The avionics industry will gather at the Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 29-30, for regulatory and technical training from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers. Avionics technicians will learn about new products, their application, certification and installation, and have the opportunity to Connect with their regional sales and product support representatives.

From selling to installation, configuration and certification testing, the AEA Connect Conferences are where aviation's technology experts gather to answer questions. See the complete schedule for more information, a list of exhibiting companies, along with a list of major OEMs and their technical training topics. More...

Advance your career and industry knowledge by earning a certification provided by ASTM's National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies. These certifications demonstrate the knowledge base of the advanced aerospace technician and promote integrity, safety, and professionalism in the aerospace workforce.

The aircraft electronics technician certificate and endorsements are industry-defined mechanisms to identify professionals who demonstrate their knowledge through testing and commit themselves to the aerospace industry. Associations and professionals across every industry use these certifications to recognize qualified and competent individuals. In fact, the FAA formally recognizes the AET certification as equivalent to formal training when showing eligibility for the issuance of a repairman certificate.

Free testing will be available to all AEA East Connect Conference attendees, courtesy of the AEA Educational Foundation, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29 and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 30. More...

WBParts is on a mission to help avionics shops be more productive and profitable. Headquartered in Palm Bay, Florida, the company offers a free work-order software called AMI – Aircraft Maintenance & Inventory System – that helps AEA members streamline their business.

Learn how AMI works and how it can enhance the bottom line for avionics shops from Jaramey Ham, the company’s business development manager, in this episode of AEA Amplified, sponsored by Genesys Aerosystems, a Moog Company. Listen...

When it comes to determining how to certify a UAS autopilot system, the first thing you have to determine is what kind of system it’s for.

“It depends on whether it’s a manned or unmanned air vehicle,” said Hector Garcia, chief technology officer for Honeywell's urban air mobility and unmanned aerial systems business units. “As you can expect, the rigor and requirements are not as stringent for an unmanned vehicle as they are when you have people on board.

“The second question is the size of the vehicle. That will determine the classification of certification that will be required for the system. Right now, it goes by weight. Under 55 pounds gross weight is the lightest you can go under Part 107 or Part 135 certification. Go above that, and you are now becoming a Part 23 category aircraft. Then it depends on the number of passengers.”

As for certification standards, Garcia said EASA is further along with its program than the FAA. More...

The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand recently published a notice that the AC66-1, Revision 4 – Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence – General was open for consultation through 21 September 2021.

Leveraging the comments received during multiple virtual meetings and through individual email communications with the New Zealand membership, the AEA recently submitted comments to the authority. More...

Question: My local Flight Standards Office does not accept the FAA AC 145-10 Repair Station Training Program template. Why?

Answer: Advisory Circular 145-10 provides information on developing the repair station employee training program required under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 145, § 145.163; categories of training; training program components; and sample training programs. This AC also provides an acceptable means of showing compliance with § 145.163.

It is well-understood that the FAA’s Safety Assurance System Data Collection Tools ask questions about the repair station training program that are more specific than offered by the FAA’s acceptable training programs. The advisory circular states: “This sample program emphasizes the process, procedures, and standards that a repair station should use to ensure compliance with the regulations.” More...

Congratulations to Eric Shimp of Jefferson City Flying Service, who won a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of Southeast Aerospace, for submitting the correct answer in this month's Mystery Make and Model challenge featured in the previous issue of AEA Wired. The unit is a Foster LRN500.

Avionics technicians can put their "inside" knowledge to work in the next issue of AEA Wired, so stay tuned for the next Mystery Make and Model challenge! All correct answers submitted throughout 2021 will be entered to win a random drawing for a $500 Visa gift card at the end of the year, also from Southeast Aerospace.

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...

Small package and food delivery by drone gets the lion’s share of mainstream media attention, but unmanned aircraft system use in agriculture, public utilities, and public safety probably has the most impact on daily lives for now. Despite the obvious use cases for UAS, commercial applications continue to lag.

Only two companies hold Part 135 certificates to conduct package or food delivery for compensation or hire – Wing Aviation LLC, which is delivering food and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to homes in Christiansburg, Virginia, and UPS Flight Forward Inc., which conducted its first package delivery of medical supplies at WakeMed’s hospital campus by drone in 2019.

What hurdles do drone operators face in conducting full-scale commercial drone operations, and what steps are being taken by the Federal Aviation Administration and industry to remove those hurdles? More...

