The AEA Connect Conferences are where aviation's technology experts gather for technical training from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers. These two-day events allow technicians and business owners the opportunity to learn industry best practices; connect with regional sales and product support representatives; satisfy training requirements; see the latest products and services; and receive important updates on the most current regulatory news affecting their business.

To see the dates and locations for the AEA Connect Conferences scheduled for 2022, along with registration links for attendees and exhibitors, click here.

On the two-year anniversary of the Federal Communications Commission’s Ligado Order (released April 22, 2020) when eight petitions for reconsideration of the Order remain pending, the Aircraft Electronics Association joined a broad coalition of nearly 100 organizations urging President Joe Biden’s administration and Congress to work with the FCC to ultimately set aside the flawed Ligado Order that, if left in place, would upend decades of sound spectrum policy, negatively impact a significant cross-section of commercial, federal, and academic users who rely on the many different L-band satellite services, and threaten the safety of most Americans.

On April 25, 2022, multiple groups representing various constituencies across the American economy signed letters to President Biden and congressional leaders in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. More...

The annual Avionics Training Excellence Award recognizes AEA members for their total commitment to training.

Pilots and aircraft owners may not be aware of the avionics industry’s dedication to technician training. For decades, the AEA has led the way with comprehensive programs to cover everything from the basics to advanced avionics instruction. A total commitment to training by AEA member companies and the recognition of the Avionics Training Excellence Award allow members to demonstrate their dedication to professional career development and assure their customers of a higher level of service.

To qualify, an AEA member company must submit a completed ATE Award application and provide proof of participation in an AEA-recognized training event for every employed technician from January to December of the award year. Applications for the 2021 award are due by May 1, 2022. More...

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking applications for two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs aimed at developing and inspiring a more diverse pool of aviation maintenance technicians and pilots to join the next generation of aviation professionals. This is the FAA’s second funding opportunity for these programs. A total of $10 million is available for the grants.

The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants will prepare aviation maintenance technicians. The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants will educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or unmanned aircraft systems operators. Eligible entities can submit applications at grants.gov through June 10, 2022. More...

Garry Joyce recently completed a successful three-year term as chair of the AEA’s board of directors. Under his leadership, the association completed a strategic planning process to set the course for the years ahead while navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain constraints, and workforce development challenges.

Joyce is the co-owner of IAE, which is located at Little Staughton Airfield in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, and he is the first AEA chairman from outside North America. He reflects on his time as AEA chairman and looks ahead to the future in this episode of AEA Amplified, sponsored by Genesys Aerosystems, a Moog Company. Listen...

Named in memory of the National Transportation Safety Board member, a passenger who perished in a 1989 airplane crash in Caracas, Venezuela, the AOPA Air Safety Institute first published the Robert T. Nall Report in 1990. It analyzes general aviation accidents that take place each year in the national airspace system, including flights departing from and returning to the United States and its territories. The aircraft involved must have a maximum gross takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, or be a helicopter of any size.

For avionics repair stations, the Nall Report provides insight on the challenges faced by their predominate customers. Its online platform enables comparisons of selected dates back to 2008 that can offer insights on safety trends. Released late last year, the 31st Nall Report provides comprehensive data for 2019. Until the NTSB issues its reports on the accidents, a process that can take up to two years, all of the report’s accident data, which the ASI updates every 30 days, is preliminary. More...

If it hadn’t been for the Federal Aviation Administration’s mandate demanding ADS-B Out be fitted to a major portion of the U.S. civil fleet a few years ago, many fewer people in the aviation industry would probably know anything about uAvionix. The Bigfork, Montana, avionics company – 43 employees strong – became well-known a few years ago with some affordable ADS-B Out solutions to meet the mandate and calm the fears of many aircraft owners about being able to continue flying their airplane. Not only did uAvionix provide its skyBeacon and tailBeacon both UAT 978 MHz transponders, but the tailBeaconX offered both a UAT and a 1090 MHz Mode S ADS-B Out transponder.

Because the skyBeacon replaced the aircraft’s left/port side navigation light and the tailBeacon the white tail recognition light, they also offered installation simplicity requiring just half an hour’s labor using a few simple hand tools. Complete certification required only a logbook entry from a technician with an inspection authority. The result was uAvionix grabbed a huge portion of the general aviation ADS-B Out market for themselves. More...

As Dominion Aviation Services approaches 40 years in business, it’s remarkable that some of the service center’s biggest milestones came just last year. Among the most significant were large leaps in the number of charter trips and chartered hours. Clearly, for those who could afford it, 2021 was the year to avoid the airlines and embrace private business travel.

