AEA Wired by Aircraft Electronics Association
Nov. 8, 2017
Keeping the general aviation industry connected
The Current 
News from the general aviation industry
 

IRS Section 179 Tax Incentive Valid Until Dec. 31, 2017
Many business owners in the United States think the Section 179 deduction is some mysterious or complicated tax code. But e ssentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year. If you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the full purchase price from your gross income. It's an incentive created by the U.S. government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and invest in themselves . The deduction limit for 2017 is $500,000, and it  is good on new and used equipment, as well as off-the-shelf software. To take the deduction for tax year 2017, the equipment must be financed/purchased and put into service between Jan. 1, 2017, and the end of the day on Dec. 31, 2017.  More...


Early-bird Registration Available for 2018 AEA International Convention & Trade Show
Registration has opened for the 61st annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show, the largest gathering of general aviation avionics manufacturers, distributors and government-certified repair stations in the world. It is the platform of choice for the introduction of new avionics products and services coming to the marketplace in 2018.  The event takes place March 26-29, 2018, at the MGM Grand Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Attendees must register by Dec. 15, 2017, to receive the early-bird discount price of $625 (AEA member rate) for a full convention registration. The early-bird promotion offers a $150 per person savings off the on-site registration fee.
A special AEA group rate of $145 per night is available at the MGM Grand through Feb. 21, 2018, or until the room block is full .  More...

Regulatory Update
All the latest from the international aviation authorities


ADS-B Frequently Asked Questions
Is the FAA policy regarding the follow-on field approval of ADS-B Out systems (AFS-360_2016-03-02) still current? Learn the answer in this month's Avionics News. More...  


Schedule of Charges Outside the United States
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the availability of Advisory Circular 187-1L, which transmits an updated schedule of charges for services of FAA Flight Standards aviation safety inspectors outside the United States. The advisory circular has been updated in accordance with the procedures listed in 14 CFR Part 187, Appendix A. This AC was effective Oct. 1, 2017.  The schedule of charges applies to foreign Part 145 repair stations, as well as the certification of mechanics and technicians .  More...

On the Radar
Upcoming AEA and industry events


Register Now Button AEA U.S. East Connect Conference (RESCHEDULED):
Jacksonville, Florida
Dec. 4-5, 2017
Attendees must register in advance by Nov. 29, and hotel reservations should be made at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront no later than Nov. 13.  All attendees and exhibitors who previously registered to attend the originally scheduled event in September do NOT need to re-register -- you are still registered for this two-day event now set for Dec. 4-5, and no further action is required.  However, you will need to make a new hotel reservation with the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.   More...


AEA International Convention & Trade Show:
Las Vegas, Nevada
March 26-29, 2018
The annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show is the largest gathering of general aviation avionics manufacturers, distributors and government-certified repair stations in the world. It also is the platform of choice for the introduction of new avionics products and services coming to the marketplace. Early-bird registration is available through Dec. 15. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas. More...
 
Garmin Ad for Wired The Connection
Meet the leaders in the general aviation industry


Lubbock Aero Sees Surge in ADS-B Inquiries
At Lubbock Aero in Texas, avionics manager Chris Zeiss and director of maintenance Chad Burns are scrambling to keep up with ADS-B inquiries. As the Jan. 1, 2020, deadline approaches for the Federal Aviation Administration's ADS-B Out mandate, customers call and email, requesting information about systems, service and pricing. 

"A lot of people now know what ADS-B involves," said Zeiss, who holds an A&P license and has 20 years of experience in aviation. "They just don't know what specific equipment they need for their aircraft. Everybody is fishing right now, seeing what's out there and what the price ranges are."   More...  

In the Classroom 
Professional development opportunities


Register Now Button Basic Wiring and Avionics Installation Training
Dec. 4-6, 2017
This course is designed for certificated repairmen, new avionics technicians, aviation maintenance technicians and recent graduates interested in improving or acquiring the skills necessary to perform avionics installations. This three-day seminar employs in-depth theory and hands-on lab exercises to immerse the attendee in the best practices used to plan, manage and install a general aviation avionics panel.  More...


Register Now Button ADS-B Broadcast Surveillance: All the Ins and Outs
Dec. 7, 2017
This  course is designed for currently employed repair station personnel. It will describe and define ADS-B systems and the FAA's guidance and specifications on both ground stations and airborne equipment . More...


Register Now Button Digital Databus Theory and Analysis Training
Dec. 8, 2017
As today's modern airplanes become much more technologically advanced, so must the professionals who maintain them. The advanced avionics and instrumentation systems used in these aircraft rely on various forms of digital databus communication. Understanding digital databus theory is becoming more and more important for avionics technicians, and even A&P mechanics, to effectively test and troubleshoot these highly advanced aircraft systems. More...


