbsp;
Ahead by the end of 2027 are new electronic information displays, voice switches, and long-range radar.
Throughout the National Airspace System, the FAA has replaced 60% of all copper wires, converted 363 radio sites, installed 96 Surface Awareness Initiative systems, transitioned 19 towers to electronic flight strips, and installed 151 IP voice switches at control towers.
As for the AT&amp;T award, the agency said it anticipates the IDIQ contract will ultimately carry a “multibillion-dollar” value over 15 years. FENS will be a key communications program for the agency, supporting a range of telecommunications functions, in addition to administrative functions such as email, payroll, and online training.&nbsp;
The FAA said an accelerated acquisition was necessary to support its December 2028 deadline for a “Brand New Air Traffic Control System,” adding that a competitive procurement would take at least 22 months and make its deadline impossible to meet.
Noting that only three Tier-1 telecommunications providers exist in the U.S., AT&amp;T was the only one willing and able to commit resources to meet the agency’s timeline, according to the FAA.&nbsp;
The agency also noted its ongoing relationship with AT&amp;T, which is familiar with the FAA telecommunications requirements and National Airspace System infrastructure. This has included support of the agency’s ADS-B and Enterprise Solutions programs.
&nbsp;“AT&amp;T possesses necessary Tier-1 core network infrastructure, nationwide footprint, network engineering expertise, and operational capabilities to support approximately 4,500 FAA facilities with 24/7/365 mission-critical operation,” the agency further stated.

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

FAA Installs Surface Radars at Key Airports and Awards $74.3M to AT&T

KDCA and KEWR receive SMR-4 installations, while IDIQ AT&T covers coms

Continuing its brisk modernization pace, the FAA has added surface radars at key airports and awarded a sweeping comms contract to AT&T.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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

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.

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Charlotte Bailey

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.

Honeywell-led consortium to consider advanced air mobility integration

Verti-Go Initiative to Lead European Airspace Update

NASA controllers used existing tools to manage simulated autonomous traffic

Wisk Tests 1:3 Supervisor Ratio for Autonomous Flight

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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.

Funds would build on $12.5 billion approved last year

Modern Skies Coalition Urges $20B More for ATC Upgrades

Contract covers more than 700 ground stations nationwide

FAA Taps L3Harris To Modernize Surveillance Network

Jeremy Kariuki

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.

FAA completed an audit to strengthen NAS operations related to flight delays and cancellations

FAA’s Wilbur To Improve Flight Delay Data Efficiencies

The initial radar is installed in Putnam, Oklahoma

FAA Commissions First of New Indra Radars

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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