AEA Wired by Aircraft Electronics Association
Dec. 14, 2016
Keeping the general aviation industry connected
The Current 
News from the general aviation industry
 

Early-bird Registration Ends Friday, Dec. 16, for AEA International Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans
There are only two days left to take advantage of the AEA Convention's early-bird registration rate. If you plan to attend the 60th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans (March 13-16, 2017), be sure to register by Friday, Dec. 16. 

Attendee full registration rates for AEA members are as follows: 
Early-bird (by Dec. 16): $610 
Advance (Dec. 17 to Feb. 17): $675 
On-site (after Feb. 17): $750 
 
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside will serve as the headquarters hotel. The hotel is within walking distance of the New Orleans Convention Center -- site of all general sessions, training and exhibit hall. Stay an extra day and enjoy the St. Patrick's Day festivities Mardi Gras style in New Orleans. Please note that the AEA's room block is more than 80 percent sold out, so please make your hotel reservations quickly if you plan to attend this event More...  


Survey Says: ADS-B Fuels Growth and Highlights Challenges 
Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to the 2016 AEA Rate and Labor Survey expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months. That's up from 81 percent last year. The overwhelming need for installation technicians supersedes the need for bench techs by more than three to one, and airframe and powerplant mechanics by almost two to one. This suggests that many avionics repair stations are at or near their capacity, and that growth depends on increasing their staffs.  To take advantage of the growth fueled by the fast-approaching deadline for the Federal Aviation Administration's ADS-B mandate, they will need to find, hire and train these new technicians, an effort nearly nine out of 10 respondents deemed "difficult." Of the remainder, 1 percent said finding new techs was easy, 2 percent didn't know, and 8 percent were neutral More...  

Sponsored by TGH Aviation Instruments & Avionics Regulatory Update
All the latest from the international aviation authorities

 
Frequently Asked Questions about ADS-B
Is the installation of ADS-B a major alteration? Learn the answer in this month's Avionics News. More...  


GAO Report to Congress Includes Stakeholders' Views on Potential Restructuring of Air Traffic Control  
The United States Government Accountability Office recently posted an electronic version of its report to Congress that outlines a variety of views from industry stakeholders on the key issues to consider in a potential restructuring of the nation's Air Traffic Control services. The report addresses views of selected experts, aviation stakeholders, and the FAA on key transition issues and lessons that can be learned from the transition experiences of selected countries More...

Sponsored by Pacific Southwest Instruments On the Radar 
Upcoming AEA and industry events


Women in Aviation Conference
March 2-4, 2017
The 28th annual event takes place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. More... 


AEA International Convention & Trade Show 
March 13-16, 2017
Don't miss the biggest training week in the avionics industry. This year marks the 60th annual AEA Convention and takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.  More...  


HAI Heli-Expo
March 6-9, 2017
More than 20,000 industry professionals will gather in Dallas, Texas, for the world's largest helicopter trade show and exposition.  More...  


AEA Europe Connect Conference
April 10-11, 2017
The first AEA Connect Conference of the year takes place at the Hilton Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Avionics repair stations, manufacturers, regulators and educators gather for two full days of networking and professional development, and an exhibit hall will showcase the latest avionics technologies and services. More...

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Butler Avionics Builds on STC Success
In 2009, suburban Kansas City-based Kings Avionics began a new era when Butler National Corp. purchased the avionics shop. Originally opened in 1969 by Steve Hayden and sold to Gary Morris and Dave Hayden in 1974 , the shop has expanded, contracted and moved several times in its nearly 50 years in business. Those same five decades include the moon landing and Woodstock, the launch of Apple Computers and the fall of the Berlin Wall, mapping the Human Genome and erecting the world's tallest building. 

"While the company is now a part of a larger organization, our business remains a relationship-driven, family shop," said Hayden, director of Butler National Corp. "Butler National's CEO, Clark Stewart, had been a customer, adviser and friend to us for many years."

Sixteen employees provide avionics installations and repairs in a total of 55,000 square feet at New Century AirCenter, southwest of Kansas City. The technicians cater to a diverse customer base, from small, homebuilt aircraft owners to Learjet operators. More...

In the Classroom 
Professional development opportunities


Register Now Button Certified Repair Station Training Course: 
Jan. 23-27, 2017
A weeklong course divided into training modules designed for startup repair stations as well as mature operators looking to improve their understanding of the regulations, perform internal audits and edit repair stations manuals. More... 


Register Now Button Avionics Installation and Integration Training Course:
Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2017
This course is designed for technicians who have completed AEA's Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation Course and/or have a couple of years of basic avionics installation practice and are looking for more experience integrating common general aviation installations. Technicians will learn how to plan, install, interface, configure and check out an installation consisting of a Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen nav/com/GPS, Garmin GTX 33ES remote transponder and an Aspen EFD1000 primary flight display. More... 


