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Feb. 25, 2015
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Keeping the general aviation industry connected
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 The Current
News from the general aviation industry
 | | World View Voyagers |
World View CEO Jane Poynter to Address AEA Convention in Dallas, April 9
The second day of the AEA International Convention & Trade Show includes a keynote address by Jane Poynter, the world's first female space travel entrepreneur. Poynter, a former Biosphere 2 crewmember, has been spearheading advancements and research within the space community for decades. She's building a company that will offer private citizens a life-changing voyage to view the Earth from a unique and rare vantage point nearly 100,000 feet above. The CEO of World View Enterprises, Poynter, hopes to bring the company's proprietary high-altitude balloons and tethered space capsule into suborbital flight by the end of 2016. For an extraordinary perspective on an unparalleled aerospace mission, AEA convention attendees will experience Poynter's presentation that is sponsored by Universal Avionics Systems Corp. on Thursday, April 9, in Dallas, Texas. More...
 FAA Proposes New Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
On Feb. 15, the Federal Aviation Administration hastily called an unusual Sunday press conference to announce its proposed regulations to allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) while staying flexible for future innovations. The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds) conducting non-recreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits. The public will be able to comment on the proposed regulation for 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. More...
 Study: General Aviation Supports 1.1 Million Jobs and $219 Billion in Economic Output
On Feb. 11, eight general aviation associations, including the AEA, unveiled a new industry-wide study detailing the economic contributions of general aviation to the U.S. economy. The study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, determined that general aviation supports 1.1 million total jobs and supplies $219 billion in total economic output in the U.S. These numbers include direct, indirect, induced, and enabled impacts. To download the complete PricewaterhouseCoopers study, click here. In addition, the associations produced a narrative report, "The Wide Wings and Rotors of General Aviation," which captures some of the stories behind the industry's significant economic and community impact throughout the U.S. To download the narrative report, click here.
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 Regulatory Update
All the latest from the international aviation authorities
International Rotorcraft Safety Conference
The FAA's Rotorcraft Directorate will host the 2015 International Rotorcraft Safety Conference, April 21-23, 2015, at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas, a Fort Worth suburb. The conference will feature presentations, exhibits, break-out sessions and speeches from leaders in the helicopter community. The purpose of the conference is to reduce the national helicopter accident rate, particularly in the personal/private, instructional/training and aerial application industries. The audience is expected to be diverse with pilots, mechanics, small company owners, industry executives, operators and government regulators from the U.S. and abroad.
The conference's first day, April 21, will open with programs designed to appeal to the entire helicopter community with presentations by National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt, survivors of helicopter accidents or near-accidents and an FAA-led discussion on the patterns seen in fatal helicopter accidents. It will then break into separate sections in the afternoon for pilots and mechanics, with pilots discussing autorotations, and health and risk assessments. Mechanics will discuss installing NextGen technology, human factors in maintenance, supplemental type certificates and a planned website, where information and lessons learned will be shared. The dual format will continue April 22. The third day, "International Day," will include presentations from the European Aviation Safety Agency, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, industry groups and the FAA.
The information gained at this conference could help pilots, mechanics and others prevent a catastrophic accident. The event is free. Eight hours of Inspection Authorization credits are offered. The conference also will include a job fair. More...
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 On the Radar
Upcoming AEA and industry events
HAI Heli-Expo, March 2-5
Orlando, Florida, is the host site for the 2015 HAI Heli-Expo, which opens March 2. The exhibits will be open March 3-5. Look for the special helicopter edition of Avionics News in the pub bins. More...
Women in Aviation Conference, March 5-7 The 26th annual International Women in Aviation Conference is scheduled for March 5-7, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. More...  AEA International Convention & Trade Show, April 8-11 The four-day event begins Wednesday, April 8, in Dallas, Texas. This year's event offers a new exhibit hall schedule. In addition, more than 30 companies will unveil new products and services to the general aviation marketplace. Advance registration is available online through March 18. More... AEA Europe Regional Meeting, May 5-6 The first AEA Regional Meeting of 2015 takes place in Barcelona, Spain, May 5-6. An optional half-day SMS training session is available on May 4. Registrations are now being accepted online. More...
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 The Connection
Meet the leaders in the general aviation industry
 Behind the Panel with Coastal Helicopters
Carrying a 20-pound wiring harness, avionics technician Sue Odom slides behind the panel of a Bell 206BIII law enforcement helicopter. She's installing the agency's new forward-looking infrared camera and downlink system for surveillance and disaster relief operations. Odom has installed hundreds of avionics, electronics and instruments during her 19 years at Coastal Helicopters in Panama City, Florida. Nearly 40 years ago, Coastal Helicopters began exclusively providing maintenance and overhaul services for rotary-wing aircraft. Today, the repair station also offers avionics installations, as well as operates a fleet of helicopters under Part 135 charter and Part 137 aerial application through its sister company, Coastal Air Service. More...
 A Before & After with Gulf Coast Avionics
Gulf Coast Avionics of Lakeland, Florida, recently completed work on a Bell 412EP helicopter. The company replaced legacy analog instruments, gauges and radios with 21st century digital/glass cockpit, including Garmin G500H EFDs with synthetic vision, Garmin GTN 650H touchscreen GPS/nav/comms and Electronics International digital engine instruments. More...
