Sept. 26, 2018

Keeping the general aviation industry connected

Congressional Leaders Announce Agreement on Long-term FAA Reauthorization Bill Earlier this week, House and Senate Committee leaders reached a bipartisan final agreement on legislation that provides long-term stability and critical reforms to the Federal Aviation Administration. The legislative text has been filed in the House as H.R. 302 as amended. Click here to read the proposed bill in its entirety. A final vote could take place in both the House and Senate by the end of the week. The last time Congress enacted a multi-year authorization bill for the FAA was 2012, and the agency has been working under a series of short-term extensions since September 2015. The current authority for FAA activities was extended in March of this year but will expire Sept. 30. More...

Avionics Professionals to Connect in Gold Coast, Australia, Nov. 5-6 Registration is now open to individuals wanting to attend and for companies to exhibit at the AEA South Pacific Connect Conference. The two-day event takes place at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Hotel, Nov. 5-6, in Gold Coast Australia. Advance registration is available online through Oct. 26, and hotel reservations must be made by Oct. 5. This is the place for shop owners, managers and lead technicians to satisfy annual training requirements and keep up to date with all the regulatory changes and the latest product developments from a variety of manufacturers. With an exhibit hall filled with the latest avionics technologies and services, attendees can see, touch and feel new products and visit face-to-face with the OEMs.  More...

Transport Canada Civil Aviation Updates Transport Canada has been working on several regulatory, standard and guidance material items. During the last couple of years, the focus has been on UAVs, aerodrome operations and commercial operations. As a result, several items in the airworthiness arena have been lagging. We are beginning to see recent activity that demonstrates a shift in this focus to some degree. Some activities are finally getting to completion due to various issues, including this focus.   There also has been great effort toward bilateral agreements, and we should see several new issues of the bilateral and the associated implementation documents this year, including the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S., and Japan and Brazil. More...

FAA Updates Current ADS-B Equipage Levels Through Sept. 1 With only 15 months remaining for aircraft owners to meet the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate by Jan. 1, 2020, in the United States, the agency is updating the fleet's equipage levels on its website. As of Sept. 1, 2018, 45,375 general aviation fixed-wing aircraft in the U.S. have been equipped. Overall, a total of 63,052 aircraft have been equipped to date. To see the FAA's report on equipage levels, click here.

On the Radar: Upcoming Industry Events

AEA U.S. Central Connect Conference Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 3-4, 2018 On-site registrations will be accepted, and hotel reservations must be made at the Hilton Kansas City Airport. More...

Manufacturer's Quarterly Risk-based Certification Update Webinar Oct. 10, 2018 (12:30 to 2:30 p.m. CDT) The aviation industry has seen unprecedented growth in new products leveraging risk-based design and production acceptance through NORSEE, commercial parts, and PMA. To ensure that the entire aviation sector can benefit from these dynamic changes, the FAA agreed to conduct a quarterly webinar on its risk-based initiatives in design, certification and production approvals. More...

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition Orlando, Florida Oct. 16-18, 2018 Join more than 25,000 industry professionals for the third-largest trade show in the United States. The three-day event brings together current and prospective aircraft owners, manufacturers and customers into one meeting place. More...

International Rotorcraft Safety Conference Hurst, Texas Oct. 23-25, 2018 The Federal Aviation Administration will host the 2018 International Rotorcraft Safety Conference at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas. The conference will feature presentations and seminars in an effort to reduce the national helicopter accident rate, particularly among small operators. More...

AEA U.S. South Pacific Connect Conference Gold Coast, Australia Nov. 5-6, 2018 Online registration is now available through Oct. 26, and hotel reservations at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Hotel must be made by Oct. 5. More...

Southeast Aerospace Marks 25th Anniversary Looking back at Southeast Aerospace’s 25 years in business, Joe Braddock is amazed at how much his family’s small avionics business has grown. Today, a Federal Aviation Administration Part 145 repair station with global reach, Southeast Aerospace provides avionics sales, service and repair as well as aircraft modifications, parts distribution and kit manufacturing.  “We always grew organically; we never took loans or had backers,” said Braddock, who serves as vice president of sales and marketing for Southeast Aerospace. "It was hard in the beginning, especially when worrying about how to pay the bills every week. As far as our success goes, it’s an unwavering desire to succeed. You just don’t give yourself a choice to fail.”  More...

Avionics Training and Professional Development

Basic Aircraft Electrical Oct. 22-23, 2018 This course is designed for the avionics technician, aircraft maintenance technician or homebuilder who wants to improve their understanding of aircraft electrical systems and electricity. It will provide an overview of the fundamentals of electricity and their practical application in aircraft. From currents and calculations to schematics and systems troubleshooting, this two-day course is the perfect primer for an entry-level technician or the skilled homebuilder ready to tackle avionics installation.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft Oct. 24-26, 2018 This course is designed for the aircraft technician or homebuilder who is looking for guidance in completing an installation on an experimental aircraft with the popular Garmin G3X Touch large format flight display system. From the do-it-yourselfer to the avionics shop looking to carve a niche in this ever-expanding market, this class has something for everyone.