In Dallas, Texas, at the AEA International Convention & Trade Show in June, Texas Aerospace Services of Abilene officially launched its new subsidiary – Texas Aerospace Technologies. The folks behind the newly created company seek to carve out a niche in the field of aviation product distribution by offering an array of “value-added” services, including new product development, supplemental type certificate development, engineering, marketing, inventory stocking, fulfillment and aircraft sustainment solutions.

“While there are other out-of-the-box distribution companies in our industry, they’re really more like catalog houses with a great internet presence,” said vice president Brad Sutphin, who has more than 16 years of experience in aviation, including recently serving as director of sales for DAC International, a worldwide distributor of instruments, avionics and aircraft equipment. “They have a fantastic catalog of products, but they do not fund the development of new products or STC certifications to bring those products to market. They rely on dealers to do that." More...

The Aircraft Electronics Association recently unveiled the dates and locations for its 2021 AEA Connect Conferences, which now includes Europe. From selling to installation, configuration and certification testing, the AEA Connect Conferences are two-day events where aviation's technology experts convene for regulatory and technical training from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers. It is the perfect opportunity for avionics technicians to meet with their regional sales and product support representatives, as well as learn about new products.

See the complete schedule for each event, a list of exhibiting companies, along with a list of major OEMs and their technical training topics at aea.net/connect. Online registration is available for both attendees and exhibitors.

The schedule is as follows:

The ASTM Administrative Committee AC377 "Autonomy Design and Operations in Aviation" is hosting the 2nd annual ASTM Autonomy in Aviation Symposium.

The objectives of the ASTM Autonomy in Aviation Symposium are as follows:

The symposium is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel in Santa Clara, California. AEA-member companies involved in the development of autonomous technology in any category of aviation are encouraged to attend. More...

The 65th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show will take place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, March 28-31, 2022. A direct link to make hotel reservations in the AEA room block at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside is available at aea.net/convention.

The AEA encourages all attendees and exhibitors to secure their hotel rooms soon, as the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four will take place in New Orleans immediately following the conclusion of the AEA Convention. Plan ahead and secure your hotel accommodations well in advance of the show. More...

Published annually by the Aircraft Electronics Association, the 2021-22 edition of the AEA Pilot's Guide was recently unveiled. This year marks the 19th annual edition of the AEA Pilot's Guide, a consumer's directory loaded with educational articles, timely information and data about the ever-changing world of avionics technologies. The publication helps pilots and aircraft owners make better buying decisions and locate nearly 1,300 AEA member companies in more than 40 countries, including government-certified repair stations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. It also includes the manufacturers and distributors of these products, as well as technical schools and universities, engineers and consultants for the industry.

Individuals residing in the United States may request a free copy of the AEA Pilot's Guide at aeapilotsguide.net/request.asp while supplies last. More...

The AEA’s new online training platform called AERO, short for the Aerospace Education Resource Online system, allows users to train at their own pace with the ability to pause and resume courses at their convenience. In addition, AERO operates like a personal learning management system with a history of training and the ability to print certificates from completed courses.

All previous online training from the AEA has been migrated to AERO and is available exclusively to AEA members at aea.net/aero with a member login and password. AEA AERO will continue to add content to help members accomplish their training goals. Members with questions about the new AERO online training system may contact Aaron Ward directly at aaronw@aea.net. More...

IFR6000 and IFR4000 Operations (11 seats remain)

This course is designed to provide maintenance personnel with the knowledge and skills required to operate the IFR6000 to verify and maintain transponder, UAT, TCAS, and DME system and to operate the IFR4000 for ILS, VOR, COMMs and ELT.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft (SOLD-OUT)

This in-person 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.

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.

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 support inflight connectivity system installations and maintenance. This eight-hour training enables aircraft technicians and operators to gain understanding on the basic airborne networks, IFC systems, and the services they provide.

Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation (8 seats remain)

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 (8 seats remain)

This course is designed for entry-level avionics technicians or those looking for basic training on pitot-static and aircraft transponder systems. This 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.

Certified Repair Station Training (14 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.

Primary Flight Display Installation & Configuration (15 seats remain)

Technicians will learn how to plan, install, interface, configure and check out an installation of a primary flight display, EHSI and GPS/Nav/Com consisting of dual Garmin GI 275, a Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen, and a Garmin GTX 345 transponder. Designed for technicians who have experience with avionics installation practices and are looking for more training integrating common general aviation installations.

Bench Basics 101 (15 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 upon course completion.

Transponder 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 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 upon 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 (17 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.