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 In the Classroom
Professional development opportunities
 Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Training
The Washington Aviation Group, in partnership with the AEA, offers hazardous materials/dangerous goods training. The training class is two days in length, and it meets the training requirements of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as the IATA/ICAO requirements. The registration fee includes all books and materials, as well as lunch on each day. Those who successfully complete the class will receive a training certificate as well as a record of training suitable for retention in company personnel files. AEA members receive a discount on registration. More...
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 The Raw Feed
Industry buzz on social media
 Join the Discussion with Avionics Professionals
Get connected by joining more than 4,700 industry professionals in the AEA's group discussion on LinkedIn. Are you following along? Request a group membership today. More...
 Looking Forward from the Past
As this year's AEA Convention quickly approaches, here's a look back at AEA President Paula Derks' speech to attendees at the 2014 opening session, with video production courtesy of the Aero-News Network. More...
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 The Static
News from AEA member companies
L-3 AVIATION PRODUCTS launched its Lynx MultiLink Surveillance System (MSS) line of ADS-B products. The company also has submitted for TSO authorization for the Lynx NGT-9000, one of several models in the new line. The Lynx family comprises four models, including an ADS-B In/Out model with a Wi-Fi display option for personal electronic devices, as well as models for the display of ADS-B information on dedicated cockpit multifunction displays. All Lynx models provide ADS-B Out compliance to FAA 14 CFR 91.227.
GARMIN began shipping initial orders of its GDL 84 on Feb. 10. The GDL 84 provides an all-inclusive option for owners looking to satisfy the requirements of NextGen, while providing the benefits offered by ADS-B In without the need to significantly modify the panel of the aircraft. In addition, the company announced the availability of the GI 205 stand-alone radar altimeter display. Owners and operators are offered an all-in-one solution to satisfy the April 24, 2017, Part 135 helicopter operating requirements set forth by the FAA last year. Garmin also said that Gulfstream selected the GTX 3000 Mode S extended squitter transponder and GDL 88 ADS-B datalink for the G2000 business jet.
MID-CONTINENT INSTRUMENTS AND AVIONICS said its MD302 Standby Attitude Module (SAM) is being offered as the digital standby display in the Bell Helicopter 407GX, Enstrom Helicopter 480B-G, and the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer.
PHOENIX HELIPARTS partnered with True Blue Power, a division of Mid-Continent Instrument Co., to pursue a series of FAA Part 27 STCs for the installation of the True Blue Power TB17 Advanced Lithium-ion Battery into many of the airframes PHP supports. Initial STC certification plans for the TB17 include the MD Series helicopters, with anticipated completion in early 2016.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. said its G650ER completed the farthest flight in its history, flying 8,010 nautical miles from Singapore Changi Airport to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Jan. 22. The trip took 14 hours and 32 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.85 with tail winds of 76 knots.
SANDEL AVIONICS said its authorized dealer, Avionik Straubing, completed installation of an avionics package that included dual Sandel SN4500s, dual SG102s and dual ST3400s for Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung's "Aunt Ju" Junker Ju 52.
DUNCAN AVIATION earned approval from the FAA to accept instructions for continued airworthiness for standard type certificates. In addition, the company published an updated version of its Straight Talk book on ADS-B. It also added DAN MOODY to its aircraft sales and acquisitions team. Three new team leaders were named to the company's Engine Rapid Response network: JOE STUBBS, MIKE BRUHN and REGIS BIARRIETA.
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. was selected by Piedmont Airlines Inc., headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland, to provide GPS-based Flight Management Systems for retrofit to the Dash 8 series 100 fleet. The contract is in addition to a previous award to provide multifunction displays for this same fleet.
VIH AEROSPACE named DAVE MCGRATH director of sales, marketing and business development.
ROCKWELL COLLINS' advanced avionics systems, including the MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar and Multi-Mod Receiver, was selected by IndiGo for its Airbus A320neo family of aircraft.
SATCOM DIRECT created an industry first with the launch of AeroIT, an information technology certification designed to help aircraft technicians expand their knowledge of today's sophisticated airborne communications systems. In addition, the company opened new offices in Melbourne, Australia; Ottawa, Canada; and Denver, Colorado.
SPIRIT AERONAUTICS named REID ANTONACCHIO regional sales manager for the North American North Central Region, and JOHN BECAN production supervisor over the maintenance, avionics and interiors production teams.
CLAY LACY AVIATION broke ground on its new south campus, a $10 million, 6-acre expansion of its current headquarters facility at Van Nuys Airport.
KINGS AVIONICS of Henderson, Nevada, completed the first field installation of a Garmin GRA 55 radar altimeter and a Garmin GI 205 remote display screen on any helicopter platform. This installation, on a Bell 206L-1 for a rotary fleet operator, was completed in advance of the 2017 mandate that all Part 135 operators have a radar altimeter installed.
BECKER AVIONICS introduced a new ADS-B based tracking and surveillance system for flight and ground operations called ATLASS.
FLYING COLOURS refurbished its first Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. Delivery took place in late January.
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SALINA became the first entity in the U.S. to receive approval from the FAA for statewide access during flight operations of small unmanned aircraft systems.
ASPEN AVIONICS will play host to an autograph session with Living Legend of Aviation CHUCK AARON at HAI's Heli-Expo on Wednesday, March 4, at Aspen's booth, No. 3164.
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 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...
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About the AEA
Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in 43 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 marketing
Phone: 816-347-8400
Email: [email protected]
The "AEA Wired" e-newsletter is published twice a month by the AEA. |
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