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Keeping the general aviation industry connected
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JSSI Business Aviation Index Reflects Increased Year-end Flight Activity
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Jet Support Services Inc. recently published its fourth-quarter 2017 JSSI Business Aviation Index, which tracks utilization of about 2,000 business aircraft worldwide. The report was encouraging and indicated that flight hours in the last three months of the year were at the highest levels in 10 years. According to the report, "Average flight hours increased 4.5 percent year to date and 6.1 percent year over year. Average aircraft utilization of 28.65 hours for the fourth quarter represents the highest level during this period of any year on record." JSSI President and CEO Neil W. Book added that "Flight hour activity has always been a strong indicator of the overall health of the economy. The increase in average flight hours of 4.5 percent year to date indicates a continued strengthening of the global economy."
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AEA Elects New Board Members
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Members of the Aircraft Electronics Association recently elected new representatives to its board of directors. The following individuals will serve a three-year term from March 2018 to March 2021.
- Jim Alpiser, Garmin
- Mike Berryhill, Cirrus Aircraft
- David Copeland, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics
- Don Dominguez, San Luis Avionics
- Kris Garberg, Appareo
- Pete Ring, FreeFlight Systems
- Tim Shaw, Rocky Mountain Aircraft More...
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The Aircraft Electronics Association recently submitted comments written by Ric Peri, vice president of government and industry affairs, to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA proposes to amend the certification standards of normal and transport category helicopters. To read the association's comments on the FAA's NPRM in their entirety,
click here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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With all the focus on U.S.-registered aircraft ("N" registered), what are the ADS-B Out requirements for non-U.S.-registered aircraft? Learn the answer in this month's
Avionics News.
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On the Radar: Upcoming Industry Events
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HAI Heli-Expo
Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb. 26-March 1, 2018
The largest helicopter exposition in the world takes place in Las Vegas. Join 20,000 industry professionals and more than 700 exhibitors. The exhibits will be open Feb. 27-March 1.
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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. Advance registration is available through March 2. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas; make your hotel reservation before Feb. 21.
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AEA Europe Connect Conference
Prague, Czech Republic
April 24-25, 2018
Save the date for the avionics industry event of the year in Europe. This conference is set for the Prague Marriott Hotel. Online registration is now available through April 17; make your hotel reservation before April 3.
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Global Connected Aircraft Summit
San Diego, California
June 4-6, 2018
The Global Connected Aircraft Summit brings together the world’s largest airlines and companies from across the aerospace and avionics industries to assess market lessons, potential demand and best practices in global connected solutions for the passenger, airline efficiency, and cutting-edge services.
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RotorLink Rides Volatile Utility Market
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When forest fires rage and the fight is on to save lives and property, RotorLink founder Dave Bohonis and his team help keep emergency responders flying. The Canadian company sells aircraft parts, consumable products and rotables to the special-missions utility market, focusing primarily on the Bell Medium series, Bell 212, and Airbus AS350 and 355 series rotorcraft. Located in Delta, British Columbia, 37 kilometers from Vancouver International Airport, RotorLink stocks more than 10,000 line items. The company is currently disassembling several Bell 212 helicopters and an AS 355-F1, and rebuilding a 212 that will be returned to service.
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It's All in the Family for Bragg Avionics
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Loy Dean Bragg was purely a radio guy. In the 1950s, he was a radio station engineer, travelling around Florida and Georgia and building AM radio stations. On the side, he worked for Fairchild in St. Augustine, Florida, where he would inspect avionics, tune up, and sign off radios. Word of his talent as a radio technician spread, and at one point, he was asked to do a repair. Bragg agreed to do so, if he could get documentation. He persuaded a manufacturer to send him a manual, then took the radio home, built a harness, and completed a repair. As a holder of a Federal Communications Commission license, Bragg picked up more work with avionics.
In 1957, Bragg opened Bragg Aviation Electronics at Craig Municipal Airport in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Avionics Training and Professional Development Available at AEA International Headquarters
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Basic Wiring and Avionics Installation
April 23-25, 2018
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.
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ADS-B Broadcast Surveillance: All the Ins and Outs
April 26, 2018
The ADS-B Broadcast Surveillance course is designed for currently employed repair station personnel. This course will describe and define ADS-B systems and the FAA’s guidance and specifications on both ground stations and airborne equipment. It is designed to provide the student with history, theory of operation, basic implementation, configuration, certification, compliance testing of surveillance systems.
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Digital Databus Theory and Analysis Training
April 27, 2018
As today’s modern airplanes become 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.
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News from AEA Member Companies
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WESTERN AIRCRAFT promoted
Don West to avionics sales account manager;
Paul Harrington was named avionics team lead; and
Jeff Watson was promoted to turbo prop service manager.
ROCKWELL COLLINS recognized 57 companies at the highest level, Platinum Premier, in its 2017 Trusted Supplier Program. Rockwell Collins' ADS-B Out solution was selected by Airmark Aviation to upgrade four of its Boeing 737-300 aircraft, with an option to fit one more. BOC Aviation selected Rockwell Collins’ advanced avionics, including MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, GLU-2100 Multi-Mode Receiver and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance traffic computer TTR-2100, as a baseline configuration on 74 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that begin delivery later this year.