Register Now Button Pitot-Static and Transponder Certification Training with ADS-B Implementation Session: 
Feb. 2, 2017
Attendees will learn the proper methods for conducting pitot-static and transponder certification testing. This full-day course offers hands-on training, including a regulatory review and an explanation of the proper administrative procedures for completing these critical certifications. With so many questions surrounding ADS-B, this course will provide the answers and what you need to know to meet the mandate. More... 


Register Now Button RVSM Maintenance and Advanced Transponder Training:
Feb. 3, 2017
Attendees will be introduced to the regulations, documentation, test equipment and maintenance practices associated with performing RVSM maintenance and will follow with an in-depth look at Mode S transponders. This course assumes the attendee has good operating knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations 91.411 and 91.413. More...

The Static
News from AEA member companies

 
ASTRONAUTICS CORPORATION OF AMERICA  was selected to supply its 3-inch flight instrument AFI 3300 with a bearing distance heading indicator to provide supplemental tactical air navigation for Boeing's Special Purpose 777-300ER airplane. 

L-3 COMMUNICATIONS will change its name to L3 Technologies, Inc., effective Dec. 31, 2016. L-3 will update its corporate logo and change its email and website to L3T.com on Jan. 3, 2017. 

VECTOR AEROSPACE announced that two of its employees, ROBERT BERTRAM and CHRISTOPHE LUCE, received Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine's 2016 AMT Next Gen '40 under 40' award, which  celebrates 40 aircraft maintenance professionals less than 40 years of age who demonstrate the talent, ambition and characteristics of the next-generation aircraft maintenance professional. 

ASTRONICS will supply Textron Aviation with an aircraft power system that features Astronics' COREPOWER Induction Starter Generator System and COREPOWER Electronic Circuit Breaker Units, in addition to the 28 Volt DC EMPOWER In-Seat Power Supply, for the new Cessna Denali single-engine turboprop. 

DUNCAN AVIATION recently released an update to its "Straight Talk About WAAS" ebook, which gives operators a closer look at the Wide Area Augmentation System for use in the United States for IFR approaches. In addition, ADRIAN CHENE joined the avionics sales team in Battle Creek, Michigan. 

WEST STAR AVIATION received an STC for the installation of a Future Air Navigation System Controller Pilot Data Link Communications application on F900B aircraft. 

ACSS, a division of L-3 AVIATION PRODUCTS, launched its NXT-700 transponder for legacy business jet aircraft. Compliant with the FAA's ADS-B Out 2020 mandate, this new ACSS transponder was successfully flown aboard a Learjet 31A with Duncan Aviation. ACSS is also providing an FAA AML STC for the system. European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada Civil Aviation approvals are expected shortly, according to the company. 

FLYING COLOURS CORP. completed its first installations of the Satcom Direct Router. The first was fitted as part of a Global 5000 cabin refurbishment package, and the second as part of a new Global 5000 completion project for an undisclosed owner. 

TRIG AVIONICS introduced its new TN72 GPS receiver, a certified product (FAA TSO-C199) designed for voluntary equipage and use in areas outside of designated or mandated ADS-B airspace. Glider, light sport and general aviation pilots can all enhance their safety by connecting a TN72 position source to their existing Trig transponder, according to the company. 

AVMAX recently purchased one Bombardier Challenger 601-1A msn 3013 from Princess India International Air Transport, which takes the Avmax aircraft portfolio to 135 owned aircraft. Avmax also recently purchased one Dash 8-103 msn 537 from Nordic Aviation Contractor (Ireland) Limited. This increases the Avmax Dash 8 portfolio to 50 owned aircraft, which are leased worldwide. The company also  purchased one Bombardier Challenger 850 msn 8043 from Andumstone Ltd, Cyprus. This Challenger 850 aircraft has been subsequently leased to Air X Charter, Malta. 

COBHAM SATCOM announced that its AVIATOR 350D system has been selected by Hawaiian Airlines for installation on its new Airbus A321neo (new engine option) fleet. 

SATCOM DIRECT announced that it is now authorized by Inmarsat's Global Government Business Unit to provision and resell Inmarsat's Ka-band Global Xpress service to global government customers for use in military, head-of-state and other government operations. In addition, Satcom Direct announced that it is partnering with Lufthansa Technik to provide business jet operators with a wide selection of movies and TV shows. And finally, Satcom Direct closed its purchase of TrueNorth Avionics.

POOR BOY AVIONICS OF SAN ANGELO and the EAA Chapter 493 recently sponsored a banquet to honor two FAA award winners. ANDREW BUSH of San Angelo was presented with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for 50 years of aircraft maintenance. He is under contract with Poor Boy Avionics in San Angelo, Texas. In addition, CHARLES MCCLEARY of Ozona was presented the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of flying. He is the operator of the Ozona Airport and FBO. 