Basic Wiring and Avionics Installation Nov. 12-14, 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.

Pitot-static and Transponder Training Theory and Practice Nov. 15-16, 2018 For the entry-level technician or those looking for basic training to learn how to perform pitot-static and transponder certifications. This course is recommended as a prerequisite to the AEA’s Pitot-static and Transponder Certification course. This two-day course provides attendees with the history, theory of operation, system setup, hands-on testing and troubleshooting skills necessary to perform FAR 91.411 and 91.413 checks. The latest equipment from DFW Instruments and Laversab will be used in the course.

Certified Repair Station Training Dec. 3-7, 2018 This weeklong course provides an interactive environment to learn, understand and implement the regulations that govern repair station design and operations. It is for current quality managers, technicians, mechanics, and repairmen who are involved in the management of a repair station, as well as individuals looking to establish a 14 CFR Part 145 repair station.

News from AEA Member Companies

GARMIN announced the addition of new Garmin Navigation Database information for South America. This database is now available in the newly expanded Americas OnePak, which offers coverage in North, Central and South America and provides database updates across all Garmin avionics and a portable in a single aircraft.  DUNCAN AVIATION added a satellite avionics shop in 2018 in Bedford, Massachusetts, and upgraded its Austin workaway to a full-fledged avionics shop. The shop now has its own repair station certificate. The company also added RRT engine teams in the Tampa, Florida, and Columbus, Ohio, areas. In addition, an engine team will soon be located in the Houston, Texas, area. Duncan Aviation also announced that its Engineering and Certification Department has developed six STCs for the Gogo AVANCE L5 system. LATITUDE TECHNOLOGIES received an FAA STC with an approved model list for Part 23 aircraft. The approval has been issued for Latitude’s SkyNode S200 suite of satellite communication and tracking solutions as well the key component necessary for operators looking to develop a flight data monitoring and safety management program.

HONEYWELL now offers ForeFlight and RocketRoute flight planning applications through its GoDirect Datalink service. The new offerings will be standard for all GoDirect Datalink customers and allows pilots to upload their ForeFlight and RocketRoute flight plans directly to the aircraft via Honeywell’s datalink network. TRUE BLUE POWER and Voyageur Aerotech Inc. announced the receipt of a supplemental type certification from Transport Canada Civil Aviation for the installation of the True Blue Power TS60 Series Emergency Battery Power Supply on all Bombardier DHC-8 100/200/300/400 series aircraft. The battery provides constant 6.6 VDC power to emergency lighting systems in the event of electrical system failure. The company also announced that a major U.S. airline has selected the company’s TI250 Series DC-to-AC Inverter to provide AC power to cockpit electronics and electronic flight bags on board the airline’s fleet of Airbus, Boeing, and McDonnell Douglas passenger aircraft. The airline joins more than 50 commercial partners, worldwide, equipped with True Blue Power inverters, voltage converters and USB charging ports.

ASTRONICS CORP. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems, is providing its new wireless charging module for integration into several suppliers’ seat models. The first integrations are scheduled to roll out on aircraft in early 2019. In addition, the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification, has shipped more than 10,000 cabin wireless access points to enable in-flight connectivity systems on aircraft. FLYING COLOURS CORP. completed its third 120-month, heavy maintenance check, on a Bombardier Global airframe. The 10-year inspection of the Global Express required the privately-owned aircraft to be stripped back to the airframe to enable a full structural inspection.

UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. announced the first SBAS-Flight Management System upgrade for the ATR 42-500 type. The operator, First Air, also performed the engineering design, certification and installation for its fleet renewal. Universal Avionics also announced the 60th Embraer-140/145 aircraft completion in Envoy Air’s WAAS/SBAS-FMS upgrade program. The upgrade program includes 169 aircraft, all of which will be retrofitted with dual UA UNS-1Lw FMSs, providing Envoy Air with a navigation source for ADS-B Out and the latest in capabilities and operational efficiencies. Universal Avionics also announced that 10 Nolinor Aviation Boeing 737-200 aircraft are undergoing a modernization program for state-of-the-art avionics and glass displays. SATCOM DIRECT has broken ground on phase two of SD Data Center expansion plans. The Bravo phase will double the existing Alpha phase’s 5,000 square feet at the Melbourne, Florida, headquarters. FLIGHTCELL announced that built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are now available for the Flightcell DZMx, providing wireless access to broadband data and audio from connected smart devices.

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 laurenm@aea.net.

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

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