Register Now Button Certified Repair Station Training Course
Dec. 11-15, 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 IFR 6000 Operations Training Course
Jan. 12, 2018
This course is designed to provide maintenance personnel with the knowledge and skills required to operate the IFR 6000 to verify and maintain transponder, UAT, TCAS and DME systems. More... 


Register Now Button Avionics Installation and Integration Training
Jan. 15-17, 2018
This course is designed for technicians who have completed the AEA's Basic Wiring and Avionics Installation Course and/or have a couple 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
with ADS-B Implementation Session
Jan. 18, 2018
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 & Advanced Transponder Training
Jan. 19, 2018
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...

Avionics Careers
Job postings, career resources and scholarships


Looking for a Job in the Avionics Industry? 
For individuals interested in pursuing professional opportunities in the avionics industry, the career listings page on the AEA website is your one-stop resource. The AEA careers page provides informational links on how to get AET certified, an avionics technician job summary and wage review, along with scholarship opportunities within the industry. Search the AEA's career listings and see what's on your horizon. Are you up to the challenge? More...


Need to Post a Job? The AEA Works for You!
Is your business hiring? Looking for a new avionics technician or A&P mechanic? Want to buy or sell a business in the general aviation industry? Post these professional opportunities to a target-rich environment: the AEA's career listings website.  For $200 a month, you can place a listing online AND receive a print advertisement in Avionics News for FREE! For more information, contact Lauren McFarland, AEA director of advertising, at [email protected]. 
 
The Static
News from AEA member companies


VECTOR AEROSPACE  received renewal of its Approved Maintenance Organization certificate approval from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar's Department of Civil Aviation . It also recently celebrated the first anniversary of the introduction of dynamic component repair capability for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 Ecureuil family at its Almondbank site in Perth, Scotland. 

DALLAS AVIONICS is working with uAVIONIX to offer an ADS-B solution for customers of experimental aircraft impacted by the ADS600-EXP. The uAvionix bundle includes the uAvionix echoUAT and skyFYX products. For a limited time, Dallas Avionics will offer the bundle at a reduced price of $1,090. Normal retail is $1,499. 

CONSTANT AVIATION announced the fourth successful delivery of a 7500-cycle inspection of the Bombardier Challenger 300. 

DAC INTERNATIONAL signed a distribution agreement with Latitude Technologies to promote and sale its products. 

THOMAS GLOBAL SYSTEMS announced that its TFD-8601 AMLCD cockpit display received an FAA supplemental type certificate for installation in Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft. 

FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL announced an expansion of its long-term partnership with Envoy Air. FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, was selected to serve as a partner in the Envoy Pilot Cadet Program. FlightSafety also announced that STEVE FEDYNYSZYN was named director of quality, safety and standards, and STEVE HALL was promoted to director, regulatory affairs. 

TRUE BLUE POWER promoted ERIK RITZMAN to division manager. He succeeds RICK SLATER, who will retire in December. 

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. will exhibit three business jets at the Dubai Airshow Nov. 12-16. 

STANDARDAERO and Airbus finalized the acquisition by StandardAero of Vector Aerospace Holding SAS from Airbus. 

SMARTSKY NETWORKS said it delivered 4G LTE demonstration flights during the NBAA Convention and claimed to be the only system capable of delivering multi-Gigabyte per hour data rates in-flight, bi-directionally and with low latency to stream, chat and text in real time on board a business jet. 

VIH AEROSPACE and AEM CORP. announced that Eagle Copters of Calgary selected the MCP01-100N NVIS Master Caution Panel for use in a customer upgrade program. 

CMD FLIGHT SOLUTIONS received Transport Canada familiarization on its certified ADS-B Out solutions. The Gulfstream 1125 Westwind Astra, Astra SPX, G100 and G150 are now covered on CMD's STC that utilizes the Collins TDR-94/94D transponder paired with numerous GPS sources. 

ASTRONICS CORP. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Telefonix Inc. and a related company, Product Development Technologies LLC for approximately $104 million in cash, funded with Astronics' senior revolving credit facility. The acquisition is expected to close by year end, and is subject to typical closing conditions, including a review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. 

CE AVIONICS' LOREN FRIEDLE received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for more than 50 years of aviation service. 

APPAREO was contracted by FedEx Corp. to provide a flight operations quality assurance solution for the company's feeder fleet of Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster aircraft. 

TRUTRAK announced it is now delivering both Cessna 172 and Cessna 177 Vizion autopilot systems. 

WEST STAR AVIATION has teamed with Careerwise in Colorado to establish a long-term apprenticeship for upcoming talent. West Star will begin to host the apprentices in August 2018. 

EAGLE COPTERS launched a new website to be more user friendly and optimally perform on any device. 
 
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: [email protected]
Web: aea.net 		 Advertising:
Lauren McFarland, director of advertising
Phone: 816-347-8400
Email: [email protected]

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