MID-CANADA MOD CENTER received Transport Canada STC approval to install the Esterline Avionics Systems CMA-6800 LCD Display on the Bombardier Dash-8 Q100/200/300 Series aircraft. 

JEPPESEN signed  a three-year renewal agreement with Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, to provide digital charting and electronic flight bag services for the carrier. 

UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. named its Top Dealers of 2016: Field Aviation for North and South America (Americas) and Heli-One Norway for International Dealer of the Year. 

GARMIN  introduced an aviation-specific addition to the VIRB Ultra 30 action camera family, offering several new accessories tailored to capturing high-definition footage in flight. VIRB Ultra 30 is a waterproof action camera with the power to shoot Ultra HD footage at 4K/30fps. 

THOMAS GLOBAL SYSTEMS welcomed Australian Minister for Defence Industry, The Honourable CHRISTOPHER PYNE MP, to its 60th year celebrations in Sydney on Dec. 6. 

FLIGHTSTAR CORP. announced the completion of its newest facility, Hangar 10. This 31,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance hangar will serve as the primary facility of the Flightstar Airline Division. 

PEREGRINE received STC approval for an ADS-B Out solution using the Garmin GTX 330ES or GTX 33H with ES transponders for several Part 27 rotorcraft models. The STC allows for the transponder to be paired with either the Garmin GTN series or the GNS 400W/500W series navigators. 

CMD FLIGHT SOLUTIONS announced the installation of its 155th solution. 

ROCKWELL COLLINS said it is integrating regional sand and dust storm forecast information into the company's ARINCDirect flight planning tools, enabling business aviation operators in those areas to improve safety and on-time performance. 

COMLUX AMERICA teamed with four key industry designers to develop multiple interior design and floorplan concepts for the next generation narrow body interiors; specifically, the Airbus ACJ neo and the BBJ MAX 8 aircraft. The design companies participating include Alberto Pinto Design, DesignQ, Unique Aircraft and Winch Design. In addition, Comlux launched a new Forward Auxiliary Center Tank System for the Airbus A321. 

ELLIOTT AVIATION completed its seventh retrofit of a Garmin G5000 in a Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP. The retrofit was completed in a 1999 Beechjet 400A. 

CONSTANT AVIATION completed its 40th 96-month inspection on an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft based in Nigeria. It also completed its first ADS-B upgrade on a Citation X aircraft. The company named STEVE BRUCE to special accounts sales manager. 

ROCKWELL COLLINS was named America's Most JUST Company in the Aerospace and Defense industry, according to JUST Capital and Forbes magazine's inaugural "JUST 100 List," which for the first time ranks the publicly traded companies in the U.S. that perform best on the things Americans care most about. 

ALTO AVIATION named MIKE NEDOROSCIK audio systems engineering. He joins the company's engineering team in Sterling, Massachusetts.

METRO AVIATION received a HeliSAS STC for the EC145e, a lightweight twin-engine aircraft maintaining the same power, performance and reliability of the legacy EC145. The aircraft is now approved for two-axis autopilot. In addition, Metro Aviation welcomed the University of Utah's AirMed program to its family of operations customers with the recent delivery of three Bell 407GX helicopters and a PC 12-45e, and assumption of flight operations in November.  

ROBOTIC SKIES was selected by UKRspecsystems to provide worldwide support services for its line of unmanned aircraft systems products. Robotic Skies will develop and provide a factory warranty and field support programs for UKRspecsystems customers through Robotic Skies' international network of 130 service centers. 

STANDARDAERO achieved STCs for the first global high-speed broadband connectivity solution available in today's business aviation marketplace. Working with Honeywell's new JetWave Ka band system, StandardAero completed an STC for Falcon 900/B/C/EX and Falcon 50 series aircraft.  The multi-model STC for the new Honeywell JetWave Ka band Satcom System was fitted for a Falcon 900EX operator. In addition, required documentation has been submitted for EASA validation. 
 
Sponsored by AVWeb GA Caucus

Industry advocates on Capitol Hill

 


In 2009, General Aviation Caucuses were formed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to inform congressional members and staff about the importance of general aviation to the nation's economy and transportation system. Today, the House GA Caucus has grown to become one of the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives. A listing of current House and Senate GA Caucus members is available on the AEA website. More... 

 

Aircraft Electronics Association About the AEA
Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including government-certified international repair stations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of avionics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions. 


Contact:
Aircraft Electronics Association
3570 NE Ralph Powell Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Phone: 816-347-8400
Fax: 816-347-8405
Email: info@aea.net
Web: aea.net 
Advertising:
Lauren McFarland, director of advertising
Phone: 816-347-8400
Email: laurenm@aea.net

The "AEA Wired" e-newsletter is published twice a month by the AEA.