Located three hours south of Washington, D.C., at Chesterfield County Airport in North Chesterfield, Virginia, Dominion Aviation specializes in aircraft management, maintenance, flight training and FBO services as well as Part 135 charter operations. In its maintenance department, nearly two dozen mechanics, inspectors and administrative staff help maintain the service center’s exceptionally busy stable of managed and charter aircraft, which includes Gulfstream, Falcon, Cessna Citation and Hawker aircraft along with Beechcraft King Airs and Barons. More...

Surely you noticed. After a decade of development, stories and warnings, secondary surveillance radar smoothly gave way to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, or ADS-B, on Jan. 1, 2020. Few controllers noticed the transition, though there were a few bumps along the transition road.

In 2010, the FAA, working with offshore helicopter operators in the Gulf of Mexico, gave controllers and operators their second live test of the technology, following implementation in the Ohio River Valley to improve the flow of traffic into Louisville International Airport, the main air-traffic hub for United Parcel Service’s daily crush of traffic in and out of the UPS hub. ADS-B also got a live tryout in Alaska as part of the FAA’s Capstone Project, which helped prove the benefits and viability of this GPS-based traffic-surveillance system.

By the time the FAA’s you-gotta-have-it date came on Jan. 1, 2020, the ADS-B system had been in service in select spots for nearly a decade. Gulf of Mexico coverage began as a life surveillance system in January 2010 – a full decade before the mandated compliance date. More...

The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, a collaborative industry-government group, works to improve general aviation safety through data-driven accident analysis and the development and promotion of risk mitigation measures, based on the accident data. The GAJSC’s analysis leads to safety enhancements – plans containing one or more intervention strategies to prevent or mitigate a common problem associated with the cause of a set of accidents. Safety enhancements can focus on equipment, procedures, training or other mitigations.

In 2011, the GAJSC reviewed a decade of fatal general aviation accidents – 2001 to 2010 – identifying the top 10 fatality risks. Those risks determined the group’s work priorities. The top three risks were loss of control in flight, controlled flight into terrain, and system component failure – powerplant. The GAJSC published the CFIT working group report in June 2021. The CFIT working group reviewed 67 accidents for analysis in its report, which resulted in seven safety enhancements. More...

Sometimes, we find errors in manuals. Under normal circumstances, we would make sure those mistakes get corrected. The classroom isn’t exactly a normal circumstance. Manual errors or shortcomings become tools for lessons. Each semester, the documentation we use provides learning opportunities.

At worst, the error could cause us to damage an expensive piece of avionics gear. We often spend some unbillable time making sure the error gets corrected. A knowledgeable technician might even gloss over some errors and keep going. For those of us teaching avionics, the errors can be great opportunities for students to learn. More...

Maintenance and avionics shops have a significant role to play when considering their customers’ safety, especially in the time immediately after work has been performed. Personal experience and the accident record tell us this role isn’t always fulfilled. One way to minimize the odds a customer will have an operational issue with the work a shop performs is to adopt and adhere to a set of standard procedures – call them best practices – while working on or delivering aircraft.

When it comes to avionics and other advanced equipment, no one expects the vendor/installer to provide pilots with detailed training on every new capability or gotcha unless it’s part of the package. And it’s sometimes difficult to rein in a pilot who presents as a know-it-all and refuses reasonable counsel. You can’t be expected to follow this guy around to prevent him from doing something stupid. Yet anyone who works near or on an aircraft needs to think about ways to enhance the safety of their operation, if for no other reason than to save pilots from themselves. More...

The annual Avionics News Technical Training Exam is now available for avionics technicians and AEA members. By completing the exam, which covers regulatory and technical topics featured in the 2021 issues of Avionics News, technicians can get a head start on their FAA-accepted training. Individuals who complete the exam and score 85% or higher receive credit toward their repair station training program requirements, IA renewal, FAA AMT awards, and the AEA Avionics Training Excellence Award.

Access to the test takes place for AEA members through the AERO platform, which allows exams to be graded in real time, certificates to be downloaded instantly, and a record to be retained for each participant. Don’t have all 12 issues of Avionics News from the past year? No problem. They are all available in the digital archives right at your fingertips. To take the test, click here. More...

If you are not quite ready to take the AET test, AEA has you covered.

Avotek, an AEA member and training partner, offers online courses to help avionics technicians prepare for the AET exam and is offering a member discount of 40% off.

The Fundamentals of Aircraft Electronics Part I - Electricity and Electronics and The Fundamentals of Aircraft Electronics Part II - Maintenance Practices and Aircraft Fundamentals are the essential guides to aircraft electronics associated with AET certification.