SMARTSKY NETWORKS announced that
AVIDYNE was awarded the first supplemental type certificate that provides for the installation and operation of a SmartSky 4G LTE system, in this case, on a Cessna Citation Excel.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL announced that
Alex Thurmond was promoted to manager of its Learning Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He succeeds
David Glass who is retiring.
Johnny Cruz was promoted to assistant manager of the St. Louis Center. He joins
Angie Gremard who also serves as assistant manager at the Center.
Jeff Rose was named manager of the Learning Center in Columbus, Ohio. He assumes this responsibility from
Fabio Miguez who will serve as director of programs for Bombardier training.
Jamie Hopkins was promoted to manager of the Atlanta Learning Center.
Brian McNelly was promoted to assistant manager of the company’s Maintenance Learning Center in Wichita, Kansas. FlightSafety and Pilatus announced that training for the new PC-24 Super Versatile Jet has begun at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Dallas, Texas.
DUNCAN AVIATION announced the addition of
Dan Moog to the turbine engine service sales team. Duncan Aviation also unveiled an extension to its repair service agreement with
AVIDYNE, designating the company as the exclusive worldwide provider of repair services for Avidyne’s MHD300 MHD (Multi-Hazard Display), EX600 MFD (Multi-Function Display), and ATD150 ½-3-ATI Traffic Display. Duncan Aviation recently installed LoPresti Aviation’s BoomBeam High Intensity Discharge lighting system in a Phenom 300, the first in the industry to receive the lighting upgrade.
Bob Tooker, a sales representative for Duncan Aviation’s Parts and Rotables Sales and a long-time aircraft technician with Duncan Aviation, was recently honored as a recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
Chad Doehring has accepted the position of vice president of operations for its Provo, Utah, location. Duncan Aviation was recently selected by BendixKing as a select BendixKing Repair Partner.
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JEPPESEN added new chart and navigation data coverage areas in South Africa for its iPad-based Visual Flight Rules cockpit application for private pilots -– Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck VFR.
ELLIOTT AVIATION announced the official launch of its new customer service app and online portal, Elliott Connect. Elliott Aviation received an STC on a new ADS-B solution for the Citation Excel and XLS airframes. Hardware is available for immediate installation, but since labor is in short supply; the STC and equipment installation kit is available for purchase through the Garmin dealer network.
STANDARDAERO has been authorized by Honeywell Aerospace as the exclusive provider in the Europe, Middle East, Africa and India region for major maintenance repair and overhaul services for the Honeywell TFE731 family of turbofan engines. StandardAero also was recently awarded an exclusive, eight-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engine MRO services for Far Eastern Air Transport Corp.’s fleet of ATR72-600 aircraft.
RECTRIX AVIATION received authorization by the Transportation Security Administration to fly its charter jet fleet into and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport.
DAC INTERNATIONAL signed a new distribution agreement with Teledyne Controls to promote and sell selected Teledyne products to the regional and business aviation markets.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. recently delivered a fourth Gulfstream G650ER to Qatar Airways for its Qatar Executive commercial charter service. In addition, the G500 is entering the final stage of its flight test and certification program, while the G600 recently completed company field performance testing.
TEMPLE ELECTRONICS moved into a new hangar at Houston Southwest Airport. The 14,000-square-foot hangar has both office and shop space.
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TRUE BLUE POWER named three new account managers:
Brett Wadsworth,
Steve Mead and
Van Winter.
PRECISION AVIATION GROUP was formally selected as an authorized BendixKing repair, overhaul and OEM component distribution partner.
FLYING COLOURS CORP. announced that Boston-based private equity firm, New Heritage Capital, (Heritage), has become a minority stakeholder in the Canada-headquartered business.
GARMIN announced that the D2 Charlie aviator watch has been selected by the United States Air Force for use by the pilots of the Lockheed U-2 aircraft.
SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENCE and
THOMAS GLOBAL SYSTEMS announced a strategic alliance to manufacture and support high-end defence and related technologies in Australia. As part of the alliance, Thomas Global plans to create a specialist advanced manufacturing facility in Australia, which will provide production and long-term support for a range of Safran technologies, including Safran’s advanced PASEO sighting system. The two companies will also work together to maximize opportunities for Australian industry to participate in new defence and high-technology programs for local and export markets.
GOGO BUSINESS AVIATION received STC and PMA for the Gogo AVANCE L3 system from the FAA. AVANCE L3 is a new in-flight connectivity system that delivers the benefits of the Gogo AVANCE platform to passengers and flight departments in a small, lightweight form factor.
ACI JET announced a 30 percent increase in the company's business jet fleet size by adding two Bombardier Global Express XRS ultra-long-range aircraft and an Embraer Phenom 300 light jet. The two California-based Global Express XRS aircraft will be available for on-demand charter flights beginning in the second quarter of 2018.
COMLUX COMPLETITION successfully performed its first Digital Maintenance inspection on the BBJ of Hyundai Motor Co.
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Looking for a Job in the Avionics Industry?
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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?
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Need to Post a Job? The AEA Works for You!
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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
laurenm@aea.net.
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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.
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Contact:
Aircraft Electronics Association
3570 NE Ralph Powell Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Phone: 816-347-8400
Fax: 816-347-8405
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Advertising:
Lauren McFarland, director of advertising
Phone: 816-347-8400
The "AEA Wired" e-newsletter is published twice a month by the AEA.
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