To access the coupon codes, you will need to be logged in to the AEA website. AEA members get 40% off each course with the coupon codes. More...

Bill Barnes, a longtime avionics technician, died March 12, 2022, at the age of 72. Barnes spent many years in the aviation industry and worked for King Radio Corp. and Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics in the capacity of field engineer, avionics shop manager, quality control, and product design/certification.

A memorial scholarship in his name has been established with the AEA Educational Foundation. Donations can be made to:

AEA Educational Foundation

c/o Bill Barnes Memorial Scholarship

3570 NE Ralph Powell Rd.

Lee’s Summit, MO 64064

The Federal Aviation Administration’s 44th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is now underway, reporting on calendar year 2021. The GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft.

Data from this survey are used by governmental agencies and industry to:

The FAA and industry need accurate data on a broad range of aircraft. Participation is voluntary, and everyone who is contacted is encouraged to respond to the survey so that all aviation activity is represented. If you have questions, contact Tetra Tech at 800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.

Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation (Sold-Out)

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.

Basic Pitot-Static & Transponder Theory, Testing & Troubleshooting (3 seats remain)

This course is designed for entry-level avionics technicians or those looking for basic training on pitot-static and aircraft transponder systems. The two-day course covers the history and theory of operation of pitot-static instruments and transponders, as well as system setup, hands-on testing, and the troubleshooting skills necessary to perform FAR 91.411 and 91.413 checks.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft (Sold-Out)

This course is targeted for the homebuilder or avionics technician who wants to learn about performing an avionics installation in an experimental aircraft. The class focuses on the Garmin G3X Touch system, and a simplified example harness is constructed as part of the hands-on portion of the class. While the G3X Touch system is the primary focus, the wiring principles and general guidance can be applied to any experimental avionics system. From the do-it-yourselfer to the avionics shop looking to carve a niche, this class has something for everyone.

ADS-B Configuration, Testing & Troubleshooting (6 seats remain)

This course is designed for currently employed repair station personnel and installers of ADS-B systems. Approximately 7% of all general aviation ADS-B installations are non-compliant based on the FAA’s ADS-B Performance Monitoring System. This course focuses on the proper configuration and testing of ADS-B installations to ensure your installation meets the performance requirements and regulations. Also included are troubleshooting tips and tricks that will help you resolve the common problems found in ADS-B installations.

AVX-10K & IFR6000/4000 Operations Training (10 seats remain)

This day-and-a-half course is designed to provide maintenance personnel with the knowledge and skills required to operate and configure the AVX-10K Flight Line Test Set to verify and maintain transponder, UAT, TCAS, DME, ILS, VOR, Comms and ELT. It will provide understanding and working knowledge of IFR6000 and IFR4000 operations.

Certified Repair Station Training (7 seats remain)

This weeklong course provides an interactive environment to learn, understand and implement the regulations that govern repair station design and operations. 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 should attend.

Avionics Testing Fundamentals (13 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice, familiar with basic soldering skills and are looking for experience in LRU bench testing and avionics troubleshooting. Bench testing nav, VHF comm and transponders will be the focus of study. Technicians will fabricate a general-purpose test panel that they will use in the course. Attendees will keep their fabricated test panel at course completion.

Transponder Service Training (15 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice and are looking for experience in transponder LRU bench testing, transponder flight line testing and aircraft troubleshooting. ADS-B transponders systems will be the focus of study. Attendees will keep their fabricated wire harness at course completion.

NAV/COMM Equipment Service Training (14 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice and are looking for experience in avionics flight line testing, LRU bench testing and aircraft troubleshooting. VOR, localizer, glideslope, marker beacon and VHF comms will be the focus of study.

Pitot-Static, Transponder, and ADS-B: Testing & Inspection (14 seats remain)

Attendees will learn the proper methods for conducting pitot-static and transponder tests and inspections. 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.

For individuals interested in pursuing professional opportunities in the avionics industry, the job listings page on the AEA website is your one-stop resource. The AEA jobs board 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 job listings and see what's on your horizon. Free resume posting is available. Are you up to the challenge? More...

Is your business hiring? The AEA jobs board makes it easier for AEA members to find their next avionics technician, quality manager, inspector, sales representative or engineer.

AEA members may submit a free job posting after entering their username and password at AEA.net/Jobs. Member companies that optionally choose to upgrade their job posting for a premium will have preferred online placement and also will be published in the next edition of Avionics News. For more information about premium job listings, contact Rachel Hill, AEA advertising executive, at rachelh@aea.net.